Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1873-11-26
FOSSIL REMAINS.
The Debris from n Graveyard in the
Colorado Bad Lands.

ia the Editor OF the New York World:
SIR: The barren, treeless plains of
the Far West are at this time invested
with singular and profound interest to
the man Of science.
One of the most remarkable results of
the United States Geological Survey,
under my charge during the past season,
was the discovery by Prof. Cope, in the
..Bad Lands" of Colorado, OF one of
those wonderful graveyards of q long
lost period, distinct from that of Wyom-
ing. and containing the osseous remains
of great population of beasts OF totally
different species and even order from
those of the latter age and region. They
resemble more nearly those of the White
river, of Nebraska, but many have been
obtained by Prof. Cope not known here
or elsewhere. So far he has proven the
existence of more than 100 species, some
represented by thousands of individuals
OF these at least seventy species are new
to science. They range from the size of
the mole to nearly that of the elephant;
sixteen species only are reptiles.
Many forms of insectivorous animals
related to the mole, and of every small
Size, nave Doeu piOCuIcu. Lie uellcacy
and minuteness of these fossils is sur
prising
Gnawing animals. or rodents, left nu-
nerous remains of eighteen species,
some not larer than the domestic mouse.
Some were the predecessors of the rab-
bits, others of squirrels, and others of
mice.
OF cloven-footed quadrupeds great
many species have been found. Some
were nearly intermediate between the
deer and the hog in structure. Like the
latter they had no horns. They were
about as large as sheep, Others were
about the size OF gray squirrels, being
the smallest of this class OF animals ever
discovered. Several species of horses
were living during the same period, as is
proven by the bones and teeth which
have been discovered. Their relative,
the rhinoceros, abounded in Colorado in
former days, no less than seven species
having been procured by Professor Cope.
One of the specimens Is a perfect skull,
with teeth complete and covered with
moss-like orystalization seen in the moss
agate. But the most remarkable mon
steis of the past whose existence has been
disclosed by the present survey, are a
series of horned species related to the
rhinoceros, but possessing some features
in which, according to Professor Cope,
they resemble the elephant. They stood
high on the legs and had short feet, but
possessed osseous horns in pairs on diff
ferent parts on the head. One of the
largest species had huge horn over each
eye, while another had one on each side
of the nose, and more than foot in
length, resembling on the back part of
the head the OK, etc. A third one of
larger size than the last had fundamental
horns on his nose. Still another was
about as large as the elephant Its
cheek-bones were enormously expanded,
and its horns were fiat. A fifth species
had triangular horns, turned outward.
The first-named species has been named
by Professor Cope miobasileus ophryas,
and the others have been placed in a new
genus. 1t is claimed by Professor Cope
that their structure disproves entirely
the statement of recent writer, that
the presence Of horns in pairs is an indi-
cation of relationship to the Eliminating
animals (oxen, etc. for the beasts are
quite near the rhinoceros.
tarnivorous species were not rare in
this ancient family, and served as now
too check the too rapid increaes. OF the
fourteen species known, there were IT,
ger-cats. dogs, hy@nodons, and the TOM
arctos, a new genus found by Prof. Cope.
This resembles dog and was as large as
the black bear, but was much more car
nlvorous in its propensities; hyanodons
were as large and had many flesh teeth;
while some of the cats had remarkably
long canine or eye teeth. In a new spe-
Gle, the size of panther, these teeth
greatly resembled those of a shark.
The reptiles embrace turtles. lizards
and snakes, the last two orders discovered
for the first time in this formation in
America.
All Of these curious, extinct forms of
lie will be carefully described for the
seventh annual report of the geological
survey OF the Territories, under the De-
partment of the Interior. and in the
quarto series full illustrations will be
made OF all the new species. Prof. Cope
has already obtained from the ancient sea
and an lake deposits of Kansas, Colorado,
wyoming and Idaho about 800 species Of
vertebrate animals, Of which he has made
known to science for the first time about
zoo' J.V. HAYDEN.