44 



VERTEBKATA OF THE TERTIARY. 



vey of the Ten-itories for 1872, pp. 410-417. It will be observed that there 

 is a constant discrepancy between the two tables. 



It" the determinations of Mr. Lesquereux be correct,* it is evident from 

 the above that the vegetable life of North America reached its present 

 condition one epoch or period earlier than the higher Vertebrata, and that 

 the nomenclature is thus thrown back by so much It would appear that 

 the recent flora of North America is a period older than the fauna, i. e., has 

 persisted longer than the latter by a certain length of geologic time. 

 Applying the same reasoning to the past, I embodied the idea in reference 

 to the Laramie period ("Fort Union") in the statement that "a Cretaceous 

 fauna was then contemporary with a Tertiary flora" ;t and, later, that "an 

 Eocene fauna was contemporary with a ^Miocene flora." It may have to be 

 added that a Miocene fauna was contemporary with a Pliocene flora. 

 Since Mr. Lesquereux has the support of the best paleobotonists of Europe 

 in his conclusions, it is useless to take the ground assumed by a few of my 

 colleagues, that the former gentleman has simply erred in his determina- 

 tions. He gives us grounds for believing that he has not done so, by 

 giving us the European standard by which his identifications are governed.^ 

 It is as follows : 



Pliocene .. 

 Miocene .. 

 Oligocene . 

 Eocene ... 



Paleocone. 



Lower limits not positively fixed; largely developed in Italy, t (Subapennine, E.D.C.) 



Ocningian; Mayencian; Aquitanian. 



Tongrian. 



Gypso of Aix ; Alum Bay ; Mt. Bolca ; London Clay ; Sheppey ; Oris of the Sarthe. 



Upper Landcnian; Sezanne (=:Panisclian). 



Sueawnian (Lignitio Soissonais; Sables de Bracbeux); Lower Landenian. 



Horsian; Gelindon. 

 ^Limestone of Mens, overlying nnconformably the Maestriohtion. 



• The above parallels are well presented by Dr. Pealo in his report to Dr. Haydcn, Ann. Kept. U. 

 8. Geol. Surv. Terra. 1S7J, p. Ill ct tcq. t Bulletin U. S. Ocol. Surv. Terra. I, art. 2. p. 16, April, 1S74 

 (Ann. Beport U. 8. Geol. Surv. Terrs. Ib74, p.aS5. 



