JIO PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



in living nature. Our rocks afford graphite in abundance, and hence 

 suggest the presence of plants in New Hampshire in the earlier periods. 



3. Some argue the presence of animal life in the older rocks, on 

 account of the presence in them of limestone. It is said that all lime- 

 stone found in stratified rocks has been derived from the decay of the 

 shells of marine animals or other organisms. If this be true, it is certain 

 that organisms once flourished in our state, as we have an abundance of 

 Eozoic limestone in Lisbon, Haverhill, Amherst, etc. The argument is 

 not a strong one, since many thermal waters are constantly depositing 

 tufa, oftentimes in massive beds. 



4. Animal life is thought to have been abundant, because of the pres- 

 ence of the Eozobn in the Laurentian of New York, Massachusetts, 

 Ontario, and elsewhere. In 1858, J. McMullen, an explorer attached to 

 the geological survey of Canada, brought specimens from the Laurentian 

 limestones of Ontario to Sir W. E. Logan, the director of the survey, 

 which had an organic appearance. The first examinations did not reveal 

 anything like organic remains, though Sir WilUam believed they must 

 be the relics of life. They were exhibited to the geologists at the 

 Springfield meeting of the American Association for the Advancement 

 of Science, in 1859. In February, 1865, a series of papers appeared in 

 the Quarterly yournal of the Geological Society of London, by Sir W. 

 E. Logan, Dr. J. W. Dawson, Dr. W. B. Carpenter, and T. Sterry Hunt, 

 wherein arguments were set forth in favor of the foraminiferal character 

 of the supposed organisms, to which the name of Eozoon Canadense 

 was given by Dr. Dawson. This proposal called out investigations in 

 various quarters, — some in favor of the Canadian theory, and others in 

 opposition to it. Those best acquainted with the recent forms of the 

 foraminifera usually believe that this Eozoon is of organic origin ; those 

 who disbelieve the organic theory are mostly better skilled in mineralogy 

 than biology. The discussion is still warmly pressed; and it is not judi- 

 cious to quote the existence of this possible organism as satisfactory 

 proof of the presence of animal life in the Laurentian. The author, 

 however, is satisfied with the arguments urged in favor of its organic 

 nature ; — the more readily, since two of the considerations previously 

 stated afford a substantial basis for the existence of plant-life during 

 the same early period. 



