280 J. D. Dana—Absence of marine life from 
atomic weight after its determination by analysis. The specific 
gravity being known, there could be two points equally dis- 
tant from the maximum or minimum in each line, in which, in 
general, the element could be placed; the value as found by 
analysis, or one of its multiples, would satisfy one of these posl- 
tions. 
It is somewhat strange that there is no position for hydrogen 
in the table. 
Art. XXXVIL—On Southern New England during the melung 
of the great Glacier ; by James D. Dana. No. IL* 
II. ApsENcE OF MARINE LIFE FROM LoNnG IsLAND SOUND THROUGH 
THE GLACIAL AND PART OF THE CHAMPLAIN PERIODS. 
THE fact that the stratified estuary and seashore deposits of 
the New Haven region, and of other parts of the Connecticut 
coast bordering on the Sound, afforded me no trace of marin 
life was a puzzle so long as I looked upon them as true beach- 
made accumulations. I have continued my search at various 
localities, up to the present time, and in no case have I met 
with shells or other sea-relics, The evidence proves that the 
deposits are not of beach origin, but drift deposits made by the 
waters and gravel or sand of the melting glacier as they 
The same absence of marine products appears to charac 
the drift along the northern shore of Long Island, or southern side 
of the Sound. The extended investigations of Professor m. 
W. Mather, while geologist of the State of New York, brought 
nothing of the kind to light; and my own recent examinations 
of the drift on the Island have been as barren of discovery- 
Moreover, [ could gather no evidence from persons living = 
* For No. I. of this Memoir, see page 168. 
