The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-03-21

| " a"Nt NtoHNA1 ahAth W thost lti-
habiting 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 as II Is usually
called, the "New World" is really older
than the Eastern Hemisphere.
The discoveries in Kansas and Wyoming
are still more wonderful During the past
Summer Prof. Cope has occupied consider
able time under the auspices of the Survey
in exploring another of these wonderful
graveyards of long past period from
which he has taken the osscous remains of
more than 100 species, more nearly resem-
bling those of White and Niobran rivers,
but most of them specifically distinct. At
least 40 species are new to science, ranging
from the size of the mole nearly to that
of the elephant; 10 species only are rep
tiles.
Many forms of the insectivorous animals
related to the mole, and of very small size,
have been procured. The delioacy and
minuteness of these fossils is surprising.
Gnawing animals, or rodents, left numcr-
Gus remains Of Is species, some not larger
than the domestic mouse. Some we're the
predecessors of the rabbits, Others Of squir-
rels, and others of mice. OF cloyen-footed
quadrupeds a great many species have
been found. Some were nearly interme-
diate 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 squir-
rels, being the smallest of this class of ami
mails ever discovered Several species of
horses were living during the same period;
their bones and teeth are found in abun-
dance. The rhinoceros abounded in Colo
RADIO 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-likc crystallization seen in
the moss agate But the most remarkable
monsters of the past whose existence has
been disclosed by the present survey are
series of horned species related to the
rhinoccros, but possessing some features in
which, according to Prof Cope, they re-
semble 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 largest species had
huge horn over each eye, while another
had one on each side of the nose and more
than foot in length, resembling on the
back part of the head the OK, etc. A
third one, of larger size than the last, had
rudimental horns on the nose. Still anoth-
er was about as large as the elephant Its
cheekbones were enormously expanded,
and its horns were fat. A fifth species
had triangular horns turned outward,
Carniyorous species were not rare in the
ancient world, and served then as now to
check the too rapid increase. OF the II
species of carniyorerc known, there were
tigcr-eats aud dogs as large as the black
bear, but probably much more carnivorous
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 DIR. Newberry will teach an equally
instructive lesson in regard to the ancient
historyof our Great West. We know
that those broad trceless 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 l2 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.
Prof. Lesquereux says that among the
genera found to be indigenous to our con-
tinent are the Virginia creeper (AD,petop-
sis) and the mulberry lNorus.) Both the
fossil species are in intimate affinity with
the living ones, "They are seen every
where aud 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 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
fringcs and garlands painted Of the richest
colors. 1t is worth something to known
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 lignitic strata will be illustrated
in the forthcoming volumes. The leaves
arc, 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,