Geological Communications , 123 



properly,) but we were not able to decide whether it emhraced, over- . 

 lay, or lay under, the bituminous coal of Tioga. The rock strata, 

 embracing the Tioga coal and Carbondale coal, when traced into the 

 state of New York, to the distance of thirty miles, are certainly sepa- 

 rated by an extensive stratum of limestone. But the limestone may 

 disappear, in a kind of cuneiform termination, a little north of the 

 Pennsylvania line ; leaving, what I have called, the second and third 

 graywacke rocks to unite in one — the lower part embracing the an- 

 asphaltic, and the upper part the bituminous^ beds of coal. This 

 specimen was taken from the rock in which reeds, ferns and palms 

 are found in abundance. But if it is the remains of a vertebrated 

 animal, all doubt ceases respecting the stratum, embracing the bitu- 

 minous coal of Tioga, being upper secondary. If it is a culmiferous 

 plant, the question is still open for discussion. 



The graywacke rock, embracing the specimen, does not contain 

 the glimmering scales, always found in first graywacke, and generally 

 in small quantities in second graywacke. It is a dirty yellowish grey, 

 in the cleavage where the impression is made ; but of the usual color 

 of graywacke, in a fresh fracture^ Amos Eaton. 



Rensselaer School, Troy, Jan. 22, 1831. 



Since the above was in type, a note has been received from its 

 author, saying that he had taken much pains to ascertain vi'hether 

 this species of petrifaction had been hitherto published or observed. 

 Foreign journals were carefully examined, and enquiry was exten- 

 sively made by a traveller in Europe. It appearing to be original 

 and very interesting, was communicated for publication. A friendly 

 call from J. H. Fielding, President of Madison College, Penn. has 

 caused some doubt. He has an indistinct recollection of something 

 of the kind, as he believes. The author therefore requests, that 

 wherever this Journal is read, enquiry for a similar specimen, or a 

 publication of it, may be sought and information communicated to 

 the editor ; as other parts of this organic relic may have been found, 

 which will settle the question, whether it was an animal, or a vegeta- 

 ble of the reed family. One of our most accurate devotees to the 

 study of recent organic relics, William Cooper, Esq. of the New 

 York Lyceum, has examined it. He is in doubt, but is inclined to 

 believe it an Arundo, or some plant of that family. Surely, says the 

 author, it resembles the Phytilus Martini, when magnified with a 

 power of 100. — Editor. 



