2 MEMOIRS OF THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN 
Mr. William W. Mather also mentions the abundance of lignite 
in the clay exposure in this part of Staten Island, and says* that the 
clay is “ similar in its general characters to that of Cheesequake and 
Matavan Point, on the Jersey shore, and it appears to have a similar 
geological position.” 
Practically the same notes may also be found included in the final 
reports by these authors,? but after the issue of these there followed 
a period of some forty years during which nothing of a scientific 
character appears to have been recorded, or at least published, in 
regard to the deposits or their accompanying organic remains. 
In 1881 Dr. Nathaniel L. Britton read a paper before the New 
York Academy of Sciences, entitled “On the Geology of Richmond 
County, N. Y.,”* in which the Cretaceous age of the deposits in 
question is recognized as settled, and he says (p. 172): “ Lignite 
and pyrites are frequently found in the clay excavations. . . . As 
the lignite dries, it cracks up into little pieces, thus destroying the 
texture of the fossil wood composing it, and making it very diffi- 
cult to retain good specimens. No fossil leaves or shells have been 
taken from the clays . . . but it is not improbable that they will 
be found at some future time, when the excavations are more 
advanced than at present." 
During this same year the Natural Science Association of Staten 
Island was organized and the investigation of local geological fea- 
tures was begun on a systematic basis. In 1885 the prediction made 
by Dr. Britton was verified, and in the account of the meeting of 
the Association held on December 12, 1885, may be found the fol- 
lowing record: “ Mr. Hollick stated that an important find of fossil 
vegetable remains was discovered in the Kreischerville fire clay on 
Nov. 15; but that it was deemed best to merely place the fact upon 
record, and to leave the full account of the same until the material 
collected had been studied more carefully." 
Subsequently, at the meeting held on February 13, 1886, these 
remains were reported upon as follows:* “ All of our specimens were 
+ Second Ann. Rept. N. Y. State Geol. Surv. Assembly Document No. 200, Feb. 20, 
1838, P. 137. 
* Nat. Hist. N. Y., Pt. III, Mineralogy, pp. d 191, 192. 1842.—Ibid., Pt. IV, 
Geology. Geol. First Geol. Dist., pp. 266, 267. 18 
° Annals N. Y. Acad. Sci. 2: a pls. 15, P 1882. 
"Proc. Nat. Sci. Assoc. Staten Island 1: 27. 1885. 
° Proc. Nat. Sci. Assoc. Staten Island 1: 31. 1886. 
