Handbook of Paleontology 437 



conifers lived on the higher lands and were represented 

 by pines, cypresses, yews, araucarias, sequoias etc. 



Climate of the Mesozoic 



During the Triassic period in North America the cli- 

 mate was on the whole arid, as indicated by the presence 

 of "red beds" and the widespread occurrence of salt and 

 gypsum deposits. Arid conditions probably also existed 

 in the Jurassic but the luxuriant character of the vege- 

 tation and the animals point to a warm, moist, subtropical 

 climate, at least during most of the period. The climate 

 of the Cretaceous appears to have been milder than to- 

 day, and was even temperate or warm temperate in quite 

 northern latitudes (Greenland). 



Literature 



For this chapter are recommended the various text- 

 books, Willis and Salisbury ('10), Schuchert ('10), Mil- 

 ler ('24), Hartnagel ('12) and Hollick ('06). 



CENOZOIC ERA 



The Cenozoic era (modern life) is the last era in the 

 world's history and constitutes about 4 per cent of geo- 

 logic time. It includes Tertiary (Eocene, Oligocene, 

 Miocene, Pliocene) and Quaternary time, through the 

 Pleistocene or Glacial period. 



Tertiary Time 

 Marine Tertiary deposits occur along the Atlantic and 

 Gulf coasts from Martha's Vineyard island into Texas 

 by way of Alabama and Mississippi, extending north- 

 ward from the Gulf region as far as the mouth of the 



