Stevenson.] 4:VO [Oct. 7, 



for the presence of a wolfs tooth, beneath an opossum's tooth in the same 

 jaw. The creative energy in this case is neither governed by memory, 

 nor by present necessity ; but is intelligently prophetic of future emergen- 

 cies. And that is precisely our simplest definition of divine providence. 

 But it is also our simplest definition of practical invention. Combining the 

 two, we get the view taken by Mr. Agassiz, instead of the view taken by 

 Mr. Darwin. 



Professor Cope exhibited also a ver j interesting tootli, whicli 

 lie named Ptilodus medisevus., from tlie Lower Eocene of New 

 Mexico. 



The importance of this discovery lies in the fact that it furnishes an inter- 

 mediate link between the Plagiaulax of the Jura and the recent Australian 

 Hypsiprymnus ; which two instances of the general type have hitherto re- 

 mained separated from each other by the whole Cretaceous and Tertiary 

 interval. 



Pendino; nominations, Nos. 934 to 945 were read. 

 The expediency of printing certain communications was 

 referred for consideration to the Finance Committee. 

 On motion of Mr. Fraley, it was 



Resolved, That the Society most earnestly recommends the appointment 

 of Mr. J. E. Hilgard, as Superintendent of the Coast and Geodetic Sur- 

 veys of the United States, believing him to be most eminently fitted for 

 the discharge of the duties of the ofiice, by his long and faithful services 

 in conducting said surveys, and by his skill, ability, and full knowledge 

 of all that is required to make said survey's honorable to the Government 

 and useful to the people. 



And the meeting was adjourned. 



Notes on the Quinnimont Coal Group in Mercer Co. of West Virginia and 

 Tazeicell Co. of Virginia. By John J. Stevenson, Professor of Geology 

 in the University of the City of Neio York. 



{Read before the American Philosophical Society, Oct. 7, 1881.) 



Bluestone creek, formed at the easterly edge of Tazewell county, Virginia, 

 by the union of Laurel and Mud forks, flows across Mercer and Summers 

 counties of West Virginia to the New river, which it reaches at about 

 four miles south from Hinton, a station on the Chesapeake and Ohio rail- 

 road. It receives tributaries from the north, known as Little Bluestone, 

 Mountain, Camp, "Wolf Wide Mouth, Flippon and Simmons creeks. The 

 first four of these rise in an elevated ridge, known as Flat Top, which 



