2C6 [Assembly 



rate, (a mixture of pieces of rocks, pebbles cemented together by 

 mineral mailer,) clay, calcareous rock^, &c., and masses of coal are 

 found. In these coal beds are found distinct remains of the peculiar 

 vegetables of that period, and in this period remains also of many 

 fishes. 



Fourth Epoch. — Now we find the immense ma^s of vegetation 

 of the third period have become coal, and new sedimentary strata 

 are found; and now begins a curious race of reptiles; fishes re- 

 sembling those of our period in some respects. Tracks, supposed to 

 be of large birds; enormous frogs, and an increased variety of shells, 

 and more complex vegetable growth. 



Fiflh Epo:h. — Up to this period the earth contains but few and 

 inferior animals. B.t in this period appeared animals remarkable 

 for size and figure, and in vast numbers; some of the lizard kind of 

 sixty feet in length; one lizard with wings, (the Pterodactyl,) and 

 remains of a species of whale; plants hearing cones; huge reeds; and 

 more perfect shell fish. 



Sixth Epoch. — The formation of chalk; more huge lizards. 



Seventh Epoch. — Called also the tertiary or third formation, show- 

 ing the arrangement to be next in order after chalk. Now the seas 

 are much less extensive than before. This teitiary formation is di- 

 vided into three groups, the oliler, the middle, and the newer, which 

 Mr. Lyell calls, Eocene, the first dawn of existing species; Miocene^ 

 fewer recent than extinct species; Pliocene, more recent than extinct 

 species. 



In this seventh formation, we find large quadrupeds similar to the 

 Tapier and the Rhinnsceros; they are the Anaplotherium and Pale- 

 otherium, Mastodon, Dinotherium; the structure of wood; leaves si- 

 milar to modern Elms, and the Palms; caves in rocks, containing 

 bones of Bear, Hyena, Wolf, Dog kind, hairy Elephants, Cougar 

 and Cat kind. Megatherium, an animal eighteen feet long and nine 

 feet high; Stag, Horse, Elephant. The boulders or erratic rocks; 

 deep alluviums, full of bones of large thick skinned animals, (Pa- 

 chydermata); no human bones in any of these seven formations, nor 

 any mark whatever of the existence of man. 



Eighth Epoch. — The modern formation, since the last grand con- 

 Tulsion of eartk. 



