New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-01-22

were very numerous, aud are OF the greatest
interest, from the fact that none Of them are
living on the continent at the present time.
Five species of rhinOcerOs are found; a mas
todon, an elephant, and numerous forms
alluded to the domestic hog, varying in size
from that of the African hippopotamus down
to that of the domestic cat. From the dis.
covery of this group of extinct animals we
may draw the inference that Nebraska and
Dakota were the homes Of a race closely
allied to those inhabiting Asia and Africa at
the present time. From their characteristics
we are led to believe that the climate during
that period was considerably warmer than it
is now. The inference is also drawn that
America, instead Of being az it is usually
called, the "New World" is really older
than the Eastern Hemisphere.
The discoveries in Kansas and Wyoming
are still wonderful. During the past summer
Prof. Cope has occupied considerable time
under the auspices of the survey ia exploring
another of these wonderful grayeyards of a
long past period, from which he has taken
the Osseous remains of more than one hundred
species, more nearly resembling those oil
White and Niobrara rivers, but most of them
specifically distinct. At least seventy spe-
cies are new to science, ranging from the size
of the mole nearly to that of the elephant ;
sixteen species only are reptiles.
STRANGE FOSSILS.
Many forms of the insectivorous animals
related to the mole, and of very small size,
have been procured. The delicacy and mi
nuteness of these fossils are surprising.
Gnawing animals, or rodents, left numerous
remains of eighteen species, some not larger
than the domestic mouse. Some were the
predecessors of the rabbit, others of squirrels,
and others of mice. OF clOven- footed quad
rupeds great many species have been found.
Some were nearly intermediate between the
deer and the hog in structure. Like the
latter, they had no horns. They were about
as large as sheep. Others were about the
size Of gray squirrels, being the smallest of
this class Of animals ever discovered. Several
species of horses were living during the same
period; their bones and teeth are found in
abundance. The rhnoceros abounded in
Colorado in former days, no less than seven
species having been procured by Prof. Cope.
One of the specimens is perfect skull, with
teeth complete, and covered with the moss
like crystaliEatiOn seen in the moss agate.
But the most remarkable monsters of the
past whose existence has been disclosed by
the present survey are a series OF horned
species related to the rhinocerOs, but pos
sessipg some features in which, according to
Prof. Cope, they resemble the elephant.
They stood high on the legs and had short
feet, but possessed OsseOus horns in pairs on
different parts of the head. One of the larg-
est species had a huge horn over each eye,
while another had one on each side OF the
nose and more than foot in length, resem-
bling, on the back part of the head, the OK,
SC. A third one, of larger size than the
last, had rudimental horns on the nose. Still
another was about as large as the elephant.
Its cheek bones were enormously expanded,
and its horns were fat. A fifth species had
triangular horns turned outward. Carnivor-
Gus species were not rare in this ancient
world, and served then as now to check the
too rapid increase. OF the fourteen species
of carnivores known, there were tger-cats
and dogs as large as the black bear, but pro-
badly much more carnivOrous in their pro-
pensities, while some Of the cats had remark
able canine or eye teeth. In new species,
the size of panther, these teeth greatly
resemble those of shark. There were also
MANY reptiles, such as turtles, lizards,
snakes, SC.
The fossil plants which have been collected
by the Survey and are now in process OF elab-
Grafton by Prof. Lesquereux, and DIR. New
berry will teach an equally instructive lesson
in regard to the ancient history of our Great
w eSLs W0 INV huVV shos sAASSS W Oe~S
trseless plains were once covered with dense
forests, resembling in their luxuriance those
of the central or southern portions of our
continent at the present time. Groves OIL
palms waved broad leaves over the ground,
some of which had spread of twelve feet.
At the present time the true fan palms are
found only within the tropics. Many of our
native ornamental trees and shrubs are the
lineal descendants of the tertiary species,
and 30 nearly resemble the ancient forms
that it Is dificnlt to distinguish them. Prof
Lesquereux says that among the genera
found to be indigenous to our continent are
the Virginia creeper (An.pslopsis) and the
mulberry (Aorue.) Both the fossil species
are in intimate affinity with the living ones.
''They are seen everywhere, and known and
liked by everybody. The one is the friend
of the farmer by its shade, Of his children
delighted by the pleasantness OF its fruits
the other adorns our dwellings when allowed
to grow in our gardens. And when left te
its own work it covers with green foliage the
dead trees and the barren rocks, tempern9
desolation and ruin by hiding them under
elegant fringes aud garlands painted OF the
| richest colors. 1t is worth something tt
know that the origin of the Virginia creepel
and of the red mulberry is traceable to thu
| tertiary formations of North America"