OF A.RTS AND SCIENCES. 193 



This letter does not allude to the memoir published a fortnight pre- 

 viously at Boston, which he had received, as appears from the letter 

 of Billings. 



Three communications were made by M. Barraude to the Geologi- 

 cal Society of France at the meetings of the 5tli and 19th of Novem- 

 ber, 18G0, and the 4th of February, 18G1, which appeared under one 

 title, as "■ Documents anciens et nouveaux sur la Faune Priraordiale et 

 le Systeme Taconique en Amei-ique." This memoir, so remarkable 

 for its clearness, impartiality, and the opinions it contains, is an admi- 

 rable justification of the "Taconic system." We can only regret that 

 Emmons only knew of its existence, without being able to see it. 



Several unpublished letters of Barraude, of January, 18G1, and 

 later, are given as important in showing the progress accomplished by 

 his intervention. 



From far distant Bohemia, where he had studied with the greatest 

 care, first the stratigraphy and then the palasontology of a very 

 small geologic basin in the centre of Europe, Bai'rande recognizes that 

 P^mmons is right in placing the strata of the eastern part of Lake 

 Champlain below those of the other side of the lake on the western 

 shore in the State of New York ; that he is correct in placing below 

 the second fauna a Primordial fauna contained in beds that constitute 

 the Paleozoic base, and a wholly new system justly called by him the 

 " Taconic system " ; that the opposition to these views for twenty 

 years past is not only unjust, but erroneous, and that his adversaries 

 have only to change their base and adopt more correct ideas. At so 

 great a distance, he cannot enter into details ; these he leaves for those 

 on the ground, who study the stratigraphy of these regions, contenting 

 himself with having brought forward the '• Taconic system," and 

 shown all its value and importance. 



* "Paris, 20 Janvier, 1861. 



"Jules Marcou, Esq. 



"MoN CHEK Confrere, — J'ai successivement re9u vos deux lettres 

 du 16 et 24 Decembre avec vos deux envois de brochures, comprenant 

 20 exemplaires, outre la premiere epreuve, et la note de notre ami 

 M. Agassiz sur I'origine des especes. 



" Votre long silence ne m'a pas etonne et je I'avais meme interprete 

 assez justement, car je m'etais figure que, ne pouvant obtenir a Bos- 

 ton, des documents assez positifs sur le terrain Taconique, vous aviez 

 pris le parti d'aller en personne sur les lieux. Je supposais que vos 

 explorations avaient exige tout ce temps et j'attendais patiemment vos 

 VOL. XX. (n. s. xii.) 13 



