CHAP. XXIII.] FOSSIL REMAINS. 59 



them specifically, and a much greater number in 

 their generic forms, with the fossils of the middle 

 division of the deposits of the same age of London 

 and Hampshire.* 



The remains of the zeuglodon have been also 

 found, by Mr. Hale, in this cliff; but, although I 

 met with many leaves of terrestrial plants, I could 

 neither obtain here, nor in any part of the United 

 States, a single bone of any terrestrial quadruped, 

 although we know that many of that class inhabited 

 Europe at this period. That some of these may be 

 discovered in America, I can hardly doubt ; but the 

 fact is worthy of remark, as connected with the 

 weight due to negative evidence. When strata have 

 been formed far from land, so as to afford few, if 

 any, indications of land plants, we must not look for 

 indications of air-breathing quadrupeds, nor infer 

 their non-existence, if it be so difficult to discover 

 them even at Claiborne, where the land, at the 

 period of the deposition of the marine strata, cannot 

 have been far distant, f 



* They correspond with the middle or Bracklesham series of 

 Prestwich s triple division. See &quot; Quart. Journ. of Geol. Soc.,&quot; 

 voL iii. May, 1847. 



f Since writing the above, I hear that Mr. Hale, of Mobile, 

 has met with some bones of land quadrupeds in these strata. 

 For remarks on the strata at Claiborne, see a paper by the 

 Author, &quot;Quart. Journ. of Geol. Society of London,&quot; vol. iv. 

 p. 10. June, 1848. 



D 6 



