New-York tribune., 1873-06-14
THE WEST IN AGES PAST.
PROF. MARsH's DISCOVERIES IN THE ROCKY
MOUNTAIN REGION.


MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED EXTINCT VERTEBRATE
,N,,,Is. PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN, BROUGHT TO
,,c,rr u, SERIES OF EXPEDITIONS PURELY IN THE
,~rrprsT OF sCIENCE-SOME or THE STRANGE
,cpr,rrrpEs OF THR EAEIY AMERICAN CONT
NENT.
.-oo,, y,,p SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
N7,w. HAVEN. juno 5-As Prof O. G. Marsh is now
6enartine with another scientific expedition
to the Rocky Mountains, there is at pres
ont an unusual stir and interest here IN
relation 70 this class Of investigations. An extra
ordinary success has attended the series Of geological
researches which the present undertaking con-
tpues and there is every reason TO hope that 1t VIII
return as well laden with trophies its predecessors
Including the one now starting, there have been hVe
of these expeditions under Prof Marsh, three oi
which consisted of large parties. Although receiving
escort and protection from United States troops
the expeditions are not at public expense, Ano
specimens collected 90 to enrlch the MuS0ui"
of Yale College; but all the cost VI .n0
expeditions is betrayed by the private III
dividuals composing the exploring paues Ano
expense has amounted to more than SSo'oVo III
single year. No other interests than tose Oh science
are consulted in the explorations of which the chief
object is 10 make original researches and discoveries
in naIpoDtologv. II may correct widespread but
orronoors belief to state that while Prof Marsh pre-
sides over the archaeological department OF Yale
College. the individuals selected TO accompany him
ON these expeditions are not class of students from
the COLLEGE, taken out for the purpose of instruction
They are for tie most part competent assistants, and
men spccialy fitted for making Investigations OF this
order aud are selected solely with aview to enlarg
ing the domain of science by accomplishing original
discoveries.
The results thus obtained already far surpass all
discoveries made in Europe for twenty-five years in
the same department Of research. Prof Marsh has
directed his attention mainly to the extinct verte
brates of the cretaceOus and tertiary formations,
and has obtained moro than 200 species new to
science. In preliminary papers about $50 OF these
have been described and it is expected that COM
plete details with full illustrations of all of them,
will ultimately be published under Government
auspices It nav here be remarked that the ac-
cumulated wealth Of specimens from this field OF
research as well as from other sources, has placed
the Yale College Museum far in advance Of any
other in this country, far extinct vertebrates
are concerned and it is surpassed by but few IL
Europe.
The first Of these expeditions was in the Summer
of 1868 One Of the most extraordinary observations
resulting from this trip, though not relating to geo
logical forms Of life is too interesting to be left IL
the pages of the purely scientific documents where
it has hitherto been buried Several specimens Of
the animal known previously as the Siredon were
captured by Prof Marsh in Lake Como, IL
Wyoming Territory, for the purpose Of examining
their habits.