New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-02-15
Neb 0rIeans DaiIp Crescent
MONDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY ls, 1858.
DIR. BoyntOn's Lectures.

DR.. BoyntOn delivered another Of bis entertaining
and instructive lectures to the school children Fri
day afternoon, and at night he delivered the sixth
lecture OF his regular TO the adult population
The subject Of this lecture was the Saurian period
of the earth's formation that which succeeded the
carboniferous PERIOD and left its history recorded in
the red sandstone formation. In this period, the
grand plan and progress Of creation were shown by
the existence Of improved forms Of fish of which the
sturgeon and the shark are the modern types Of
creatures which were half fish and half reptile Of
other creatures which were half reptile and half
quadruped, and half reptiles and half bird and Of
still other creatures of wondrous ormatiou such as
reptile half frog and half alligator and another rep
tile half turtle and half snake.
In his explanation of these different species Of ex-
tinct animals as evidenced by their fossil remains,
the lecturer showed the progressive steps of the ami
NAL creation in very clear and forcibe light First
were the fish which derived their life from the water
alone; then the fish, with reptilian developments
and lungs, which had to ascend to the surface for
air next the reptiles which crawled in the marshes
Or sported on the shores, equally dependent upon
water and air and after them the reptiles which
could swim, walk and fly with equal facility no one
species being in any way related to the other but
each new creation, superior to its predecessor and
adapted by Deity to the improved condition Of the
elements and the earth's growth.
The lecturer dscoursed upon the mysterious
gigantic tracks found in the red sandstone-which
tracks, having only three toes, all pointing forward
were generally supposed to be the tracks of some
monstrOus bird of the ostrich species But he con-
tented himself merely with citing the tracks as ey
dences of the existence of some gigantic creature
which stepped six feet at a stride that they were
the tracks OF bird he did not consider established
by the fact that they disclosed only three toes The
lecture was concluded by the exhibition of a hand
somey painted landscape of the Saurian period rep
resentng its scanty tropical vegetation its reptiles
and BIRDS as guessed at by their fossil remains and by
an eloquent ausion to the grandeur and the wonder
ful system OF Gods eternal works. as compared with
the brief and pershable achievements of man. The
painting was peculiarly interesting, it was de-
signed from the remains of animals and trees found
in the red sandstone of Massachusetts, showing that
in the Saurian period that portion of the globe had
level surface and a tropical climate
On Saturday night DR.. Boynton had an immense
audience present at his extra lecture and exhibition
of scientific experiments The experiments were
varied and highly interesting the audience ap-
plauded them warmly. We are pleased to learn that
after the close of his regular course on geology DR.
DoyhVoh ih'ehus teped'lnS ms sClehuHc eXhlDltlon
for the benefit of the Sunday School Board-the oh.
ject being to procure books for the libraries o
the different Sunday Schools
At the close of bis exhibition on Saturday night
DR.. Boynton gave notice that in consequence of a
prior engagement of Odd Fellows Hall, he could moi
get for next week, and would therefore be under
the necessity Of delivering the two remaining lectures
of his cour on geology at Armory Hall, on Wednes
day and Thursday evenings, and his two remaining
lectures to the school children and ladies the after
moons of the same days, at the same place.
The change, we are sure, will be very gratfyin.
to all the ticketholders, for Peaes great painting
" The Court of DEATH" now on exhibition at th
Armory, is not to be removed but is to remain OIL
exhibition, and is to be explained by DIR. Boyton a
the close of each lecture, afternoon and evening
without extra charge.