I N T K D U C T I N . ^ 



mination; of these a numl)er were returned with the remark, that they appeared to belong 

 to recent species which had become accidental occupants of the same bed with the true 

 fossils. I held the opposite opinion, and believed that these relics were indeed true fossil 

 remains, as they were obtained not only from the banks and deltas of rivers, but a large 

 number from excavations several feet below the surface, and at a distance from any stream, 

 creek, pond, bog or ravine; and in some cases, from excavations below the high sandy land 

 of cotton fields. 



In a letter to Dr. Nott and Mr. Gliddon, dated Feb. 10, 1857, Prof. Leidy writes: 



" Some time since, Professor F. S. Holmes, of Charleston, submitted for my examina- 

 tion, a sollection of fossil bones from a Post-Pleiocene de])osit on Ashley River, S. C. 

 Among remains of the extinct horse, the peccary, mylodon, megatherium, mastodon, hip- 

 parion, the tapir, the capabara, the beaver, the musk-rat, etc., were some which I considered 

 as belonging to the dog, the domestic ox, the sheep and the hog. Prof. Holmes 

 observes that these remains were taken from an extensive deposit, in which similar ones 

 exist abundantly, and he further adds, that he cannot conceive that the latter should have 

 become mingled with the former, since the introduction of domestic animals into America 

 by Europeans. It is not improbable that the American continent once had, as part of its 

 fauna, representatives of our domestic animals, which subsequently became extinct — 

 though I am inclined to doubt it ; but what we have learned of the extinct American horse 

 will lead me carefully to investigate the subject." 



The opportunity for prosecuting this investigation, to some extent, I had the pleasure of 

 affording Professor Leidy, in March last, a rnonth after the date of the above letter. Dr. 

 Hallowell and himself visited me in Charleston, and I accompanied them to Ashley Ferry 

 and Goose Creek. 



In a paper written after the Professor's return to Philadelphia he says : " The collec- 

 tions of these gentlemen consist of a most rem-arkable intermixture of remains of fishes, rep- 

 tiles and mammals, of the three periods mentioned ; and in many cases perhaps we may 

 err in referring a particular species to a certain formation, more especially in the case of 

 the fishes. The remains usually consist of teeth often well preserved, but frequently in 

 small fragments, more or less water-worn, and most of the fossils are stained brown or 

 black." 



The fossils from Ashley Ferry present, as a group, the same appearance as those pro- 

 cured inland at some distance from the river, by digging from three to five feet below the 

 surface. Many specimens from the ferry were considered as recent by Professor Leidy ; 

 they appear quite fresh and unchanged in color, and their texture not in the slightest 

 degree altered. To one familar with the fossils of the South Carolina Post-Pleiocene, this 

 excites no surprise, as it is of common occurrence, more especially among the shells ; for 

 example, the olive shell — Oliva liter ata — is found as fresh and highly polished as the 

 recent ones from the sea-beaches along the coast; and Cardium magnum retains often, the 

 delicate yellow and brown markings ; common to the species. 



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