OF SOUTH CAROLINA. 49 
tologist, whether we consider the number and beauty of its fossils, or the strange and anomalous 
forms found among them. It is here that those huge and extraordinary Enaliosaurians, the Ichthy- 
osaur and Plesiosaur, first make their appearance on the stage of their existence. 
The Pentacrinite is found here in great abundance, as well as the Belemnite and Ammonite. 
The genus Gryphwa is so abundant in some of the strata as to give the name Gryphite limestone 
to certain beds of the group. 
Gryphea incurva is a characteristic species. 
Oolitic System.—The Lias passes gradually into the overlying Oolitic beds. In England, where 
this system has been studied with most care, it has been divided into three well marked groups— 
the upper, middle and lower Oolite. The latter is represented by the “Bath Oolite,” “Bradford 
Clay,” and “Cornbrash ;” the middle by the “Oxford Clay;” and the upper by the “Kimmeridge 
Clay.” The Portland stone also belongs to the upper group of the system, as well as the noted 
“Dirt bed,”? which is composed of a bed of earth containing stumps of trees in the position in 
which they grew. 5 ; 
Like the preceding, the fossils of this group are numerous and interesting. The fossil plants 
consist of coniferous plants, together with characteristic species of Zamia and Cycas. 
The Echinodeymata are numerous both in genera and species. Encrinites are also found.— 
Insects also occur in this system—a fact indicative of the proximity of the shore to the spot where 
they are found. 
In portions of these rocks the Cephalapoda are exceedingly numerous, whilst they are almost 
wanting in other parts., Reptiles of the orders Crocodilia and Dinosauria are found throughout 
the system, and the latter order is represented by the gigantic Megalosaurus. 
The Pterodactyle was one of the strange organisms that marked this period; and what is still 
more interesting, the first mammal is found here. It is curious enough that no other traces of 
mammalian existence should be found till we reach the Tertiary period. 
With the exception of the coal-beds of Eastern Virginia, no Oolite has been yet discovered in the 
United States. These beds have been referred to the lower Oolite by Prof. Rogers, and recent 
examinations of the organic remains of these beds, made in England by Mr. Lyell and others, 
seem to confirm this determination. It is, at all events, almost certain that they cannot be of 
greater age than the Lias. 
Wealden Group.—This is an interesting deposit that overlies the Oolite in England. It is com- 
posed, for the most part, of beds of sand, clay, and gravel, supposed to be brought down by a river. 
The most remarkable animals of its Fauna were the gigantic herbivorous reptiles. 'The Iguanodon, 
discovered here by Dr. Mantel, must have been twenty-eight feet in length, and supported upon the 
most extraordinary legs, the femurs of which equal in size those of the elephant. Remains of 
fishes occur here, and fragments of the bones of Pterodactyle are also found. The Mollusca are 
confined to fresh water species, and a minute Crustacean, also an inhabitant of fresh water, is 
sufficiently abundant to form entire beds. ‘The whole group is well characterized as a fresh water 
formation. , 
Cretaceous Group.—Next in order we have the very remarkable rocks which include the chalk 
of Europe, from which the formation derives its name. English Geologists have divided this group 
13 
