184 
[Assembly 
could not have existed in a region where nnarine formations pre- 
vailed, to the exclusion even of small islands, sufficient to nourish 
a scanty vegetation. This opinion is confirmed by a comparison 
of the organic remains contained in strata intimately associated 
with coal, with those in the upper rocks of our district. The 
former strata are characterized by fossils of the carboniferous or- 
der, but the latter by those of Silurian or lower transition rocks. 
Such are the results of Palaeontological distinctions, which may be 
confidently relied on when other evidence of antiquity in rocks may 
not readily be found. 
On the importance of a knowledge of Organic Remains. 
In the present plan of the geological survey, it becomes the du- 
ty of each geologist to collect, study and describe, the fossil re- 
mains in his district, which must necessarily occupy much of his 
time, and withdraw his attention from other duties. Moreover, 
the same groups of fossils may be found in each district, giving 
rise to conflicting claims, and partial investigations of a subject, 
which, to render practically useful, should be studied as a whole 
with an undivided attention. We therefore respectfully suggest, 
that such an alteration in the plan of the survey be made, as would 
devolve upon a single individual the duty of arranging, describing 
and drawing all the organic remains of the State; a division of la- 
bor we deem called for by their number and general distribution 
through all the sedimentary rocks, and the necessity of an accu- 
rate knowledge of the various species, to a correct systematic ar- 
rangement of the strata. It will also be in accordance with the 
plan pursued in relation to the mineral department, and simplify 
.the materials of the final report. 
The importance of a knowledge of fossils is exemplified in the 
repeated mistakes which have been made by those writers who 
have attempted to classify the rocks of New-York in accordance 
with the systems of European geologists. For instance, the red 
sandstone of Niagara river has generally been referred to the old 
red sandstone of England, which neither the relative position nor 
the fossils will justify. 
" The study of organic remains, indeed, forms the peculiar fea- 
ture and basis of modern geology, and is the main cause of the 
progress this science has made since the commencement of the pre- 
, sent century. We find certain families of organic remains per- 
