244 FORMS. 



These six predominant forms may all be naturally derived from the sphere, and by 

 combining them, we have thought hitherto that the immense number of complicated 

 forms, which we had met, might have been produced. But in Vermont, at least two new 

 forms occur, which we can by no ingenuity derive from the sphere or any of its 

 modifications. 



The first form is the Ring, of which we give several sketches of specimens from Rut- 

 land, where they are of extraordinary perfection and size, as seen on Plate X. The 

 layer, as already stated, is eleven inches in diameter, and the ring is nearly circular in 

 every part, except in two places, where it looks as if it had been welded together. The 

 thickness of the ring is one inch. In Fig. 6 the ring is smaller, but more perfect. It 

 would seem as if two forces must have been here concerned ; one directed towards the 

 axis of the ring, and the other towards its center. What could have been the nature of 

 the latter, we are unable to conjecture; and to point out their conjoint action, demands a 

 chemistry and a transcendental mathematics beyond our knowledge. Yet when the true 

 solution of this problem is found out, it will doubtless be plain and easy, like the most 

 of nature's operations. 



The second new form is the funnel-shaped, or as it is technically termed, the infundibuli- 

 form. A sheet of the calcareous matter composing claystones, not more than a quarter 

 of an inch thick generally, and with numerous small perforations, is spread out sometimes, 

 we are told, several feet or even yards square. Projecting from one side of this plate- 

 probably the under side are numerous little funnels, usually from half to three quarters of 

 an inch in diameter, and about the same height, the outer sides of which are claystone 

 materials, and the inner side more sandy, the sand being highly micaceous. The tube of the 

 funnels terminates in the perforations in the plate. Where the funnels are so numerous as 

 to crowd one another, their broad extremities become polygonal five, six, and seven-sided, 

 at least. Attached to the sides at the angles, we see frequently spheroidal masses, rarely 

 larger than a pea, of claystone matter, looking as if there was an excess of the material, 

 which dripped down stalactite fashion. 



These facts lead to the presumption that the funnels are on the under side of the plate, 

 and were formed by the passage of the cementing material through the perforations, 

 which formed successive increments by the same influences as those which formed the 

 rings above described. The excess of matter dripped from the angles and formed sphe- 

 roidal drops. The specimens in the Amherst cabinet were from Sharon, and were brought 

 to light by railroad excavations. Mr. Hager has visited the locality, and thinks the 

 funnels are on the under side. 



PEOF. ADAMS' VIEWS OF CONCRETIONS. 



In his second Report, Prof. Adams gave an able view of the subject of Concretions, and 

 proposed a classification which may be more acceptable than that we have indicated above. 

 We quote tAVO pages from his Report : 



