1874.] 297 [Hagen. 



Dr. G. Troost, of Baltimore, Md., published in the third volume of 

 Silliman's American Journal of Science in 1821, a paper entitled, 

 " Description of a variety of amber, and of a fossil substance sup- 

 posed to be the nest of an insect, discovered at Cape Sable, Magothy 

 River, Ann Arundel Co., Maryland." 



The title of the paper may have its share in its oblivion, because 

 the paper contains much more than is indicated by it, and gives an 

 elaborate account of the geological formation at Cape Sable, of the 

 successive situation and thickness of the strata, and a scientific de- 

 termination of their mineralogical contents. All statements of the 

 author concerning European amber, proving a perfect acquaintance 

 with the matter, are well founded, and, considering the time of pub- 

 lication, are rather remarkable. 



Fifty years ago the geological strata containing the fossil called 

 amber (Bernstein), and still more, all the strata connected with it, 

 were hardly studied. Born in the country where most of the amber 

 known has been found for centuries, and initiated in the study of the 

 subject by my grandfather and my father, both authors of valuable 

 papers about amber, I have myself studied this curious fossil and the 

 palseontological remains very often admirably preserved in it. By 

 mere accident I became aware of the existence of Dr. Troost's 

 paper, entirely unknown to European naturalists, and of course over- 

 looked in every bibliography concerning amber. 



Two valuable scientific periodicals 1 had published short extracts 

 of the quoted paper ; nevertheless, at the time, these extracts were 

 overlooked, for these periodicals rarely contained geological mat- 

 ter. As the paper of Dr. Troost seemed to be exceedingly interest- 

 ing, I presented a translation to the Physico-Oeconomical Society 

 of Koenigsberg, Prussia, now for years the centre of all works and 

 studies concerning the amber of Europe. This translation was pub- 

 lished in the Society's Memoirs, 1871, Vol. xi, with a learned and 

 interesting report from its most competent member, Dr. G. Berendt, 

 which report, together with somewhat more detailed written remarks 

 by the same geologist, induced me chiefly to present this communi- 

 cation. 



1 Scliweigger Jahrbucli der Cheraie u. Playsik, 1822, p. 434. Karsten Archiv, Vol. 

 VI, p. 416. 



