212 



NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL 6URTET. 



FIG 34. 



The oldest specimen of fossil be 

 longing to the whale or cetacean 

 family, belongs to the genus Phy- 

 seter, and is regarded as the P. an- 

 tiquus, (fig. 34.) It occurs in the 

 eocene of Craven county. The 

 size of the teeth pro re that they 

 belonged to the largest of the class. 

 The largest tooth measures six inch 

 es in circumference, and is five and 

 a half inches long, though a por 

 tion has been broken from the base. 

 Its form is quadrangular, and pre 

 sents a curve in front, but is rather 

 straight behind. It shows no con 

 ical cavity, but is solid throughout. 

 It shows a tendency to exfoliate 

 concentrically. Many fragments 

 more or less rolled and otherwise 

 defaced, have been seen in the rni- 

 ocene beds upon the Tar River. 

 It is probable they may have been 

 removed from a lower to an upper 

 formation. 



