New-York tribune., 1874-12-22
A PERILOUS FOSSIL HUNT.
PROF. MARSH's LAST TRIP TO TIE BAD
LANDS.

PROF. MARsH's LAST TRIP TO TIE BAD
LANDS.
CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH LED TO THE EXPEDITION
DANGERS AND DIFFICULTIES EHCOUNTERED-TiiE
PARTY THREATENED WITH INSTANT DESTRUCTION
IF THEY MOVE FORwARD--A M0LILFYINd BAN
QUIET - FRESH OBSTACLES THE EXPEDITION
STEALS MARCH on THE INDIANs-A DOG G-DINNER
-DIsCOvERIEs IN FOSSIL. REMAINS AND NEW
FACTS IN GEOLOGY.
fFROM STAFF CORRESPONDENT or THE TRDrNE.I
NEW HAVEN, Dec 19.-Thc carly days Of the pres
cnt century, when Cuvicr first identified in the gy-
sum quarres Of Paris the remains OF mighty extinct
qiadruped1. and tho years shortly following when
nations Guarrcled over similar discoveries have
often been called tho golden age of pal;eontol0gy.
l'nt ten times as many fossil bones have been re-
Gently brought to tho museum OF Yale College as
Cuvicr ever saw in his whole lifetimc-thc remains
of animals rs large varied and as unlike the cre-
lures o. 10 present day as those which he so accn
ratey described There is reason for believing that
tho year 1874 marks the extreme point in this class
of discoveries certainly ts collections WI be nara
to su, pass in number and quantity.
THE BONE BUSINESS FLOURIsHING.
During tho Summer months Prof, q. &. Marsh,
whose annual journeys in search of vertebrate f0s
sils at the West have become pretty well known to
our readers. was deeply absorbed in planning and
supervising the construction of tho new museum of
Yale College, of which description was given in
TIE TRIBUNE of Aug. 12 The wing of this building,
which is designed for Immediate occupancy and
usc covering an area of 115xl00 feet is already far
advanced, wOrkmen being engaged on the second
story. The basement is of stone: tho first story
pressed brick with stone trimmings and archcd
windows. Tho whole structure will be tirc-proof
and the work already done indicates that although
very solid and substantial in appearance. tho build
ing will not bo wanting in architectural beauty.
But although unable himself to take part in cxpora-
tons in the field, Prof. Marsh's lfc-work has not
halted. The bone-busncss," as his Western
friends call it. did not slacken with the
hard times. Tho conductors of Eastern-bound
freight trains had many tons to look
after. marked "handlo with great care"
and addressed to Yale College. and there was doubt
less the usual amount of profanity expended over
the heavy boxes in their long transits by stage and
rail from the most inaccessible portions OF our do
main. Not less than l2 parties of men Injured to the
business were kept at work by Prof. Marsh. under
his constant Instructions, exploring various regions
at the West for fossils and packing and sending for
ward the accumuldtions. 1t is unnecessary to state
the large sum of money thlt tho Professor Is eX-
pending in these enterprises; as it IS his own, the
question cannot be pressed. But it is easy to see
that intelligent and tOilSOme service such as he re-
qnres cannot be procured except at heavy outlay
The fossils obtained lie gives to the College; the ar
rivals durGg the season have sometimes exceeded
ton week.
Patient study of the remains thus collected was
leading Prof. Marsh to certain conclusions. Ill re-
Spcct to the characteristics OF extinct VcrteDraeS
that cannot yet be stated. Notwithstanding the ac-
cunulatcd arrivals tho information to DO cleaned
r., 1afn tpin Inlpe
tiona. TASTY conclusions from Insufficient data are
not to bo thought OF at New-laven. 1t were better
to POSTPONE the announcement Of new animals. now
Species, and new principles in Zoology for few
months or even for years, than to rush into print
with il qia.rupctl, like our Southern States, too
hastily There possibilities OF mis-
take in these attempts that remind us OF the
nursery legend about the brewers horse that wished
TO la his head where was his tail To insure ac-
curacy the careful comparison of great numbers OF
specimens il necessary Last October news came to
Prof Marsh that most promising deposit OF fossils
had been discovered in the Bad Lands south oil
the Black Hills; the character and condition OF
these bones as they lay mbcddcd in position, would
throw additional light tho problem which
he was then engaged in working ont. 1t may
here be mentioned also tat there is no certainty
that beds of fossils will remain permanently undis
tuIbcd even where tho region is only occupied by
sayagcs, for the Indians frequently carry fossil
tooth or bone as an amulet or charn-or as they
phrase it, as "mcdicinc." Tho discovery OF
fossil remains in the locality from which Prof Marsh
has lust returned, was originally made by an Indian
who brought into camp tho molar tooth of an ami
nal which Prof Marsh has named tho BrontOthe-
rum. The finder carried tho tooth in his tobacco
pouch; his notion about it was that it had belonged
TO "a big horse, struck by lightning"
SKULL OF Observation-Disclosures VIEW.