284 EEPOET OF THE AMERICAN COMMITTEE. 
organisms, by destruction and preservation with modifications, will 
be adjusted to his wants. Now if the present be raised to primary 
rank, then the Quaternary will become only a transition from the 
Cenozoic — like the Laramie and the Permian. And like these it 
will finally be classed with the lower, viz. the Cenozoic. 
As to the names Eocene, Miocene, Plioceae, Plistocene, if the 
names can be retained I would much prefer it, for I dislike change 
of names unless the reasons are very strong. No doubt that 
Eocene is the most distinct ; no doubt if Quaternary be dropped, 
Plistocene will unite with Pliocene. 
This is all I have to say. I am not sufficiently acquainted with 
details to suggest anything further, my own specialty being 
dynamical and structural geology. 
I will, however, throw out one suggestion. Perhaps you are 
already aware that here in California the great break is not at 
the end of Cretaceous but at the end of the Eocene. The Eocene 
merges by insensible gradations through Laramie into upper 
Cretaceous, so that these three seem to be one formation. For 
this reason Eocene was not recognized until recently — was in fact 
supposed to be absent altogether. This is another evidence of 
the greater distinctness of the Eocene. 
Very truly yours, 
Joseph Le Conte. 
