L. Lesquereux—Lignitic formations of the Rocky Mountains. 549 
Sabals as yet described, eight species, belong to the Eocene, 
three only ascending to the Miocene. With this, the lower 
Lignitic flora has a predominance of fucoids, already remarked, 
and of subtropical and tropical types, not seen in any other 
stage of our Tertiary, and still less in the Cretaceous floras; 
large leaves of Ficus of the palmate-nerved section; of Cinna- 
momum, Dombeyopsis, etc. ; the large Platanus Haydenii and Pl. 
Raynoldsii, both abundant at Golden ; also large leaves of Mag- 
nolia, Myrica (formerly Dyandroides), distinct species of Quercus, 
a Viburnum whose leaves are as large as those of a Platanus ; 
southern types of Sapindus, Rhus, Llex, and Juglans, with en- 
tire leaves. 
Prof. Heer remarks on another character of the Eocene flora 
Eocene, is in New Mexico the most characteristic plant of the Cre- 
taceous sandstone. : 
ut this so-called Cretaceous sandstone with Halimenites is, 
most probably, the heavy sandstone which underlies or inter- 
sects the Lignitic, wherever it has been observed, in Colorado, ~ 
New Mexico (as far south as Trinidad, at least) and Wyoming. 
It is therefore the question now at stake, to know whether this 
formation is Eocene or Cretaceous: and it cannot be decided 
y a mere affirmation. We cannot say anything about the 
flora of those so-called Cretaceous strata of New Mexico, ob- 
west, and to my belief does not reach New Mexico. If it is 
So, the Lignitic there should be in close proximity to the Per- 
mian. But this is mere surmise, and I will not go out of my 
defensive position. It is for Dr. Newberry to furnish sufficient 
evidence on the geological age of the Lignitic strata which he 
observed in New Mexico, and when he has done it as posi- 
tively as I have for the Lignitic of Colorado, I shall certainly 
be prepared to accept his decision. 7 
