1895.] The First Fauna of the Earth. . 
covered with the ocean, and we know nothing of the remains 
to be found there.” He rightly believed it would have been 
most interesting to have some account of the researches of the 
patriarch and his family “ among the recent ruins of former 
grandeur. But we have no account,” he says, “ of any discov- 
eries nor of any attempts to search out their former inhabi- 
tants. It was doubtless well known to Noah that not one foot 
of the ancient continent remained above water.” That Prof. 
Eaton did not long retain his belief in the-theory advanced, 
seems evident from the fact that these speculations are omitted 
from the second edition of the “Index,” published in 1820. 
They have since faded from the public mind, and have taken 
their place with the still older ideas that fossils were fallen 
stars and Belemnites were solidified thunderbolts. 
The rapid advance in public opinion as to the value of geo- 
logical studies is shown by the organization of numerous State 
surveys. The first of these was of North Carolina. Prof. Olm- 
stead reported on its geology as early as 1823, and this survey 
was followed by one in Massachusetts, where Hitchcock re- 
ported in 1831. Between that date and 1838, the States of 
Maine, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, 
Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, 
Ohio, Indiana and Michigan had published reports. The 
general government, too, had sent expeditions to the north- 
west, and had published the results. It is true many of the 
State surveys ceased after the issuance of a few documents, but 
their existence, even for a short time, was evidence of the be- 
lief in their value. Some of the States organized second sur- 
veys at a later date, and published numerous volumes. Among 
these are especially to be mentioned New Jersey, Pennsylvania, 
Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana. Of all the States mentioned, 
New York possessed the greatest vitality ; and, while there 
have been changes in it as in others, the work there has been 
more nearly continuous than in any other. Remarkable as it 
may seem, the present honored head of the survey, the veteran 
Prof, James Hall, was one of the original corps in 1887. 
Although designed primarily to report upon the general 
