1881 .] 
147 
[Putnam. 
later they were subject to other conditions, probably natural, by 
which part have been modified ; that since then, they have lain 
for many, many years exposed to weathering agencies; some 
showing that they have been subject to this action while lying on 
or near the surface, and others while buried to some depth. 
Their weathering corresponds to that observed on pebbles of 
similar composition in gravels elsewhere. It is to be remembered 
that all the weathering has taken place since the Abbott speci- 
mens were originally chipped. 
The term weathering as here employed means the alteration 
and decay that has taken place on the surface of the specimen, 
but does not imply that it has been exposed on the surface of the 
ground ; it may or may not have been ; the weathering itself 
shows with greater or less clearness whether this occurred from 
surface exposure or not. 
Part of the specimens shown me bore evidence that they had 
originally been exposed to weathering on the surface of the 
ground and been covered since, but the covering evidently took 
place ages ago, if the weathering that they have been subjected 
to since is any criterion. 
The term “ argillite,” as employed by me, is used to designate 
all argillaceous rocks, in which the argillaceous material is the 
predominent characteristic; slate or clay-slate, clay-stone, etc. 
are simply varieties of it, the term slate being only rightfully used 
when slaty cleavage is developed. The argillite out of which 
these specimens were made has no trace of cleavage. 
Mr. F. W. Putnam said : — It is left for, me Mr. President, to 
say a few words, in conclusion, on the subject of Palaeolithic man 
on the Atlantic coast of America, which has been so forcibly pre- 
sented by the several speakers this evening ; but first I wish to give 
the reason, apart from my long personal relations with Dr. Abbott, 
that has so closely identified the Peabody Museum of Archaeol- 
ogy with Dr. Abbott’s discoveries in New Jersey. 
In Mr. Peabody’s letter of gift to the gentlemen he appointed 
as Trustees of the Museum of American Archaeology and Ethnol- 
ogy, which he then founded, under date of Oct. 8, 1866, are the 
following words : “ In the event of the discovery in America of 
