New-York tribune., 1874-09-14

ton OF the country passed through NO small campiur
ground would Accommodate mrge force as the one
In question: aud, might readily be supposed the
country best adapted for the discovery Of fossil remains
Is that esst fitted for camping purposes, ON account Oh
the lack Of wood water and grass Thus the very days
on which with the greatest degree OF probability fossils
might be expected were usually those on which the
longest marches were made or under such cir
cunstances 1t necessary TO pass by many large
areas OF washed bluffs without even cursory survey
on which av tbs rs yestsSsse remains were scoy
cred Enough however was seen to assure me hat tne
oc tfes Travelled by means rich In FOSSILS ann
that but limited collections could been made even
had had more time 90 devote 10 their examination.
upon the discoveries made reseryIog all scientnc de
tails Tor future report To be made as soon as the rev
specimens collected be Identified and their geoog
car norlzOn determined with accuracy ms IL IL nopeu
may be acc mplahed in a few weeks.
Starting rom Fort Lincoln July = and passing over
ronR prairie for about - miles the FIRST FOSSILS were
FOUND July near summit of q small butte aud just
beneath the layer OF frabie, brown sandstone with
which all rhe surrounding buttes are covered THESE
consisted mainly OF few cretaceous Shells Dyalyes
gastcfopod aud eepnalopod all mnen weataered
ana 80 fragile almost TO crumbe while being picked
up From tins point until We left Ludlows Cave July
~ no PAD lands were seen but ON the l3Ll seYerm
washes were visited aud thoroughly explored, put ah
proved barren OF fossils On the 14th the country De
ca me much more rugged and barren High 0luhs ana
MOUNDS OF blue clay without vegetation were NUMEROUS
80 much 30 that unable 10 visit all OF them AT
Castie Butte We found the first tertiary remains
Oh the trip-a few turtle bones much worn ny
the weather and single leg bone of mammal or NAM
mOth Size the latter much cracked and shattered py
pressure that unable 10 transport II To camp
on some very extensive bad lands at the northwest
point OF Short Pine Buttes two large verebre were ds
covered together with few chelonan bones. and here
think the most promising locality that We visited
during the trip. But the time 10 examine them was
wanting and We were obliged TO leave them without
proper exploration. While in the Black Hills a few
paeozoie fossils chiefly brachopods OF various kinds
were found. which Will be enumerated In future re-
port Nothing however of general interest was observed
until Aug II, when few concretionary FOSSILS were
found In the black shale northwest OF Slave Butes
we're cfetaceOuS DlVaVeS anu
mest0ne connections IN which tney were found lay IN
position IN the shae IL much 20 be regretted that
the time allowed for investigation In this branch cf nat
ura science short and is earnestly hoped tnat
another thorough and careful exploration
OF this region may he made. and more Interesting re-
suits obtained. In concluding this brief review must
heartily thank Gen Custer and Col. Ludlow for their
constant willingness to assist in way possible
consistently with the best interests OF the expedition
Your obedlent servant, GEO. BIRD GRISSELL-