The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1874-02-18
LAlIBERTyTLE n. J., WEDNESDAY,, FEBRUARY Is 1874
World, is really older than the Eastern Hem.

World, is really older than the Eastern Hem
i isphere.
f Tho discoveries in Kansas and Wyoming
are still more wonderful. During the past
summer Prof Cope has occupied considerable
time under the auspices of the Survey IN ex-
/ ploring another of these wonderful graveyards
of a long past period, from which he has taken
the osceous remains of more than one hufslred
species, moro nearly resembling those of
White and Nioblara rivers, but most of them
specifically distinct. Atleast seventy species
are new to science, ranging from the size of
the mole nearly to that of the elephant six
teen species are reptiles.
STRANGE FOSSILS
| Many of the irsectiyorous animals related
to the mole, and of very small size, have been
| procured. The delicacy and minuteness of
these fossils are surprising. Gnawing animals
or rodents left numerous remains of eighteen
species, some not larger than the common
mouse. Some were the predecessors of the
rabbits others of squirrels, and others of
MICE OF cloven footed quadrupeds great
many species have been found. Some were
nearly intermediate between the deer and the
dog in structure. Like the latter they had no
horns. They were about as large as sheep.-
Others were about the size of gray squirrels,
er discovered. Several species of horses were
living during the same period their bones
and teeth are found in abundance The rhi-
noceros abounded in Colorado in former days,
no less than seven species having been pro
duced by Prof. Cope. One of the specimens
is perfect skull, with teeth, complete, and
covered with the moss like crystalization seen
in the moss agate. But the most remarkable
monsters of the past whose existence has been
disclosed by the present survey, arc a series
of horned species related to the rhinoceros,
but possessing some features in which, accord
ing to Prof. Cope, they resemblethe 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 II huge horn over each eye,
while another had one on each side of the
nose, and more than a foot in length, resenl-
bling on the back part of the head, the OK, &c.
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 check
bones were enormously expanded, and its
horns were fat. A fifth species had triangu.
lar horns turned outward. Carnivorous specie,
were not rare in this ancient world, and served
then as now to check the too rapid increase
OF the fourteen species of carnivorous known
there were tiger-cats and dogs as large as IL,
black bear, but probably more carnivorous
their proponsties while some of the cats hi
remarkable canine or eye teeth. In new sp
cies the size of the panther, these teet
: greatly resemble those of the shark Thei
were also many reptiles, such as turtle
lizards, snakes, &c.
PLANTS.
The fossil plants collected by the Survey
and now in process of elaboration by Fro
Lesquereux and Dir. Newbury, will teach a
equally instructive lesson in regard to til
ancient history of our Great West. We know
now that these broad treeless plains were ono
covered with dense forests, resembling in thei
luxuriance those of the central or southern
portions of our continent at the present. time
Groves of palm waved broad leaves over the
ground, some of which had a spread of twelve
feet. At the present time the trees and palms
are found only within the tropics. Many OF
our native ornamental trees and shrubs are
the lineal descendants of the tertiary species,
and SO nearly resemble the ancient forms that
it is difficult to distinguish them. Prof. Les
quereux says that among the genera found to
be indigenous to our continent arc the Vir-
ginia creeper (AmpeSopsis) and the mulberry
(Morus) Both the fossil species are in inti-
mate affinity with the living ones They are
seen everywhere and known and liked by
everybody. The one is the friend of the farm
er by it's shade his children delighted by
the peasantncss of IFS fruits the other adorns
our dwellings, whcfi allowed to grow in our
gardens. And when left to its own work it
covers with green foliage the dead trees and
barren roclss, tempcring desolation and ruin
by hiding them under elegant fringes and gar
lands painted of the richest celors. 1t is
worth something to know the origin Of the
Virginia creeper and the red mulberry is
traceable to the tertiary formations Of North
America"