320 Association of American Geologists and Naturalists. 
Dr. J. gave way to a motion that the Association now take its 
recess. 
Afternoon.—Mr. S. B. Buckley read a paper on the Zygodon 
of Owen, (the Basilosaurus of Harlan,) and exhibited some of 
the enormous fossil vertebree of this extinct animal.* 
Mr. Redfield spoke of the importance of retaining this skele- 
ton in the country, and of its appropriateness, when suitably 
erected, as an ornament to this hall, which now contained so rich 
a collection of palzontological remains. | 
On motion of Prof. Hitchcock, a resolution was adopted ex- 
pressing the sense of the Association as to the importance of hav- 
ing this skeleton placed in the state museum. 
Prof. Bailey said that it was interesting to see the two ex- 
tremes of existence united in the same specimen ; he had exam- 
ined the marl in which the bones of the Zygodon were imbed- 
ded, and found it composed to a great extent of minute Forami- 
nifera and Polythalmia, some of which were perfect, others de- 
composed or showing only casts of thin cells. ‘The species he 
did not recognize as having seen before. 
Dr. C. T. Jackson resumed his communication on the subject 
of drift, begun in the morning session, being one of the committee 
appointed last year to report on that subject. 
Few subjects excite more attention at present among geologists than 
the phenomena of drifted rocks and soils, and the recent attempts to 
combine observations and form some plausible theory has invested it 
with a still higher interest. It was formerly supposed that the phe- 
nomena of drift were the effects of a transient deluge, which many were 
inclined to identify with that described in Genesis. It is now however 
generally conceded among geologists, that this occurrence was prior to 
the creation of man. There are no remains of his works or presence 
to be found in the tertiary shale which immediately preceded this epoch; 
neither arrow-heads, firebrands, or any other work, nor the vestiges of 
his footsteps or the fossilized bones. Hence we may conclude that man 
was not formed until the world was finished and prepared for his abode. 
The geologist sees in the diluvium not proofs of Divine vengeance, 
but evidences of the highest wisdom and goodness of the Creator in 
thus preparing and commingling the soils of the earth. ‘The earliest 
exact observations on this subject were made by De Saussure, Pallas, 
SUE TEN DEAE D0 a RED) RM BEET Bey ORL REN SOREN 0 ey 
* See description of this skeleton by Mr. Buckley in this Journal, Vol. xtiv, 
p. 409. 
