16 Twenty-fourth Report on the State Museum. 



weighed 2,662 pounds ; the larger trunk is probably not much less 

 than one thousand pounds in weight. 



There is one other similar base and trunk preserved, and a fifth 

 small one was broken up among the rocks thrown out, as appears 

 from the impression left in the matrix, as well as from come frag- 

 ments which I was able to obtain from a portion of the base still 

 remaining in the rock. There are, therefore, five of these trunks 

 known to have been found in this locality. They were standing 

 vertically or slightly inclined in the stratum of rock, and three of 

 them, the largest and the two smaller ones, were nearly in a line from 

 north-west to south-east, and within the distance of twelve feet ; the 

 large one in the center. Of the other two, one was found at the 

 distance of forty or fifty feet to the westward, and the other, some 

 thirty or forty feet further in the same direction. 



These trunks were all found at the same horizon, with the bases 

 resting upon a soft shaly stratum, the beds dipping to the south-west. 

 The rocks are of tho age of the Hamilton group, and several hundred 

 feet below the top of the formation. 



Several years since, a part of a similar trunk — the base, as I am 

 informed — was found in the bed of the Schoharie, near Gilboa, and 

 was for some time in the possession of the Rev. Mr. Lockwood, of 

 Keyport, New Jersey ; it is now, I believe, in the collection of Dr. 

 J. S. Newberry.* 



At the meeting of the Institute, I suggested that these trunks 

 might belong to the genus Sagenaria ; but further examination leads 

 me to doubt this relation. 



I regard these specimens as possessing a great interest in a scien- 

 tific point of view, and they are a very valuable acquisition to the 

 collections of the Museum. We have been indebted to the good will 

 of Mr. Mackey, Dr. Layman, Mr. Baldwin and Mr. Stryker, in 

 securing them. 



Besides these trunks, there are numerous other specimens of plant 

 remains in the rocks, and I have considered it my duty to send one 

 of my assistants to the locality to take advantage of the occasion for 

 securing everything which may be obtained during the progress of 

 the work. 



I am, very respectfully. 



Your obedient servant, 



JAMES HALL. 



* [Since the writing of this letter, I have seen the original specimen here referred to, which is in 

 the Museum of Rutgers College, New Brunswick ; it is larger than any other yet obtained. The 

 specimens which I have seen in Dr. Newberry's collections are of other and smaller individuals.] 



