These divisions, or grand divisions, as they maybe 

 called, are again sub-divided into minor periods or 

 formations; the first, consequently the lowest and 

 oldest in the series of the Cainozoic or Tertiary, is 

 called Eocene, for in it we find representatives of the 

 dawn or commencement of that creation ; a few spe- 

 cies, two or three per cent, only, having been per- 

 petuated down to the present time. 



In the Meiocene, the next in age, a larger number 

 of species are found wdiose existence is thus prolonged. 



In the Peliocene, more recent, a majority of the 

 fossils are of recent species ; and at last, in the Post- 

 Pleiocene — the most recent — ninety-five per cent., 

 or nearly all the species, continue to recent times. 



Now the evidence herein to be adduced will shew 

 that among the fossils collected in South Carolina 

 from beds of this age — Post-Pleiocene — some of 

 which are exposed at Ashley Ferry, Goose Creek, 

 Stono, John's Island, and other localities, a number 

 have been found apparently belonging to animals 

 having specific characters in common, with recent or 

 living species not considered indigenous to this coun- 

 try, such as the horse, hog, sheep, ox, etc. 



A large collection of fossils from this interesting 

 formation w T ere submitted by me about three years 

 ago, to Professor Leidy, of Philadelphia, the eminent 

 paleontologist, for determination ; of these a number 

 were returned with the remark, that they appeared 

 to belong to recent species which had become acci- 

 dental occupants of the same bed with the true fos- 

 sils. 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. 



