Jan. 1906] PROCEEDINGS S. I. ASSN. ARTS AND SCIENCES. 23 



batim, but the following abstract includes the principal facts of interest 

 in this connection: 



On Friday evening, September ist, 1905, flames were seen to arise 

 from the surface of the beach and adjacent waters at Kittery Point, 

 Maine. The flames rose to a height of about a foot and lasted about 

 an hour. Incidentally an earthquake shock had been felt the day be- 

 fore. The conflagration was confined to that portion of the beach ex- 

 posed at low water. Here the surface was found to be fine white sand 

 to a depth of about an inch, below which was about six inches of sand 

 filled with various kinds of organic debris, in regard to which the 

 author says:" Moreover, this layer was perfectly black, and when washed 

 it exhibited very small, carbonized fragments of Zostera [eel grass} 

 and other marine plants, fragments of wood with a distinct surface 

 charring, etc." 



His explanation of the conflagration is that the decaying vegetation 

 gave rise, as such material is well known to do in the marshes, to sul- 

 phuretted, carburetted and phosphuretted hydrogen gases. The earth- 

 quake jar of the previous day liberated these gases, which ignited by 

 spontaneous combustion and started the conflagration, which continued 

 until the gases were consumed. 



Similar phenomena, under the names of "Will o' the wisp," ''ignis 

 fatuus,'' etc. are of not uncommon occurrence in marshy districts, 

 where decaying vegetation has accumulated, and the author concludes 

 with the suggestive remark "that the possibility of such combustion on 

 a rather large scale offers a most reasonable explanation of many forest 

 fires, the origin of which it has hitherto been impossible to account for 

 in a satisfactory manner." 



A careful study of the Kreischerville deposits indicates very clearly 

 that the original conditions of deposition must have been strikingly- 

 similar to those described as existing at the Kittery Point beach. The 

 layers of vegetable debris and sand, intercalated in the clays, are com- 

 parable to the sandy layer of black organic debris in the beach, and it 

 is reasonable to infer that wherever such conditions prevail similar 

 phenomena of combustion may occur. 



Insect Borings in Cretaceous Lignite from Kreischerville. 



Since I last reported on the Kreischerville lignites a large account of 

 additional material has been collected, some specimens of which show 

 the presence of insect borings. I did not feel certain in regard to the 

 nature of these markings on the lignites, so the specimens were turned 



