170 SKETCHES OF CREATION. 



In 1856 the first Batrachian bones were described from 

 the United States. These were discovered by Dr. New- 

 berry and C. M. Wheatley, at Linton, Jefferson County, 

 Ohio. There were three different types of beings. The 

 first had the head and ribless trunk of a frog, combined 

 with the limbs and tail of a salamander. The second and 

 third had the vertebra? of a salamander, with the ribs of a 

 serpent. The first of these animals has been named Mani- 

 ceps Lyelli by Dr. Wyman, of Boston. 



In 1863, Professor O. C. Marsh described, from the coal- 

 measures of South Joggins, Nova . Scotia, the remains of a 

 reptile somewhat higher in rank than any other previously 

 known in rocks of so high antiquity a true reptile belong 

 ing to the Enaliosaurs, or marine saurians, and related to 

 the huge reptiles which sported in the waters of the Meso- 

 zoic time, some of which have been so genially described 

 by Dr. Mantell. This animal, which is believed to have 

 been from twelve to fifteen feet in length, was probably 

 one of the most fish-like of Enaliosaurs. It has been named 

 Eoscmrm Acadianus. 



How scattered must have been the air-breathing popu 

 lation of the globe when, after thirty years of careful ob 

 servations, geologists have brought to light only the fore 

 going brief list from the carboniferous rocks of the coun 

 try. I make no note of two or three species of air-breath 

 ing snails, a myriapod, and two or three orthopterous in 

 sects. Seven species only of vertebrate air-breathers in 

 trepid forerunners of the numerous populations of the suc 

 ceeding periods scouts, sent forward upon the earth to 

 spy out the land, and test its fitness for the occupancy of 

 the hordes which were to follow ! 



The coal had been deposited ; cubic miles of fuel for the 

 consumption of future generations had been taken from the 

 atmosphere, and packed in beds of clay and sand, to await 



