CLAYS OF NEW YORK 603 



The latter resembles Paliiirus Oolumbi (Heer) ; a 

 Tertiary species {Fl. foss, ard. 1 : 122, pi. lY, fig. 2), but is much 

 smaller and very probably a new species. The above species are 

 the same as those found in the middle Cretaceous clays of Staten 

 Island ]Sr. Y., and Perth Amboy, IST. J. 



Three species of diatoms, all fresh water forms, were also dis- 

 covered in this clay. 



Melosira granulata (Ehr.) Ealfs 



Diatoma Ttyemale K. B. 



Cocconema parvum W. Smith 



The occurrence of these diatoms is a matter of great interest. 



"While diatoms are abundant in the Tertiary, their only known 

 occurrence in the Cretaceous is the chalk ^ which is upper Cre- 

 taceous. This being the case, their occurrence at ISTorthport extends 

 the known geologic range of diatoms. 



At Freshpond the clay crops out along the shore for a distance 

 of half a mile. It is brownish and red in color, the red being more 

 sandy. Sand and gravel overlie it, and at Sammis's yard the sand, 

 which is stained by limonite, shows a fine anticlinal fold. 



One of the most interesting clay banks is that on Fisher's island. 

 The clay is of a reddish color similar to that on West neck and 

 Center island, and in its original condition was horizontally strati- 

 fied and overlain by 20 to 30 feet of laminated sand. But the 

 whole deposit has been disturbed by the ice sheet passing over it, 

 and the layers have been much crampled to a depth of about 30 

 feet, while below this they are undisturbed. The till overlying it 

 is in places 30 feet thick and contains large boulders. 



Dr Merrill mentions the presence on Gardiner's island,^ of ex- 

 tensive beds of brick clay together with their associated sand beds, 

 (they are not being worked) and notes the occurrence of a fossil- 

 iferous stratum. Clay is also said to outcrop near Sag Harbor and 

 around the shore of Hog neck in Peconic bay. 



1 Nicholson. Manual of 'palaeontology. 2: 1490. 



2 Previously cited. 



