The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-01-24


gular horns turned outward. Carnivor-
Gus species were not rare in the ancient
world, and served then as now to check the
too rapid increase. Of the IA species of
c.,rnivorere known, there were tiger-cats
and dogs as large as the black bear, but
probably much more carnvorous in their
propensities, while some of the cats had
remarkable canine or eye teeth. In new
species, the size of a panther, these teeth
greatly resemble those of a shark There
were also many reptiles, such as turtles,
lizards, snakes, &c.
The fossil plants which have been col
lected by the Survey and are now in pro-
cess of elaboration by Prof. Lesquereux
and DR.. Newberry will teach an equally
instructive lesson in regard to the ancient
history of our Great West. We now know
that those broad treeless 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 of palms waved
broad leaves over the ground, some of
which had spread of 10 feet. At the
present time the true fan palms are found
only within the tropics. Many of our ma
tive 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
Prot. Lesquereux says that among the
genera found to be indigenous to our con-
tinent are the Virginia creeper Ampelopsis)
and the mulberry (Norus). Both the fos-
sill 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 pleasant
ness of its fruits; the other adorns our
dwellings when allowed to grow in our
gardens. And when left to its own work
it covers with green foliage the dead trees
and the barren rocks, tempering desolation
and ruin by hiding them under elegant
fringes and garlands painted of the richest
colors. 1t is worth something to know
that the origin of the Virginia creeper and
of the red mulberry is traceable to the
tertiary formations of North America.''
Over 400 species of plants from these
Western Ignite strata will be illustrated
in the forthcoming volumes. The leaves
are, in many instances, very abundant, and
are found in close proximity to the coal
beds which are becoming of such great
value on the Western plains. Not unfre-
quently strata several feet in thickness are
composed almost entirely of the leaves of
the fig, sycamore, willow, poplar, walnut,
oak, &C., SO well preserved that they seem
to have fallen from their branches only
yesterday. Even the delicate veins and
serrated edges are as perfect as if pressed
in u herbarium. These abundant and
beautiful fossils in many places must have
been enveloped in the sediments of little
streams or lakes as they dropped from the
trees. The forests must have been wonder
fully luxurant that thus covered the
ground as st thick as autumnal leaves that
strew the brooks in Nallombrosa' DR..
Newberry thus wildly describes this period:
"The pictures which geology holds up
to our view Of North America during the
tertiary ages are in all respects but one
more attractive and interesting than could
be drawn from its present aspects. Then
warm and genial climate prevailed from
the Gulf to the Arctic Sea; the Canadian
highlands were higher, but the Rocky
Mountains lower and less broad. Most of
the continent exhibited an undulating sur
face, rounded hills and broad valleys COW
cred with forests grandor than any of the
present day, or wide expanses of rich
savanna, over which roamcd countless herds
of animals. many of gigantic size, of
which our present meager fauna retains
but few dwarfed representatives. Noble
rivers flowed through plains and valleys,
and sea-like lakes, broader and more
numerous than those the continent now
bears, diversified the scenery Through
unnumbered ages the seasons ran their
ceaseless course, the sun rose and set, the
moon waxed and waned over this fair land,
but no human eye was there to mark its
beauty, nor human intellect to control and
use its exuberant fertility. Flowers open
ed their many -colored petals on meadow
and hillside and filled the air with their
perfumes, but only for the delectation of
the wandering bee. Fruits ripened in the
sun, but there was no hand there to pluck,
nor any speaking tongue to taste. Birds
sang in the trees, but for no ears but their
own. The surface of lake or river was
whitened by no sail, nor furrowed by any
PROV but the breast of the waterfowl; and
the tarreaching shores echoed no sound
but the dash of the waves and the lowing
of the herds that slaked their thirst in the
crystal waters.'
There is no space here to present more
than glimpse of the wonderful discoveries
in the far West which have been brought
to light within the past few years. The
history of succession of life on our CONT
nent, and its relation to other portions of
the earth, are annually made clearer by
these important researches. 1t is claimed
by Prof. Cope that the vast number of
missing links in the mysterious chain of
organic existence are being supplied by
these discoveries, throwing flood of light
on the theory of evolution which is now
attracting the favorable attention of the
best scientific minds in all parts of the
world; and that many new facts which will
in this way be brought to light annually
may be expected to have bearing on the
history of the origin of the human species.
ANOTHER MAN WANTED.-Old farmer
Pratt went into his house one day and
caught John, the hired man, hugging Mrs.
p. the farmer said nothing, and went out
mi bo find