Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1874-01-10

period, from which he has taken the
osse0us remains of more than LOO species,
more nearly resembling those Of WliLe
and Niobrar0 Rivers, but most Gf thea.
specifically distinct. At least 70 species
are new to science, ranging from the size
Of the mole nearly to that Of the Gle
phant lG species only are reptiles.
Many forms CT the ineectiVolous AMI
mails related TO the mole, and Of very
small Size, have been procured The
delicacy and minuteues5 Of these fossils
are surprising. Gnawing animals, or
rodents. left numerous remains OF is
species, some not larger than the hDmes.
tic mouse. Some were the predecessors
of rabbits, others Of squirrels, others Of
mice. OF cloven-footed quldrugeds
great many species have fcen found.
Some were nearly intermediate bets cen
the deer aud the hog In structure. Like
the Inter, they had no horne. Tn >
were about rs large as sheep. o hers
were about the size OF gray squirrels,
being the smallest Of this class OF AMI
mails ever discovered. Several species Of
horses were living during the eane
period their bones and teeth are found
in abundance. The rhinoceros ahonnjed
in Colorado in former days, no less than
seven species having been procured by
Prof. Cope. One of the specimens Is a
perfect skull with teeth complete, and
covered with the moss-like capitalization
seen in the moss agate.
But the most remarkable monsters Of
the past whose existence has been s.
closed by the present survey are Il series
of honoreG species related to the rhinoo-
eros, but possessing some features In
which, according TO Prof. Cope, they rs
semble the elephant. They stood Aigh
on the legs aud had short ieot. hui
possessed Osseous horns in pair- on T
ferent parts of the head. One Of the
largest had huge horn over each eye
while another had one on each side OIL
the nose and more than n foot in length
resembling, on the back part of the h,ad
the OK, etc. A third one, Of larger siHI
than the last, had rudimental hOrns ul
the nose. Sill aRothcr was about Ri
large AS the elephant. It's cheek-buue'
were enormously expanded, and Its horn
were fiat. A iifih species had tfiangull Al
horns turned outward. Cluiyoron
species were not rare IN this aucen
world, and served then US now to chccl
, the too rapid increase. Of the "a specie
q of carnivorcs known, there were tiger
. cats and dogs as large rs the black bear
! but probably much more carniyorous il
their propensities, while some Of the cat
had remarkable canine or eye teeth. li
6 a new species, the size of panther. lhes
: teeth greatly resemble those Of a shark
] There were also many reptiles, such Il
e turtles, lizards, snakes, &c.
The fossil plants which have been col
S lected by the Survey and are now in pro
e cess of elaboration by Prof. Lesquereu
A and Dr.. Newberry will teach an equal
: instructive lesson in regard to the ancier
history of our Great West. We no
e know that those broad treeless plain
c were once covered with dense forests, =,
b sembling in luvuriance those Of the Gel
/ tral and southern portions OF our cont
l., ncnt at the present time. Groves {
# palms waved their broad leaves over ID
j. ground, some Of which had spread {
c i2 feet. At the present time the true ia
e palms are found only within the tropic
t Many of our native ornamental trees an
e shrubs are The lineal descendants Of Il
" tertiary species, and so nearly resemb
e the ancient forms that It is difficult
o distinguish them. Prof LesquefeuX sa.
If among the genera found - be irdgenoi
e to onr continent are tue Virginia creep
e (ImpeiOpsis) and the mulberry N3ras
,f Both the fossil species are in intina
IA affinity with the living ones.