66 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



The data supplied to me by the latter, from the notes furnished by Mr. 

 Eckel, show that the specimen was found during the summer of 1902 

 at Dahlonega, Lumpkin County, Georgia, at 1,400^ A.T. (U.S. Geol. 

 tSurv. Egc), in a black clay, about twelve inches in thickness, overlain 

 by a light gray clay which contained no plant remains. 



Upon preliminary examination, the wood was found to be wholly 

 free fro^m impregnation by mineral matter, in which respect it resembled 

 v/ocds usually found in the Pleistocene deposits farther north. It was 

 also obvicus that it had been subjected to somewhat extended d.ecay 

 and subsequent collapse, assisted by pressure, in consequence of which 

 much doubt was at first felt as to the possibility of satisfactory identi- 

 fication. Sections were nevertheless made with all due precautions, 

 and a careful examination disclosed the fact that, while the bulk of the 

 structure had been subjected to extreme alteration thraucrh decay and 

 compression there were nevertheless local regions which had esicaped those 

 influences to a large extent, and embraced recognizable structural 

 details. By very careful study of an extended series of sections, it 

 became possible to g"ather sufficient evidence to identify the specimen 

 beyond all reasonable doubt, as representing the common American 

 larch or tamarack, Larix aimericana. The occurrence of this tree in 

 such an unusual locality at once directed attention to the possible oir- 

 cun, stances under which it could have reached such, an extreme 

 southern limit of distribution. Tdie present geographical range of 

 Larix americana places its southern extension in northern Pennsylvania, 

 yet the specimen under consideration was found nearly five hundred 

 miles farther south. 



With respect to the nature of the deposits in which the specimen 

 Mas found, my request for further information respecting their geologi- 

 cal age elicited the statement that '" there appears to be no means at 

 hand for definitely correlating the deposit with any generally recognized 

 physical events of the coastal plain," though the suggestion was made 

 that a tentative reference to the Lafayette or Columbian formations, 

 prefera:bly the former on account of its altitude, might lead to con- 

 clusions of value. 



Referring to the records of the State Geological Survey,^ I find 

 that Dr. J-. W. Spencer describes the deposits of the Lafayette and 

 Columbian series as composed of " deposdts of orange , or red sandy 

 clays or loams, massive and laminated sands, with local gravel deposits, 

 and occasional lighter coloured clays," which spread out as mantles over 

 the whole of southwostem Georgia. The range of altitude throughout 

 which these accumulations extend reaches from elevations of eight 



* Geol. Surv. Georg., 1890-91, p. 61 et seq. 



