184 PROCEEDINGS OP THE ACADEMY OF 



sented in figure 21, plate xvi. of 'A memoir on the extinct Sloth Tribe of 

 North America,' by the author." 



As regards the specimens of human art found as above, it must be remarked 

 that it is only at this locality Ashley Ferry that we find such relics. Here 

 at the base of a low bluff, is a beach of eocene marl ; above the bluff is a farm- 

 yard, and all the sweepings of the premises, consisting in part of old hoes, 

 broken plough-shares, and fragments of crockery-ware, etc., are thrown into 

 the river, and lie mingled with the fossils which are washed out of the bluff, 

 and scattered over the surface of the beach below, which is exposed at low 

 tide. At no other locality on this river, and there are several, viz. : Ramsay's, 

 Clement's, Greer's, Middleton's, etc., where similar fossils are found, do we 

 obtain relics of human art ; at least, I have never found such. 



The fossils from Ashley Ferry present, as a group, the same appearance as 

 those procured inland at some distance from the river, by digging from three 

 to five feet below the surface. Many specimens from the ferry were considered 

 as recent by Professor Leidy ; they appear quite fresh and unchanged in color, 

 and their texture not in the slightest degree altered. To one familiar with the 

 fossils of the South Carolina Post-Pliocene, this excites no surprise, as it is of 

 common occurrence, more especially among the shells; for example, the olive 

 shell Oliva literata is found as fresh and highly polished as the recent ones 

 from the sea-beaches along the coast ; and Cardium magnum retains often the 

 delicate yellow and brown markings, common to the species. 



Tlie color or texture of a fossil, therefore, does not always absolutely deter- 

 mine its relative age ; as Professor Leidy has himself remarked in a foot-note 

 to his letter alluded to above, viz. : 



" Fossilization, petrifaction, or lapidification, is no positive indication of the 

 relative age of organic remains. 



"The Cabinet of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia contains 

 bones of the megalonyx, and of the extinct peccary, that are entirely unchanged ; 

 not a particle of gelatin has been lost, nor a particle of mineral matter added, 

 and, indeed, some of the bones of the former even have portions of articular 

 cartilage and tendinous attachments, well preserved."* 



From the foregoing it would appear that of the ancient fauna of America, 

 which included representatives of many of our present domestic animals, some 

 species have undoubtedly become extinct; but-I confess I am not yet prepared 

 to admit from any evidence yet adduced, or from my own examinations, that 

 all of the living species are distinct from those found fossil in the post-plio- 

 cene. The teeth and bones of the rabbit, raccoon, opossum, deer, elk, hog, dog, 

 sheep, ox and horse, are often found in these beds, and though associated with 

 those known to be extinct, such as mastodon, megatherium, hipparion, etc., 

 need not necessarily be referred to extinct races also ; since their remains can- 

 not be distinguished from the bones and teeth of the living species. 



It has been just remarked that about ninety-five per cent., or nearly all of the 

 one hundred and fifty shells of molluscous animals from these beds are specifi- 

 cally identical with the recent or living species of the coast, two are found 

 only at the south of this, and two are extinct. Of the vertebrates from the 

 same bed, the tapir, peccary, raccoon, opossum, deer, musk-rat, rabbit, beaver, 

 and elk have still their living representatives, generically, if not specifically ; and 

 even of the identity of species there seems to be no doubt, as no anatomical 

 differences can be discerned. Two of these species, like the mollusca just al- 

 luded to, no longer live in South Carolina; the tapir and peccary are only 

 found in South America and Mexico; the musk-rat, elk and beaver, though ex- 

 tinct on the Atlantic coast, are still living in the interior of the country. And 

 though it has been acknowledged that the mastodon, megatherium, elephant, 

 glvptodon, and two species of Equine genera, etc., are entirely extinct, yet the 



* Indigenous Races of the Earth, p. xix. 



[July, 



