150 References to North American Localities. 
Jrom M. Adolphe Brongniart’s Ancient Vegetation of the Earth. 
See pp. 315 to 329, Vol. xxxiv, Am. Jour. Science 
1. Primitive ciass. Agalysient, Gr. ago, to effect, lwo, (luso,) 
_ overthrowing or breaking up by internal force. 
Contains no organic remains ; but a few ground pines, ( Lycopo- 
dee,) grew on the surface, and are now found in the lowest rocks 
of the next class—particularly the argillite. 
2. Transrrion ciass. Hemilysient, Gr. hemi, half, luo, break- 
ing up by internal force. 
Contains, in its lowest strata, some remains of ground pine; 
which, in some localities, are converted into coal (anthracite). 
Some chambered mollusca and some trilobites are found here, 
together with Crinoidex and fungites. Vast quantities of ground 
pines, rushes and ferns, grew on the surface, which are now con- 
verted into the coal formation of the next class. 
. Lower seconpary ciass. Abyssient, Gr. abussos, deepest 
abyss of the ocean. ‘The sediment of the unfathomable abyss of 
oceans ; from which the waters have retired by the elevation of 
the sediment, or by depressions of former elevations, or into deep 
caverns. 
Contains vast quantities of coal in some of its lowest strata, 
made of the ground pine, rushes and ferns, which grew on the 
surface of the preceding class. 
4. Upper seconpary crass. Pelagient, Gr. pelagos, the ocean. 
Sediment of the ocean of ordinary depth, from which the waters 
have retired. 
Contains some remains of Coniferee and Cycadee (pine, cedar, 
yew, sago-plant). Some of the uppermost deposits contain verte- 
brated animals, such as gigantic lizards. 
~ 5. Tertiary ciass. Thalassient, Gr. thalassa, sea, Sedi- 
Ment of seas, or mediterranean seas. ) 
‘Contains Gashinilferolis animals; and broad-leaved trees, as 
birch, poplar, elm, walnut, maple. 7 
6. Dacre ciass. Clysmient, Gr. kluzo, to —— or in- 
undate. Sediment of extensive floods or deluges. 
Contains mammalia resembling those now on the earth ; but 
not the same species. Also recent vegetables and. fresh-water 
—: but no human remains nor works of art. 
+ Autuvian crass. Alluvient, Lat. alluo, to wash. Sedi- 
ma | washing of [Boe torrents, &c. 
