84 



in the earthy veins between the strata of lime stone 

 rock ; and in which they had doubtless lain for many 

 ages, in a perfect state of preservation, so much so 

 as to have subsequently produced entire and perfect 

 plants of their several kinds. Among these are the 

 Areca Cispitosa, Poa Alp ma, Poa Quinquefida, Uniola 

 Gracilis; Festuca not described; Arundo Canadeusis; 

 Elymus Canadensis, and a Cerex, resembling, Kra- 

 seri. These plants are completely alpine, and are 

 peculiar to the mountains to the northward of the 

 lakes.* 



To what shall we attribute these singular phenome- 

 na, but to the agency of a general current setting from 

 the northward in a south westerly direction? We 



* The circumstance of seeds having been found deposited be- 

 tween the strata of lime stone, may, with some, appear doubtful. 

 But it must be recollected, that the lime stone spoken of in the 

 present instance, is secondary ; and that it is by no means uncom- 

 mon to find organick remains in similar situations, particularly those 

 of vegetables. 



Patrin speaks of a variety that is found in the secondary slate, 

 and about the coal mines in the environs of St. Etienne. He has 

 also given a very accurate representation of a specimen containing 

 five different impressions of vegetables. Among which are the 

 seeds, or, in his own words, * the fruit which has always been 

 considered as resembling the grains of coffee, and which in gene- 

 ral is true. I have found specimens still surrounded with their 

 membranes, and it appears that it is the fruit of an umbelliferous 

 plant, perhaps of a Thapsie." 



In the same specimen is likewise represented a remarkable 

 Polypodium, " resembling the Polypodium Unitum of the Isle of 

 France," and still bearing its fruit or seeds in fine preservation. 



