48 P- T. CLEVE, 



The eocene formation contains to a great extent igneous or metamorphic rocks, which 

 indicates the activity of the volcanic power also during the eocene time. 



The miocene formation consists mostly of limestones or marls, and is enormously 

 developed in the West-Indies. Limestone strata belonging to the miocene formation cover 

 large spaces in Cuba, S:n Domingo, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico. They are also found in 

 Anguilla, Antigua, Barbados and Trinidad. In S:te Croix the white marl also seems to 

 belong to the miocene time. The miocene formation is continued in the northern part of 

 South America and in Panama*). From the laborious paleontological researches made by 

 Mrss. Mooee, Ddncan, Sowerbt and Guppy, before quoted in several places, it appears 

 that the fossil fauna has a great resemblance with the miocene fauna of Europé (as in 

 Malta and at Bordeaux etc), and also that it shows a close affinity with the still living 

 fauna of the Pacific Ocean and the East Indies. Among the fossil species of the miocene 

 beds of the West-Indies, some are still living in the Caribbean Sea. 



These facts have led to the supposition that in the miocene time an open channel 

 existed över Panama to the Pacific Ocean, and also that a connection with Europé existed 

 in form of an Archipelago extending from Europé across the ocean to the West-Indies. 

 This theory, indicated and developed by Mrss. Duncast, Sowerby, Guppy and Moore, seems 

 very plausible and it coincides with the hypothesis which Oswald Heer proposed to explain 

 the close affinities between the European miocene and the still existing subtropical North 

 American flora. 



The miocene fauna of the West-Indies does not, however, offer any close affinities 

 with the miocene fauna of North America. 



The thickness of the miocene strata of the West-Indies as well as their generally 

 undisturbed position and the absence of volcanic rocks indicate that the miocene time was, 

 in the West-Indies, a long period of calm, undisturbed by volcanic phenomena. 



A farther exploration of the miocene rocks in the West-Indies may make it neces- 

 sary to divide this formation into several subdivisions. 



The Pliocene beds of the West-Indies occur in Trinidad (the Matura beds) and in 

 Barbados. To the newest pliocene or ppst-pliocene formation, the lime deposits of Brim- 

 stone Hill in S:t Kitts, and of Basse-Terre (Guadeloupe) ought, most probably, to be re- 

 ferred. As these deposits occur among rocks, ejected from still active volcanos, it may 

 be concluded that the latter take their origin from the pliocene or the post pliocene 

 time. The Bahama Islands, the island of Anegada and a part of Barbuda belong to a 

 very recent time. 



From the facts exposed above it may consequently be inferred, that of the two 

 prevailing lines of elevation in the West-Indies the one running from west to east origi- 

 nated before the miocene time, and that the other from N. W. to S. E., commencing with 

 the Bahamas and continuing in the same direction down to Trinidad, was formed after 

 the miocene time. 



") Quart. Journ Geol. Soc. Vol. IX 1853 p. 132. 



