84 The Taconlc — Marcou. 
United States Geological Survey in one of its monographs, No^ 
VI [Fontaine's Older Mesozoic flora of Virgiuia^ 1883]. In 
the same elementary work are also the j^rimordial fossils, re- 
produced in Paris by Barrande, in 1S61; and in it is found the 
first figure and description of the oldest mammal found on earthy 
the Dromatheriian sylvcstre. 
Mr. Walcott has attacked Dr. Emmons on every possible 
point: palaeontology, stratigraphy, lithology, classification, use 
of the name Taconic, right of priority, as a collector of fossils, 
and even as to the disappearance of his Geological map from 
the first volume of the AgriacHurc of New York. It is diffi- 
cult to think of something more unjust, entirely out of date — for 
it is more than a quarter of a centur}^ since Dr. Emmons died. 
His discoveries and observations have stood more assaults and a 
more bitter opposition than all the other discoveries put together 
of the whole stratigraphic series. I thought that the time "had 
arrived for more just and less passionate discussion," but the 
paper of Mr. Walcott has sadly disappointed me. However, I 
shall not abandom the field, notwithstanding my age and infirmi- 
ties; and I shall continue to show who is in error, and who is 
to be blamed. It is a duty from which I shall not shrink, even 
if the adversaries of the Taconic system are legion. 
Conclusions. — The Taconic system is founded on strati- 
graphy, palceontology and lithology. The errors of its adver- 
saries have been proved again and again during the last forty- 
four years; and what I have said in this paper answers all the 
nev/ criticism and strictures lately launched. The six conclus- 
ions presented by Mr. Walcott on pp. 394 and 395 of his paper 
do not reflect credit on him; and not only I shall not answer 
them, but I shall not even quote them, for they are neither fair, 
correct, nor patriotic. 
For a special purpose easily understood ISIr. Walcott repeats 
twice that I did not make direct researches in the original Taconic 
area. It is true, I never made regular observations there ; but I 
have crossed it, in several directions from east to west and vice 
versa^ and from south to north ; and from my practical knowledge 
of the geology from Shoreham and Middlebury upward, as far 
as Pointe Lt^vis and Montmorency Falls, I have not the smallest 
hesitation in saying, after an attentive study of Dr. Emmons' 
