﻿58 



Cincinnati Society of Natural History. 



tails and sedges or wild grass, and a common resort for rattle- 

 snakes, and consequently to be avoided by children. 



One very dry autumn, shortly after the war, it was set on fire, 

 and continued to burn and smolder for a couple of weeks, leaving 

 on top light ashes. This may give you some idea of the carbon- 

 aceous character of its bed, which was closely allied to peat. The 

 peaty character extends down to an undetermined depth at the 

 center of the depression, but at the margin tapered to a feather 

 edge, and near the margin of the dish, as I knew it, was four feet 

 and a half thick. Under the black peat lay white marl, extending 

 down a considerable depth. At the bottom of the peat, and ly- 

 ing on the white marl, at the depth of four feet and a half, near the 

 edge of the depression, the arrow-point was found. I believe the 

 explanation of it is simple. In the past, a small lake, with many 

 shells, existed, and formed the marl which made up the white layer 

 at the bottom. In this lake was game, at which some aboriginal 

 inhabitant fired the arrow, and it sank to the bottom of the lake. 

 Time passed, vegetation sprang up, and finally formed the peaty 

 layer four and a half feet thick. 



I will not draw any conclusions as to the time thus occupied, 

 neither will I speculate upon its probable age. That will be left 

 to the botanist and geologist. All that is to be said in conclusion 

 is, that the peaty layer spoken of is composed in small part of 

 washings from the low, clayey knolls immediately surrounding the 

 depression, and from which the washings must have been very- 

 slow. It is my purpose to report to this Society a number of 

 relic finds, about which some points of interest center, and any one 

 who can and will contribute others, will be conferring a favor. 



Mr. L. S. Cotton announced the death of Mr. R. B. Moore, a 

 former President and a Trustee of the Society. On motion, a 

 Committee, consisting of Mr. L. S. Cotton, Dr. R. M. Byrnes 

 and Dr. A. E. Heighway, was appointed to prepare a memorial 

 notice for publication in the Journal. 



Mr. Chas. Dury exhibited a specimen of the ' 'Whip-Scorpion, " 

 or "Mule-Killer" (Threyphorus giganteus) from Florida. He said 



