11 



The fossils from Ashley Ferry present, as a group, 

 the same appearance as those procured 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 familiar 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 Car- 

 clium magnum retains often, the delicate yellow and 

 brown markings; common to the species. 



The color or texture of a fossil, therefore, does not 

 always absolutely determine its relative age; as Pro- 

 fessor Leidy has himself remarked in a foot-note to 

 his letter alluded to above, viz : 



" Fossilization, petrification, or lapidification, is no positive 

 indication of the relative age of organic remains. 



" The Cabinet of the Academy of Natural Sciences, of Phila- 

 delphia, contains bones of the megalonyx, and of the extinct 

 peccary, that are entirely unchanged; not a particle of gelatin 

 has been lost, nor a particle of mineral matter added, and, indeed, 

 some of the bones of the former even have portions of articular 

 cartilage and tendinous attachments, well preserved."* 



From the foregoing it would apppear that of the 

 ancient fauna of America, which included represen- 

 tatives of many of our present domestic animals, 

 some species have undoubtedly become extinct; but 

 I confess I am not yet prepared to admit from any 

 evidence yet adduced, or fiom my own examinations 

 that, all of the living species are distinct from those 

 found fossil in the post-pleiocene. The teeth and 

 bones of the rabbit, raccoon, opossum, deer, elk, hog, 

 dog, sheep, ox and horse are often found in these 

 beds, and though associated with those known to be 



* Indigenous races of the earth; p. xix. 



