New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-05-17
LYCEUM or NATURAL HISTORY.

RISE AND FALL OF DEFUNCT ELEMENTS-THE
ANCIENT LAKES OF NORTH AMERICA.
The Geological, Mining, and Metalurgical
Section OF the Lyceum OF Natural History met last even
ing at their rooms No g. MadsOnave at O'Clock Prof.
Newbery in the chair to listen to papers read by Dr. H.
C. Bolton Mr.. F. Prince jr, and Prof j. 3. NewDerry.
There full attendance. The usual business of the
evening having disposed Of Dr. H. C. Bolton read
paper on the Rise and Fall Of Defunct Elements the
majority OF which have originated in the undue haste on
the part Of chemists and spring mostly from their own
magnations and again they originate from the difficult
ties to be surmonted in the study Of chemical science
They are about in number Of which the Doctor gave
the date of origin discoverer and other interest
ing data. The following are some OF them: Terra
tine, Nicotine, Androneicum Junonun, 'estuIn, ITO
donium, Rutheniun, and others ...o..uoo,. ,,o,
Mr.. f. Prince jr followed in extempOrane0us paper
on the Metallurgy Of Argentferou sGalenas.
Prof Newberry read the next paper on the Ancien,
drainage The changes that have taken place in the to-
Biography of the Western Continent have affected greatly
the animal and vegetable life OF country at that time
as beautiful and fertile as any other The tertiary de-
poss Of the eastern portion OF the continent were ma
rne and at the Far West also ere is series OF tertiary
depositS-in California, in the region Of the Sierra Ne
yada-marine in character But in the interior OF
Of tertan fresh water dcpositsfrcsh water containing
great number of fossil plants and the most remarkable
east the Rocky Mountains. There two species OF
rhnoceros. the elephant hippne quadrpeds the sa6er
beyond tine Jaw the most formidable tooth OF any animal
which have any knowledge. IHeSe deposits OF inc
West formed in fresh water basins, and yet now
there almost no fresh wafer basins in the region
slight idea Of the nature Of these deposits may be
formed from the fact that almost everybody going TO
California talks about chalk deposits. Following III tho
old emigrant train you will various slabs or inns
chak-like earth set up for grave-sOnes. These mlu
serial beds portions Of these fresh water deposits
posts similar and rich in diatOmes The fauna
Interesting On the east side Of the Rocky NOM
tdns the tertiary deposits have been but little studied
although have paid some attention to Them .
There are many alterations. The rivers run through
country comparatively level and have cut down through
walls 1900 feet high, and nearly vertical Inc
material entering into the deposits show volcanic prox,
unity. From them you can get an idea OF the haierl
thrown down in these ancient lakes The conclusion OF
this is that all these sides Of the Rocky Mountains
there found extensive sheets Of tertiary deposits
These lakes covered many times greater than our
present fresh water lakes. They characterize time IN
the history of this continent which was exceedingly
well waered and contain fauna richer than any other
portion Of the world at the present time. ana almost all
OF them extinct. The climate indicated by the plants
grew in great abundance from the Upper Missouri
even beyond the British line, and nora coy
cred all the northern part OF tho continent
so that lived and vegetation luNufatcd even IN
Greenland Salt Lake representa- only series OF suc
INTERNATIONALLY fresh but becoming salt because or want
of drainage great many salt lakes and alkaline plains
here. The drainage now by the hanath anu oter
rivers very great and shows that II has been greatly
improved. This drainage is now among te most stu
pendOus movements OF the circulation OF the water on
the earth that have anywhere. These lakes nave
now entirely disappeared. Prof Newberry continued
his remarks for considerable time longer, and was
listened to with marked attention. After discussing the