On (he Palceontology of South Ameritu: 363 



in the midst of the Devonian seas ; and this fauna, consisting 

 of Terehratulce, SpiriferSy and Orthes, exhibits features analo- 

 gous to that of the animals of the European seas of the same 

 geological epoch. But this group of animals was annihilated 

 in its turn, and the Devonian fauna disappeared from the sur- 

 face of the globe, after having existed for a considerable time, 

 if we may venture to judge from the large proportions of its 

 beds. 



To the Devonian system succeeded in America, as in Eu- 

 rope, the great series of the carboniferous strata. Then ap- 

 peared a very varied marine fauna, in which, among the gene- 

 ra Solarium, Natica, Pec ten, Trigonia, Terebratula, Or this, 

 and Spirifer, that of Productus shewed itself more numerous 

 and more peculiar to this formation than the others. Com- 

 pared with those of Europe, these American species exhibit, 

 not only the greatest analogy, but also identical species, indi- 

 cating a complete contemporaneity of existence. During the 

 epoch of this carboniferous system, as much as during the Si- 

 lurian, no difference of temperature was attributable to lati- 

 tude, inasmuch as the same beings lived simultaneously under 

 the torrid zone and throughout the Polar seas. The central 

 heat was still immense, and continued to neutralize all exter- 

 nal influence. 



After a protracted continuance of the rich fauna of th^ 

 carboniferous system, and of its still richer flora, when nu- 

 merous palms and ferns adorned the Continent, whilst the 

 countless products of its maritime fauna peopled the seas, na- 

 ture again destroyed its own work. The animal and vege- 

 table world was buried under rocky beds by the appearance 

 of the Chiqiiitian system, and the Triassic period commenced. 

 If in America, as in Europe, the beds which were depo- 

 sited, form on the one Continent, as on the other, identical 

 slate-clays and variegated sandstones, it is at least a curious 

 circumstance, that in the New World we encounter only bed^ 

 which are destitute of those numerous beings which exist in 

 the strata of the Old. In explanation, it would be necessary 

 to suppose, that during that period the Triassic seas of Ame- 

 rica were somehow in less favourable circumstances ; possibly 



