92 FOREST RIVER SHELLHEAP. 



coudyles, for the articulation of two sets of phalanges of 

 the toes. It undoubtedly belonged to the same animal 

 with the other bones, though it formed a part of the right 

 foot and the others of the left. 



" 6. The 4th or 5th molar of the left lower jaw. 



"It remains only to add that occasional pieces of granite 

 of the character with the super-adjacent rocks were dug 

 up ; these were very much decomposed and in some in- 

 stances had actually become sand, owing to the presence 

 of iron, and the action of water causing oxidization. At 

 the surface, or just below it, of similar spots the shells 

 were so decomposed as to resemble marl, and could be 

 easily moulded by the hand. To the agriculturist these 

 deposits may become rich means for the improvement of 

 his soils, requiring only the labor of transportation to 

 places where the action of carbonate of lime would be 

 beneficial. Such has been actually the case with a similar 

 elevation of recent marine shells in Hingham near the 

 alms house, and these when spread over grass land, and 

 even on old worn-out pastures have produced astonishing 

 effects in the production of fine and healthy grass. The 

 Hingham bed, with which I am familiar, is, however, 

 different from ours, being completely thrown above the 

 soil, and presenting the aspect of a vast heap of old oyster 

 and clam shells, designedly thrown there by the hand of 

 man. At some future opportunity I hope to be able to 

 procure specimens from that locality to add them to the 

 suite from the southern shore of our harbor." 



