Sir Chas. Lyell, who is considered the best au- 

 thority on tertiary geology, placed this connection in 

 a striking point of view, having ascertained that 

 ninety-five per cent, of the fossils of the post-pleio- 

 cene period, are identical with living species. 



The crust of the earth, as far as the researches of 

 geologists extend, appears to be separated into strongly 

 marked divisions, that seem to have been formed 

 during four distinct and prolonged periods. These 

 periods, for the sake of convenience, have been 

 named in accordance with the class of animals and 

 vegetables in existence during the formation of each, 

 evidences of which we find preserved in their fossil 

 remains. 



The first division has been called' Azoic, -which 

 signifies without life; the rocks of this age consist of 

 granite, gneiss, etc.; they contain no traces of organic 

 forms, and being the lowest or first formed in the se- 

 ries, and originally in an incandescent state, passed, 

 no doubt, into the condition of rocks, before the cre- 

 ation of animals and plants. 



In the second division, the Palceozoic, or ancient 

 life, we have indications of the first animals and 

 plants created, not one species of which has outlived 

 the convulsions that separated this period from its 

 successor; and that served, apparently, in each case 

 to mark the close of one period and the commence- 

 ment of another. 



The next in order and third of the series, is named 

 the Mesozoic or middle life, and its fossils belong to 

 that middle or intermediate class of animals, between 

 the most ancient and recent forms. These also in 

 turn became, like their predecessors extinct, and 

 were succeeded by a later creation. 



The next and last age is named the Cainozoic — 

 recent life — and by some authors called the Tertiary, 

 or third grand division, and in which we discover, for 

 the first time, the created forms that are to be the 

 cotemporaries of man. 



