— sow 
PROCEEDINGS 
OF 
THE NATURAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION 
GE STATEN 
ISLAND. 
VOL. IX, No. 8. 
The regular meeting of the Associ- 
ation was held at the residence of Dr. 
Arthur Hollick, with the president in 
the chair. 
The following were elected to active 
membership: 
Oliver D. Clark, James P. Chapin, 
Edwin Stumpp, New Brighton, and 
Orrin L. Brodie, Port Richmond. 
Dr. Arthur Hollick exhibited speci- 
mens and read the following 
GEOLOGICAL NOTES. 
A submerged peat bed. During the 
past Summer Mr. C. S. Egbert, of 
Port Richmond sent me specimens of 
peat and silt, with the following mem- 
orandum and a map: 
‘The specimen of peat was dredged 
froma bed of the material encountered 
during the work of the United States 
Government in straightening and deep- 
ening the channel of the Kills, at a 
point just west of Long Dock, Mariner’s 
Harbor. It was at a depth of about 12 
feet below mean low water and was 
found to be about 4 feet in thickness, 
with about 8 feet of silt overlying it. 
No hard rock was encountered in this 
vicinity.”’ 
This specimen of peat is similar to 
that which is in process of formation in 
connection with our salt marshes at the 
present time, at tide level, and it’s 
_ position at such a depth, with eight 
OCTOBER 15th, 1904 
feet of sediment covering it, gives usan 
excellent exainple of the extent of the 
subsidence which has taken placethere 
in recent geologic time. The silt is 
very fine, grayish in color, and in 
drying has hardened into a firm, com- 
pact mass. 
A large fossil coral. A recent search 
in the Yellow Gravel included in the 
moraine at Prince’s Bay bluff brought 
to light several pebbles containing the 
characteristic silicified fossils, of which 
one consists of the largest piece of cor- 
al thus far found on the Island. It is 
a notable addition to our already ex- 
cellent collection of these interesting 
fossils. 
Dr. Hollick also exhibited specimens 
and read the following 
BOTANICAL NOTES. 
Thymus Serpyllum L. Wild Thyme. 
A small patch of this plant, which 
seems to be spreading, grovs on the 
Fox Hills golf links. The situation is 
such as to favor its preservation and 
there is reason to hope that it may be- 
come the nucleus for more extended 
local distribution. The only previous 
record of the occurrence of the species 
on the Island was jp@n),a~small 
patch found ind on the side of 
Richmond ray feta : oe Wet: = 
although Mr. amafiliife 0 Fe- 
gi 
Katign al Must 
