Geological Conference Papers.

The recent Springfield excursion and Fossil Bacteria-Renault were the subjects before the geological conference last evening. The Springfield excursion to Mount Tom and vicinity, in which seventy students from nine New England colleges participated, was described by Mr. Bowman. He told of the different formations observed, speaking especially of the lava beds of this section formed by the exudance of the molten mass through a fissure in prehistoric times. In a paper on Fossil Bacteria-Renault, illustrated by slides from the stereopticon, Professor Woodworth showed evidences of the existence of bacteria many ages ago, as is shown in fossils from the coal beds and other formations. He stated that the difference between anthracite and bituminous coal beds was in many cases due to the work of these bacteria.