'32 Finch on the Tertiary Formations 



tific pursuits, none have given a greater impulse to the sci- 

 ence of Geology than the researches of Messrs. Cuvier and 

 Brongniart, who first traced and described the tertiary for- 

 mations in the vicinity of Paris, and thus placed before us 

 the secret of the last revolutions, which our planet has un- 

 dergone. 



The next memoir which elucidated these strata, and gave 

 rise to the opinion that they might be found in other coun- 

 tries besides France, was published by Mr. Webster, in the 

 Transactions of the Geological Society in Englanci ; he 

 proved the existence of two basins, in the Isle of Wight, 

 and near London, possessing fossil remains similar to those 

 found near Paris. 



By succeeding Naturalists these formations have been 

 found in several parts of Europe, in Asia, and Africa, let 

 us endeavour to trace their existence upon this continent. 



The primitive, transition, and secondary rocks obey the 

 same laws in America, as in other parts of the world, and 

 why should she be supposed to be destitute of the tertiary 

 formation, the discovery of which has conferred such splen- 

 dour on the geological schools of London and Paris. 



In America, an immense tract of country, extending from 

 Long-Island to the sea of Mexico, and from thirty to two 

 hundred miles in width, is called an alluvial formation, by 

 most of the geologists who have written upon the subject and 

 by some it appears to be considered as an exception to the 

 general arrangement and position of strata, ^ich are found 

 to occur in other countries. 



From an examination of fossils brought from that quarter 

 of the United States, from a personal inspection of some of 

 its strata, and the perusal of most of the publications which 

 bear a reference to it, I wish to suggest that what is termed 

 the alluvial formation, in the geological maps of Messrs. 

 Maclure and Cleaveland, is identical and contemporaneous 

 with the newer secondary, and tertiary formations of 

 France, England, Spain, Germany, Italy, Hungary, Po- 

 land, Iceland, Egypt and Hindoostan. 



Although to place the subject beyond dispute, it would 

 be necessary personally to examine all the various fossils 

 from each separate stratum, and the formations on the spot 

 where they occur, yet still sufficient evidence may be col- 

 lected to place that extent of country in a different point of 



