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Title: The Pleistocene of North America
and its vertebrated animals from the states east of the
Mississippi River and from the Canadian provinces east of
longitude 95°
Author: Oliver P. Hay
Release Date: April 6, 2020 [EBook #61765]
Language: English
Character set encoding: UTF-8
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PLEISTOCENE OF NORTH AMERICA ***
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THE PLEISTOCENE OF NORTH
AMERICA AND ITS VERTEBRATED
ANIMALS FROM THE STATES EAST OF
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND FROM
THE CANADIAN PROVINCES EAST OF
LONGITUDE 95°.
BY
OLIVER P. HAY
Associate of the Carnegie Institution of Washington
Published by the Carnegie Institution of Washington, February, 1923
CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON
Publication No. 322
TECHNICAL PRESS
WASHINGTON, D. C.
CONTENTS
PAGE
Preface
VII–VIII
Conclusions regarding the divisions of the Pleistocene
1–15
Limits of the Pleistocene
1
The Blanco Pliocene
1
Divisions of the Pleistocene
2
Elevation of Continent
3
Connections of North America with South America and Asia
3
Sources of vertebrates
4
Richness of Pleistocene life
4
Evolution during the Pleistocene
5
Extinction of species
6
The earliest Pleistocene, the Nebraskan
7
The Aftonian interglacial
10
The Yarmouth interglacial
12
The Illinois glacial
12
The Sangamon interglacial
12
The Peorian interglacial
13
The Wisconsin and the Wabash beds
13
Coastal Plain terraces
13
Conspectus of Geology and Vertebrate Palæontology of the Pleistocene
14–15
Finds of Pleistocene cetaceans in eastern North America
17–20
Ontario
17
Quebec
18
Vermont
19
New Brunswick
19
North Carolina
20
South Carolina
20
Florida
20
Finds of Pleistocene Pinnipedia in eastern North America
21–30
Grinnell Land
21
Nova Scotia
21
New Brunswick
21
Quebec
21
Ontario
23
Maine
23
New Hampshire
25
Massachusetts
25
New Jersey
26
Virginia
28
North Carolina
29
South Carolina
29
Finds of Pleistocene Xenarthra in eastern North America
31–44
New Jersey
31
Pennsylvania
31
Ohio
31
Indiana
32
Illinois
33
Virginia
34
West Virginia
34
South Carolina
35
Georgia
36
Florida
37
Alabama
40
Mississippi
40
Tennessee
41
Kentucky
43
III
Finds of mastodons in eastern North America
45–128
Ontario
45
Cape Breton Island
46
Massachusetts
47
Connecticut
47
New York
48
New Jersey
63
Pennsylvania
68
Ohio
70
Michigan
80
Indiana
88
Illinois
100
Wisconsin
110
Maryland
112
Virginia
113
West Virginia
115
North Carolina
115
South Carolina
118
Georgia
120
Florida
121
Alabama
124
Mississippi
124
Tennessee
127
Kentucky
128
Finds of Elephas primigenius in eastern North America
130–146
Ontario
130
New York
131
New Jersey
132
Pennsylvania
133
Ohio
134
Michigan
137
Indiana
138
Illinois
140
Wisconsin
143
Maryland
144
Virginia
145
North Carolina
145
Florida
145
Tennessee
146
Kentucky
146
Finds of Elephas columbi in eastern North America
147–161
Ontario
147
Vermont
148
New York
149
New Jersey
149
Pennsylvania
150
Ohio
150
Michigan
151
Indiana
151
Illinois
152
Maryland
154
North Carolina
155
South Carolina
155
Georgia
157
Florida
157
Kentucky
160
Finds of Elephas imperator in eastern North America
162–164
South Carolina
162
Florida
162
Alabama
164
Finds of Elephas sp. indet. in eastern North America
166–182
Ungava
166
Ontario
166
Vermont
167
New York
167
Pennsylvania
168
Ohio
168
Michigan
171
Indiana
171
Illinois
175
Wisconsin
178
Maryland and District of Columbia
178
Virginia
178
West Virginia
179
North Carolina
179
Florida
179
Mississippi
180
Tennessee
181
Kentucky
181
Finds of Equidæ in eastern North America
183–202
Massachusetts
183
New York
183
New Jersey
184
Pennsylvania
184
Ohio
185
Indiana
186
Illinois
187
Maryland and District of Columbia
188
Virginia
189
West Virginia
190
North Carolina
190
South Carolina
191
Georgia
193
Florida
194
Alabama
200
Mississippi
200
Tennessee
201
Kentucky
202
Finds of tapirs in eastern North America
203–210
Pennsylvania
203
Ohio
203
Indiana
203
Maryland
204
Virginia
204
South Carolina
204
Georgia
206
Florida
206
Mississippi
208
Tennessee
209
Kentucky
209
Rhinoceroses in Florida
211
Finds of peccaries in eastern North America
212–223
New York
212
New Jersey
213
Pennsylvania
213
Ohio
214
Michigan
215
Indiana
216
Illinois
218
Wisconsin
219
Maryland
220
IV
Virginia
221
West Virginia
221
South Carolina
221
Florida
222
Tennessee
222
Kentucky
223
Finds of camels in eastern North America
224–225
Pennsylvania
224
Florida
224
Tennessee
225
Finds of Odocoileus in eastern North America
226–234
Ontario
226
New York
226
New Jersey
226
Pennsylvania
227
Ohio
227
Michigan
227
Indiana
228
Illinois
229
Wisconsin
230
Maryland
230
Virginia
231
West Virginia
231
North Carolina
231
South Carolina
231
Florida
232
Mississippi
233
Tennessee
234
Kentucky
234
Finds of Cervus canadensis in eastern North America
235–243
Ontario
235
Vermont
235
New York
235
New Jersey
237
Pennsylvania
237
Michigan
237
Indiana
238
Illinois
239
Wisconsin
240
Maryland
242
North Carolina
242
South Carolina
242
Georgia
243
Florida
243
Tennessee
243
Kentucky
243
Finds of Rangifer in the Pleistocene of eastern North America
244–247
Grinnell Land
244
Ontario
244
Vermont
244
Connecticut
244
New York
245
New Jersey
245
Pennsylvania
246
Illinois
246
Wisconsin
247
Kentucky
247
Finds of musk-oxen in eastern North America
248–255
Grinnell Land
248
New Jersey
248
Pennsylvania
248
Ohio
249
Michigan
250
Indiana
251
Illinois
253
West Virginia
254
Mississippi
254
Kentucky
255
Finds of extinct bisons in eastern North America
256–265
Ontario
256
Pennsylvania
256
Ohio
257
Indiana
257
Illinois
259
Wisconsin
259
Maryland
259
Virginia
259
South Carolina
260
Georgia
261
Florida
262
Alabama
264
Mississippi
264
Kentucky
265
Finds of Bison bison in eastern North America
266–271
Ontario
266
Massachusetts
266
New York
266
New Jersey
267
Pennsylvania
267
Indiana
268
Illinois
268
Wisconsin
270
Kentucky
270
Finds of Castoroides in eastern United States
272–280
New York
272
Pennsylvania
272
Ohio
273
Michigan
275
Indiana
276
Illinois
278
South Carolina
279
Georgia
280
Mississippi
280
Tennessee
280
Pleistocene Geology of eastern North America and its fossil vertebrates
281–406
Ontario
281
Quebec
288
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Island
289
New England
290
New York
294
New Jersey
299
Pennsylvania
306
Ohio
324
Michigan
330
Indiana
331
Illinois
334
Wisconsin
340
Maryland and District of Columbia
344
Virginia
351
West Virginia
354
V
North Carolina
355
South Carolina
361
Georgia
368
Florida
372
Alabama
384
Mississippi
385
Tennessee
393
Kentucky
400
ILLUSTRATIONS
Plates.
Map
1.
Pleistocene cetaceans in eastern North America.
2.
Pleistocene Pinnipedia in eastern North America.
3.
Pleistocene Xenarthra in eastern North America.
4.
Pleistocene Xenarthra in Florida.
5.
Pleistocene mastodons in eastern North America.
6.
Eastern New York, western Massachusetts, and Connecticut,
showing relation of mastodon localities to areas of sea-level in Late
Wisconsin.
6A.
Pleistocene mastodons in New Jersey.
7.
Pleistocene mastodons in Ohio.
8.
Pleistocene mastodons in Michigan.
9.
Pleistocene mastodons in Indiana.
10.
Pleistocene mastodons in Florida.
11.
Elephas primigenius in eastern North America.
12.
Elephas columbi in eastern North America.
13.
Elephas columbi in Florida.
14.
Elephas imperator in southeastern United States.
15.
Elephas imperator in Florida.
16.
Elephas sp. indet. in eastern North America.
17.
Pleistocene horses in eastern North America.
18.
Pleistocene horses in Florida.
19.
Pleistocene tapirs in eastern North America.
20.
Pleistocene peccaries in eastern North America.
21.
Pleistocene camels in eastern North America.
22.
Pleistocene species of Odocoileus in eastern North America.
23.
Cervus canadensis in Pleistocene of eastern North America.
24.
Rangifer in Pleistocene of eastern North America.
25.
Pleistocene musk-oxen in eastern North America.
26.
Extinct bisons in Pleistocene of eastern North America.
27.
Bison bison in Pleistocene of eastern North America.
28.
Castoroides in eastern North America.
29.
Castoroides in Ohio.
30.
Castoroides in Indiana.
31.
Areas in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont
occupied by water at sea-level in Late Wisconsin stage.
32.
Isobases of Late Glacial uplift.
33.
J. W. Spencer’s view of preglacial drainage of the region of the Great
Lakes.
34.
Wisconsin glacier in New York, lakes Newberry and Maumee, and
localities of mastodons.
35.
Glacial map of Ohio.
36.
Distribution of Pleistocene mammals in Ohio.
37.
Glacial map of Indiana.
38.
Glacial map of Illinois. Shows also localities of Pleistocene
vertebrates.
39.
Coastal plain of North Carolina, with localities of Pleistocene animals
and plants.
40.
Sketch map of Skidaway Island, near Savannah, Georgia.
41.
Bigbone Lick and vicinity.
Text-figures.
Fig.
1.
Geological section of Twin Creek, near Beecher, Will Co., Illinois
108
2.
Section across gully at Whitehall, Wisconsin
242
3.
Region about Toronto, Ontario
282
4.
Eastern Ontario, showing limit of marine and fresh-water beaches
286
5.
South shore-line of the Champlain sea
287
6.
Preglacial drainage of the Upper Ohio
293
7.
Geologic section of Fish House beds at Camden, New Jersey
302
VI
8.
Vicinity of Trenton, New Jersey, showing distribution of the Trenton
gravels
305
9.
Geologic sections at Trenton, New Jersey
305
10.
Northern Pennsylvania, showing glaciated areas
309
11.
Section of Port Kennedy bone cave at time of first exploration, 1871
318
12.
Section of Port Kennedy bone cave at time of last exploration, 1896
318
13.
Metatarsal of Ovis sp. indet., from Kendall Co., Illinois
338
14.
Relation of the driftless area to the surrounding glaciated areas
342
15.
Diagram showing the supposed terraces of the Maryland coastal
plain
345
16.
Section across Potomac River near Big Pool, Maryland, showing
gravel-covered terraces
347
17.
Generalized section across Allegheny Valley at Parkers Landing, W.
Va.
349
18.
Tooth of Hydrochoerus pinckneyi
365
19.
Jaw and tooth of a wolf from Charleston, South Carolina
366
20.
Coastal plain of Georgia
369
21.
Geologic section from north to south through the phosphate
deposits of Florida
377
22.
Geological map of Mississippi embayment
388
23.
County map of Tennessee, to show where Pleistocene fossils have
been found
395
24.
Vertical section of Bigbone Cave, Elroy, Van Buren Co., Tennessee
398
25.
Section on bank of Tennessee River at Nashville
400
PREFACE.
The writer has been engaged for several years on an investigation of the Pleistocene
geology of North America and of the Vertebrata which have been discovered in the
deposits of this epoch. It had been his expectation to publish the results of all his
studies at the same date. However, on consultation with Dr. John C. Merriam, it was
agreed that it would be better to publish immediately that part which pertains to the
region lying east of the Mississippi River and, as to the country further north, that
east of longitude 95°.
At the outset the writer was convinced that, before just conclusions could be
reached, it was necessary to know what fossil materials had been collected and under
what geological and geographical conditions. He therefore made as thorough a search
as possible of the literature for reports of discoveries of fossil vertebrates. Also, when
in scientific journals or in newspapers the finding of fossils was recorded, recourse
was had to correspondence, thus securing much exact information as to locality, kind
of matrix, depth, and other important data. Often photographs have been obtained
and even the materials themselves. The writer has also visited many museums and
colleges throughout the country and examined their collections. Even in the smaller
institutions, where perhaps only a few objects have been secured and preserved,
some of these have furnished important information. Regret may be expressed that in
the larger museums and colleges, as well as the smaller ones, too often there have
been preserved only meager or no records regarding the history of what would
otherwise be valuable specimens.
In order to show the geographical distribution of the most important species that
occur in considerable numbers, a series of maps has been prepared, pertaining to the
following:
Whales and porpoises.
Seals and walruses.
The edentates.
Elephas primigenius.
E. columbi.
E. imperator.
E. species undetermined.
Mastodons, mostly Mammut.
Horses, mostly Equus.
Tapirs.
Peccaries.
Camels.
Odocoileus.
Cervus.
Rangifer.
Musk-oxen.
Bisons, extinct.
Bison bison.
Giant beavers.
Where the map of a State has become too crowded with numerals, a special map of
that State for that species or genus has been prepared. There are maps of the
edentates in Florida; mastodons of Indiana, of New York, of Ohio, of Michigan, of
Florida; Elephas columbi in Florida; Elephas imperator in Florida; horses in Florida.
Other maps and figures for illustration of the Pleistocene geology will be found in
their proper places.
The first part of the present volume is occupied by a consideration of the specimens
recorded on the maps. Such information is noted as could be secured, often
satisfactory, little enough sometimes; but it has been found that one can not foresee
what important information a given fossil may furnish. At least, the presence of the
fossil at a locality indicates the existence there of Pleistocene deposits of some kind. In
cases where other species have been associated with the one mapped and described,
VII
VIII
these are noted.
When the consideration of these mapped species and genera is completed, the
Pleistocene geology of the various States and provinces is taken up, so far as it is
related to the vertebrate palæontology. This involved an examination of much of the
literature of the Glacial period; and here one soon finds himself in face of huge tomes
and endless articles and detailed maps. Only somewhat less in amount is the
literature of the States beyond the glaciated area. The opportunity to misunderstand
and to commit errors is unlimited, and the writer can only hope for lenient criticism.
An attempt has been made in the case of all vertebrate fossils to determine their
geological relations and to derive some general conclusions regarding the history of
our Pleistocene vertebrates and their relation to the divisions of the Pleistocene
epoch. The conclusions reached are embodied in the immediately succeeding pages.
Not much attention has been given to the fossil invertebrates and plants. It is
evident that neither the mollusks nor the plants have undergone any considerable
change during Pleistocene times and are therefore not available as indicators of
geological stages, though often useful for determining local climatic conditions. Their
value can be better utilized by the palæomalacologists and palæobotanists.
To the officers of museums and colleges and to the private individuals who have so
freely offered the use of their materials and in other ways aided the writer, he takes
pleasure in expressing his sincere thanks. Most of all, however, he is indebted to the
Carnegie Institution of Washington for the generous support extended during the
years of this investigation.
June 1, 1922.
Oliver P. Hay.
THE PLEISTOCENE OF NORTH AMERICA AND ITS
VERTEBRATED ANIMALS.
CONCLUSIONS REGARDING THE DIVISIONS OF THE
PLEISTOCENE.
I. LIMITS OF THE PLEISTOCENE.
The Pleistocene is regarded as being equivalent to what is known as the Glacial
period. It began with the deployment of the ice-sheets which, proceeding from their
centers of accumulation in British America, laid down in the East the Jerseyan drift
and in the West the Nebraskan. The more the Glacial period is studied the more one
becomes impressed with the significance of its physical effects on the northern
hemisphere and with its influence on the vertebrate life. Doubtless its effects on the
world in general are only beginning to be comprehended. The writer knows of no
other phenomena, geological or biological, which so well characterize the Pleistocene
period as do those comprehended under the term Glacial. They constitute the key to
the determination of the subdivisions of the epoch and of their succession and to the
history of the vertebrates which during this time occupied the continent.
1
