Crosby.] 
50 
[October 6, 
For many years Mr. Burbank was engaged in studying tbe 
crystalline limestones of eastern Massachusetts. The first results 
of these investigations were published in the Proceedings of the 
Society in April, 1871. This paper was very carefully prepared ; 
and in it he maintained that these limestones are not stratified 
deposits, but veins, and denied the organic nature of the Eozoon ; 
and in both these conclusions he was strengthened by subsequent 
observations. This communication marked the beginning of his 
connection with the Society. In 1872 he was chosen a member 
of the Committee on Mineralogy, and in 1874 of that on Geology, 
both of which positions he retained to the time of his death. 
In November, 1872, he communicated to the Society his observ- 
ations, made thirteen years before, on the surface geology of North 
Carolina, with their bearing on the drift phenomena of the 
northern United States. These important results, however, were 
not published in the Proceedings of the Society until a twelve- 
month later. He was thus a pioneer in solving one of the most 
important problems of geology ; and this is undoubtedly his most 
valuable contribution to the science. 
Passing by several minor papers on the mineralogy and botany 
of his native State, we come to his investigation of the con- 
glomerate and associated rocks in Harvard, Mass., the results of 
which were presented to the Society in 1876. He had early 
reached the conclusion that the pebbles of this conglomerate had 
been distorted by mutual pressure while in a plastic state ; but 
with his characteristic modesty and thoroughness he refrained 
from publishing anything until he had examined every foot of the 
territory, and weighed every available fact ; with the consequence 
that in this, as in all other cases, he had perfect confidence that 
his work would stand. The list of his published papers would 
undoubtedly be much longer than it is, but for his determination 
in every instance to make his analysis of the facts exhaustive. 
In the spring of 1876 he cooperated with the writer in prepar- 
ing the report on the Centennial Geological Map of Massachusetts. 
He had in preparation for the Boston meeting of the American 
Association for the Advancement of Science what would have 
been his most important contribution to the Eozoon discussion ; 
