On the definition of fossil and subfossil

I agree with Dr. HUBERT (see the preceding pages) that good definitions of scientific terms are very important. Notwithstanding his objections I stick to my definition of subfossil, which I should now formulate as follows. „Remains of, or traces left by, Recent organisms which make the impression of being fossils by their state of preservation.” It should, however, be accompanied by a good definition of fossil, which I agree that neither ZITTEL’s nor that of ”Geological Nomenclature” is. For me a satisfactory definition of fossil runs as follows. ”Remains of, or traces left by, organisms which lived before the Recent age began. These remains or traces should be recognizable as such by their form.”