138 The American Geoloyist. September, if 95 
Perhaps greater originality is indicated b}^ his discoveries 
of distorted and metamorphosed pebbles in conglomerates. 
As far back as 1833 he noticed these elongated pebbles near 
Newport, R. I., and brietly described them in his reports of 
1833, 1835, and 1841. In 1859 additional localities showing 
greater distortions and alterations were found on both sides 
of the Green mountains. The following conclusions he de- 
rived from the Rhode Island illustrations: 1. The rock was 
once a normal conglomerate, with the ordinary waterworn 
rounded pebbles, which have been elongated, flattened, bent 
and indented by some subsequent agency. 2. The pebbles 
were somewhat plastic before distortion. 3. Pebbles upon ex- 
isting beaches do not exhibit any such distortions. 4. Some 
of the pebbles have been cut by joints. 5. The forces produc- 
ing the alterations are the same that have produced plication. 
From the more northern examples it may be said further, 6, 
that in Vermont the elongation and flattening operated most 
energetically in the direction of the dip, while it had been 
in the direction of the strike in Rhode Island. 7. This was 
often effected by minute folding. 8. Some of these conglom- 
erates after extreme flattening have been altered into crystalline 
schists, partly by chemical changes, partly by mechanical flex- 
ing. This may be done in many cases without obliterating 
entirely the original fragmental shapes. It is not to the credit 
of American geologists that so many of them refused to ac- 
cept these views till they were forced to do so by the petro- 
graphical studies entered upon by Europeans. The micro- 
scope has fully confirmed and enlarged our views respecting 
the origin of many schists from sediments, through mechani- 
cal and chemical alteration of the constituent fragments. 
Edward Hitchcock also performed eminent service in con- 
ducting geological surveys and in establishing scientific asso- 
ciations. It was his success in conducting explorations in 
Massachusetts that led to the inauguration of similar surveys 
simultaneously in 1836 in all the important states in the then 
existing Union. The government of New York consulted him 
as to the best method of surveying that great state, and his 
advice that it be divided into four districts was followed, and 
he was appointed to the charge of the survey of the first dis- 
trict. He entered upon the work with ('. B. Adams for assist- 
