THE ANCESTORS OF THE BIG TREES. 



467 



and much more apparent to the casual observer. The plants have 

 undergone a like evolution, which has been, however, more of structure 

 than of external appearance. Could imagination transport us to 

 Jurassic times and set us down near the mouth of the Hudson Eiver, 



Fig. 2. Sequoia Reichenbachi, a widespread Cretaceous Species, restored from numerous 



specimens from New Jersey clays. 



we should find little that was familiar in either the fauna or the flora. 

 The sediments which now exist as the red sandstones of the Connecticut 

 valley and New Jersey had already been deposited. Volcanic activity 



Fig. 3. Sequoia Langsdorfti, a widespread, chiefly Tertiary Species. 



had been considerable and vast quantities of molten rock had been 

 forced through the crust, forming, among others, the Orange Moun- 

 tains of New Jersey and the noble line of Palisades along the Hudson. 

 However, it is quite probable that one would have been as little dis- 



