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of Indian implements that had been presented, and spoke of their 

 peculiarities and probable uses. 



Among the specimens presented to the Institute, were a small stone 

 gouge from J. W. Batchelder; club-stone, gouge and small axe, 

 from J. Arthur Lamsox; a large stone gouge, from Z. Gould. 

 These were all found in Topsfield where the donors reside. Dr. 

 Charles Palmer presented from George Caldwell of Ipswich, seven 

 stone implements, among them a singular and unique implement, and 

 a fine corn-smasher and peculiar form of a small gouge. Eben H. 

 Lake of Topsfield, placed several stone implements on the table for 

 exhibition. 



Mr. Neiiemlvh Cleaveland, during Mr. Putnam's remarks, asked 

 whether the common house adder was a venomous reptile ; to which 

 the latter replied that the rattlesnake was the only venomous snake 

 found in this locality. He was aware that the house adder and the 

 water adder were called venomous, and it is true they will show fight 

 and bite on provocation ; but they are not provided with poison fangs 

 and their bite is harmless. 



Mr. Alpheus Hyatt spoke of the felspar, quartz, and mica which 

 composed the rocks of Salem and vicinity, and alluding to the mass 

 of disintegrated rock near by, inferred, from its northwest dip, that 

 it was a rock in place and was not transported there as had been sup- 

 posed, by glaciers during the drift period. He thought this rotten 

 rock might be occasioned by the presence of iron, the rust of which 

 has a disintegrating effect. He said we know nothing, comparatively, 

 of the geology of New England compared with that of the states 

 west of the Hudson, and explained the glacial theory, in tracing the 

 cause of the formation of gravel beds. 



In describing his collection of animals at the pond, he spoke of the 

 Polyzoa, or moss animals, which inhabited the surface of floating 

 boards and the stems of the lilies. He also described the club moss, 

 in its geological relations as a representative of ancient life. 



In answer to a question, Mr. Hyatt illustrated on the blackboard 

 the process of the formation of the North American continent. 



The President, after alluding to his faithful and arduous services 

 as Adjutant General of the state, introduced Gen. William Schouler 

 of Lynn, who responded by saying that he had been interested and 

 instructed at what he heard and would gladly listen to others, being 

 ignorant of science, and the subjects treated of being so different 

 from his customary pursuits, he would be unable to edify the meeting. 

 It was his first visit to Topsfield, and his first meeting Avith the Insti- 

 tute, but lie trusted that it would not be the last. He expressed the 

 Interest he had felt in listening to the remarks of the previous 

 speakers, his appreciation of the beautiful town and his gratification 



