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instance in the whole collection where the bark of the 

 wood was converted to stone ; but the internal part was 

 found to be in that state. On examining these nuts, 

 he found that the external shells were entirely un- 

 altered, but the kernels of the nuts were converted 

 into stone ; and the brown membrane over the kernel 

 was unaltered, as well as the shell. This certainly 

 appeared very remarkable ; but it was evidence to show 

 that a certain law obtained in regard to these changes. 

 He had a portion of the fossil wood so converted into 

 stone now in the microscope, and it presented as beautiful 

 and as perfect a specimen of hazel wood as could be seen. 

 With respect to the nuts, he believed that the change was 

 owing to their having been permeated by water that had 

 passed over a bed of limestone. 



Coral and calcareous shells had, in some instances, been 

 dissolved by a solution passing through the rock containing 

 them. These left a cavity, which, being filled up by another 

 solution subsequently passed through, took the shape of the 

 original shell, the substance being entirely changed. It was 

 well known that a portion of the pillars of the bridge of 

 Trajan, crossing the Danube, had become converted into 

 flint by means of chemical action. 



The Professor next proceeded to describe an ancient boat 

 and some other matters which had been found imbedded in 

 the banks of the Calder, near Stanley Ferry ; and also the 

 lower jaw of a Red Deer, found a few years ago imbedded 

 in Hatfield Chace, and sent to the Museum at York. The 

 jaw, bones, and teeth were altogether quite flexible. They 

 had lost the whole of their hardening earth, and retained the 

 gelatine ; which gelatine had become tanned by the peat, and 

 thus the whole were actually converted into leather. In 

 proof of this most remarkable phenomenon, the Professor 

 held up to view the jaw in question, which was as pliant and 

 flexible as a piece of prepared leather. 



