Miscellanies. 423 



These are from that portion of the Tertiary mass, called by Mr. 

 Lyell, the older Pliocene Period, and were discovered about nine 

 years ago by Mr. John Finch. 



The new genus of fossil shell from New Jersey, is from the creta- 

 ceous deposit of Timber Creek. It falls within the family of Spher- 

 ulacea of Blainville. It approximates most to the genus Saracena- 

 ria of Defrance. Mr. Lea calls it Palmula, from its palmate figure ^ 

 the species is denominated sagittaria. 



The concluding contribution to geology, afforded by this volume, 

 relates to a very recent Tiifaceous, lacustrine formation, near Syra- 

 cuse, Onondaga county, New York, observed by the author some 

 years since, while travelling upon the canal. It first attracted his no- 

 tice as lining the banks of the canal. He describes it as a calcare- 

 ous marl of a whitish color, bordering on that of ashes, as friable and 

 rather soft to the touch. It contained numerous perfect specimens, 

 of the genera hymnea, Physa, Planorhis, Paludina and Ancylvs, all 

 of which are analogous to the species at present living in the waters 

 of that region. The shells were completely bleached, and generally 

 in an unbroken state. He crossed it on a line, east and west, of 

 about two miles, but its width and depth he was unable to ascertain. 

 A deposit of the same kind was observed near Chitteningo, fifteen 

 miles east of Syracuse, which the hydrography of the country pre- 

 vents from being considered as belonging to that first noticed at Syr- 

 acuse. 



Deposits of this kind are certainly worthy of every possible eluci- 

 dation, both on account of their supposed variety, and the link they 

 furnish us, by which to connect those more ancient and widely ex- 

 tended formations, with such as approach our own period, in the cir- 

 cumstances of their formation. For the purpose of eliciting further 

 information, we would state that a similar formation, containing not 

 only the same shells, but also embracing occasional mixtures of car- 

 bonaceous matter, resembling lignite or peat, exists in the immediate 

 vicinity of Montreal, in Lower Canada. 



5. JYew Work on Conchology. — Proposals have been issued by 

 Russell, Odiorne h Co., Boston, for a treatise on Couchology, by 

 John Warren. " This work will contain a comprehensive sketch 

 of the most distinguished writers on Conchology, from Aristotle to the 

 present day, and will form a complete history of the rise and progress 

 of this delightful science. 



