GENERAL REMARKS. 



85 



evidences of subsidence of the land over an extensive area in the 

 Modern period. A little farther back, wc have observed remains 

 showing that formerly a large elephantine quadruped now extinct 

 inhabited the country, which we find bad at a time still more ancient 

 emerged from the bosom of the deep, under which it had long 

 remained, while icebergs and floes were drifting masses of rock over 

 its surface, and scraping and polishing its hills. Lastly, we have 

 found that at a still earlier period it must have been dry land, exposed 

 to the influence of a cold climate, and having in places peat bogs on 

 its surface. This whole history, however, reaches no farther back 

 than the close of the Tertiary period ; and by referring to the Table 

 in Chapter II. it will be observed, that between this period and the 

 formation next to be described a great blank occurs, occupied in 

 some other countries by some of the most wonderful monuments 

 of the earth's history. 



Note. — Since writing the above, I have received a very valuable 

 memoir on the Glacial Phenomena of Labrador and Maine, by A. S. 

 Packard, M.D. The author, though attaching more importance to 

 the action of glaciers than I am disposed to admit, states many 

 important facts and conclusions bearing on the subject of this chapter. 

 Adopting the term " Syrtensian " for the marine fauna of Labrador 

 and the northern part of the Gulf of St Lawrence, and " Acadian " 

 for that of the coast from Cape Breton to Cape Cod, he shows the 

 Post-pliocene fauna of Maine and New Brunswick to be Syrtensian, 

 and not, as at present, Acadian. He adds to the list of New Brunswick 

 Post-pliocene fossils, — Cardium pinnulatum, Astarte Banksii, Lepralia 

 hyalina, Membranipora pilosa, and Cellepora pumicosa. 



