S. #. Peckham—The Origin of Bitumens. 107 
from a peculiar decomposition of woody fibre. Bright and 
Prestwich both regard the petroleum of England as indige- 
nous in the limestones and shales, and the testimony of E. W. 
Binney is conclusive as to the production of petroleum from 
the decomposition of peat on Down Holland moss. J. D. 
Whitney has suggested that the infusorial remains so abundant 
in the sedimentary rocks of Southern California, are the orig- 
inal source of the petroleum occurring in them.* 
think no doubt can be entertained that in certain localities 
.... Dr. J. S. Newberry and the late Pro- 
fessor EK. B. Andrews have both called attention to the similar 
morphism and has proved by experiment the adequacy of such 
an origin for all forms of bitumen. 
e studies which I have made upon petroleum, extending 
now over a period of more than twenty years, lead me to the 
* Dr. J. S. Newberry has lately erroneously attributed this theory to myself. — 
Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., ii, No. 9. 
