33J: The Aiiirrlcan (f'eofogti^f. DMcmber, isw 
chaiac'tcr and p()ssil)ly donvi'd from eel lular structure. The whole 
forms a cementing substance wliich unites the amber-like rods. 
Section )\ is that of a thd<e taken from hand specimen number 
5. It is composed of a sponjiv mass, possibly the residue of 
cellular structure, in which are eml)edded small fraijments of 
amber-like substance of anuular form, the whole as in the inter- 
stitial substance of numl)er 2. 
Section 4 was obtained from a single rod or filann'iit 1 cm. long 
l)y 1.25 ram. wide. Structure none. Hound cavities similar to 
air bub])les, fr(M(Ucnt. but not so conspicuous as in many other 
cases. 
The details thus outlined sufficiently express the characteristics 
of all the other sections examined, and the general results of the 
examination make certain facts prominent. 
1. The total absence of structure. 
'1. The presence of tubular ramuli of diverse dimensions. 
3. The presence of rounded cavities. 
4. Tlie presence in large ([uantit}-, of angular fragments of 
material of the same nature as the rods. 
5. The presence of an amorphous substance together with the 
last, either occurring as distinct flakes, or acting as a cement to 
unite the rod. 
It is desirable that these facts be considered somewhat in detail. 
The complete absence of structure thi'oughout the numerous 
rods submitted to examination, is significant. Out of several 
hundred rods there was only one instance of an appearance which 
was at all suggestive of derivation from structure. In this case, 
a very limited area was occupied by a series of rather closely ar- 
ranged plates running transverselj' to the axis of the rod, but these 
are, I think, capable of reference without serious question, to the 
action of internal shrinkage. (Fig. 2.) Had normal structure at 
any time constituted a part of these rods, it is quite likely that 
out of one or two hundred, some evidence of this fact would 
have appeared. The total absence of such evidence lends strength 
to the view that the rods must have been derived from material 
originally structureless and. i)ractically. of the same nature as 
now found. 
The presence of spore-like granulations is a feature more or less 
common to all organic structure which has passed into a fossil 
state, and is incident to the more or less complete Invaking up of 
