W. M. Fontaine—‘‘Great Conglomerate” on New River. 459 
“he The zodiacal light is polarized in a plane passing through 
the sun. 
2. The amount of polarization is, with a high degree of 
probability, as much as 15 per cent, but can hardly be as much 
as 2() per cent. 
8. The spectrum of the light is not perceptibly different from 
that of sunlight except in intensity. 
The light is derived from the sun, and is reflected from 
solid matter. 
5. This solid matter consists of small bodies (meteoroids) 
revolving about the sun in orbits crowded together toward the 
ecliptic. 
Yale College, April 6, 1874. 
Art. XLL—The “ Great Conglomerate” on New River, West 
Virginia ; by Wu. M. FonvAINe. 
beds of coal. This formation is well known as differing strik- 
ingly, both in its fragmental rocks and coals, from the overlying 
lower coal. There are different opinions, however, as to its 
Prof. Wm 
lower coals, Again, to the east, this series of coals is under- 
laid by the enormously expanded Sub-carboniferous group. As 
by the opening of the Ches. & O. R. R., renders the present a 
favorable time for the study of this region. A recent visit toa 
of the New River coals, unless we examine the nature of the 
accompanying formations in this section. I Ss be 
permitted to give here some of the scanty store of fi 
