232 



intermingled. Granite is generally very chary of its con- 

 tributions of gems : yet we have occasionally veins in which 

 the elements of granite are crystallized in distinct masses, 

 amd in a variety of the most fantastic shapes, the quartz 

 being mostly smoky or jet black ; the mica equally so ; the 

 feldspar, white, buff, and occasionally of the very richest 

 conceivable green. They always crystallize in a matrix of 

 quartz, and can only be successfully extricated by the very 

 greatest care and industry. There have been only some 

 three or four of these more prominent veins opened in the 

 above quarries within the space of some thirty years. Mr. 

 B. has found some seventy different varieties of minerals 

 during his researches. 



Mr. P. W. Putnam called the attention of the meeting to 

 the late discovery of a most singular animal in the litho- 

 graphic stone of Solenhofen, and gave the different views 

 that are entertained in regard to it. This fossil is singular 

 in being a combination of bird and reptile, inasmuch as it is 

 provided with leathers like a bird, while many of its other 

 characteristics are reptilian. The fact of this animal's being 

 provided with wings and with hind extremities, having 

 but three toes and furthermore belonging to the same age 

 as the so called " Bird tracks" of the Connecticut valley and 

 other localities, supports the theory advanced by Professor 

 Agassiz some time ago, that the " bird tracks" were not 

 made by birds but by reptiles which were bird-like in their 

 characters. Professor Wagner has given to this strange 

 animal the name of Griphosaurus, from the Greek word 

 meaning " enigma,^' and " saurus,^^ referring it to the order 

 Saueia in the class of Reptiles. 



After some interesting remarks of a general character, — 

 Adjourned. 



