of the United States. 39 



adoption. The Buhr stones, which are used extensively in 

 the western Slates, and are obtained on Racoon creek, at 

 Huntsville, and many other situations, belong to a very dif- 

 ferent formation ; they are composed of chert, containing 

 an enormous quantity of organic remains of encrini, and 

 consequently are more ancient than the Georgia stone. 



4. London Clay. 



In the banks of James river, Va. there is a large quantity 

 of organic remains imbedded in a bank of clay. At Rich- 

 mond are found fossil triangular teeth, apparently belonging 

 to sharks, and other pieces of bone, at a distance of sixty 

 feet from the surface. 



All these fossil remains are similar to those found in the 

 London clay, and fram the same spot 1 have seen fossil 

 shells, similar to those which are deposited in the collection 

 of the Geological Society in London, and which were ob- 

 tained in the deep excavations at Highgate hill. 



At Washington, under the mass of diluvian gravel, of 

 which the higher part of the capitol hill is composed, there 

 is a stratum of clay, which contains many organic remains. 

 Trunks and branches of trees are found at a distance of fifty- 

 four feet from the surface ; and farther down the river, in 

 digging wells, shark's teeth are often met with. In the cab- 

 inet of Major Delafield of New-York, are many fossils 

 characteristic of this formation. Near Williamsburg, fifty 

 miles from the Atlantic ocean, the skeleton of a large fish 

 was discovered ; amongst other parts, fragments of the 

 ribs, and all the vertebrae were found regularly arranged. 



In Italy and other countries, the same phenomenon has 

 been observed, and a careful examination would establish 

 the similarity of the strata in which they were found. 



5. Calcaire Ostree. 



Under this name, until its prototype is discovered in the 

 ©Id continent, or until its order in the succession of rocks is 

 known, I propose to mention the most remarkable forma- 

 tion in the world, when we consider the almost incredible 

 quantity of fossil shells which it contains. 



