THE PRE-ADAMITE EARTH. 



SECOND PALEOZOIC PERIOD. 



269. The convulsion which closed the preceding period was suc- 

 ceeded by an interval of tranquillity of greater or less duration ; after 

 which, it pleased the Omnipotent, by a second great act of creation, 

 to clothe the land with vegetation, and re-people the earth. 



270. In the following table we have given, as in the former 

 case, a synopsis of the generic forms of this new creation. 



Synopsis of the Animal Kingdom (exclusive of the Anmdata) in the 

 Second Palceozoic Period. 



As before, the only important traces of the Annulata of this 

 period which remain, are the Trilobites, of which nineteen genera 

 have been found. Of these, eleven are identical with genera which 

 existed in the previous period, and eight are new. 



The total number of species of Mollusca and Radiata which have 

 been ascertained to have existed in this period is 418, which have 

 been described and catalogued.* 



271. The only class of Vertebrates yet created were fishes, of 

 which eight genera existed in this period, all of the placoid 

 family (shark). One of these had existed in the previous period, 

 the other seven being new. 



272. The remains of the vegetation consist of some genera of 

 marine plants, found in the state of New York, and figured by Mr. 

 Hall. That the continents generally were covered with vegetation 

 is proved by the traces of coal found in this stage at St. Sauveur. 



As in the former period, the animal remains are analogous to 



44 



* Prodrome, p. 2735. 



