ORDINARY MEETING-.* 



D. Howard, Esq., V.P., i\ t the Chaiu. 



A paper entitled " Geological Exterminations," by Charles B. Warring, 

 M.A., Ph.D., was read by the Secretary, in the author's absence in 

 Canada. 



The Secretary also read communications from Mr. Hudleston and 

 Dr. Kidd. 



GEOLOGICAL EXTEBMINA TIONS. 



By Charles B. Warring, M.A., Ph.D. 



ALL who have studied the life-history of the earth have 

 been impressed with the fact that not only species, but 

 entire genera, families and tribes, have become extinct — not 

 temporarily but permanently, and, broadly speaking, have been 

 succeeded by species more like those of the present day. Dana 

 says : " There was a general extermination of species about the 

 eastern portion of the American continent at the close of the 

 Acadian or Lower Silurian epoch ; at the end of the period of 

 the Chazy formation its species, with few exceptions, disap- 

 peared/'! He says also : " The introduction and extermination 

 of species were going on during the whole course of history, 

 instead of being confined to particular points of time ; but at 

 the close of long periods and epochs there were general exter- 

 minations."t He says also : " At the close of the Cretaceous 

 period occurred one of the most complete exterminations of 



* Monday, March 6th, 1905. 



t Dana, Man. of GeoL, Revised edition, page 182, lines 13 to 20. 

 I Ibid., page 384, lines 21 to 24. 



