212 



NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



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 mi- 

 ocene beds upon the Tar River. 

 It is probable they may have been 

 removed from a lower to an upper 

 formation. 





