121 



which, from the configuration of the surrounding country, would, as it 

 subsided, sweep through the larger depression, with a current to the 

 east, and form an eddy through this one to the west. The whole 

 depression has, in form, a close resemblance to such as we see formed 

 on a smaller scale in the sand along the Delaware. But on the other 

 hand, the number found together, most of them in a standing position, 

 would seem rather to indicate that they had been overwhelmed in one 

 of their native haunts, by some sudden catastrophe ; and some circum- 

 stances seem to favour the supposition that this could not have been 

 at a very remote period. This little basin receives the drainage of 

 some fifteen acres of land, and seems to have had a considerable 

 growth of grass and marsh plants around it. Under such circum- 

 stances, it would seem that the accumulation of vegetable matter indi- 

 cates no very great antiquity. The holes Avere so filled with water 

 that I could not ascertain whether the deposite below the sand showed 

 any thing like stratification, but as far as I could judge from what was 

 thrown out, its character was pretty uniform throughout, exhibiting 

 the appearance of a marsh, much frequented by animals, which had 

 trampled fragments of its plants all through it. I regretted very much 

 that my knowledge was not suflScient to determine the species of the 

 plants of which so many portions remain, but I thought I recognised 

 some which are now growing in the neighbouring marshes, such as 

 flags, cattails, &c. I hope, however, that you or some of your scien- 

 tific friends, will visit the place, and obtain more accurate informa- 

 tion than I am competent to give." 



Mr. S. Roberts drew the attention of the Society to a steam- 

 boat now lying in the Delaware, intended to navigate canals, 

 and gave a description of it and its machinery. 



The steam canal boat "John Gilpin" belongs to New York, and 

 has made three trips, within a short time, to St. John's, in Canada, 

 having passed through the Champlain canal. Her length is eighty 

 feet, and her extreme breadth thirteen feet four inches. When draw- 

 ing three feet water, she carries forty-five tons; and with four and a 

 half feet water, sixty -five tons. 



Her steam engine is in the bow, and is of twenty horse power, 

 having a locomotive or tubular boiler, and burning anthracite coal. 

 The diameter of the cylinder is sixteen inches, and the length of the 

 stroke twenty-eight inches. 



The boat is propelled by two paddle wheels of wrought iron, one 



