The Hawaiian gazette., 1894-01-09

l CAo4AALCNA ALAo NANSCs.
mistaken about its origin, but II !
easy 10 see how such cast might b
formed.
Tufts formations, more frequentl.
than lava, may preserve impression
| OF organic remains, or even the Oh
jects themselves, ''petrlhed IN tn
usual manner. There Is in Makik
valley. st the bsse Of Mount Tants
lus, (Puu Ohis) q deposit OF volesnl'
ssnd which has become partially
compscted into coarse grained sand
stone. This contains many fragment:
OF wood partially silicifed- l doub
whether the species of the plant:
represented could be determined, but
they are ST least veritable fossils
The formation is so recent and
superficial that it msy be safely as
sumed that the remains are those OF
such plants as still grow in the neigh
borhood-
In the tufs near Moanalua there
are found numerous remains OF a
similar character, mostly the stems
and roots Of shrubs. The woody
structure has been very imperfectly
preserved, and the formation is sgsiu
unQuestionsbly quite recent, but We
are encouraged TO hope thst speci
mems may be found more perfect in
structure and of greater age.
One must guard against mistsking
for the remains Of roots or branches
Of trees certain curious products re-
sultiug from the action of inorganic
forces. l hsye been not little puz
zled myself 10 account for the origin
Of some Of these pseudo-fossils,
which l find under such variety Of
conditions that l sm forced to con-
clude that they may be formed in
several different ways. The most
common form appears TO be produced
by the penetration. following the
course perhaps Of decayed root, OF
water charged with animal matter
Sometimes the root itself seems to
have acted chemically on surround
ing material, causing it TO become
cemen;ed together. Escaping steam
may some times produce like effect,
and it is not impossible that light
ming strokes may have been. in some
instances, the cause.
Sedimentsry formations are not
wholly wanting even in these volcanic
islands. and il is IN these especially
that We might hope to find occasion
u included fossil remains The great
er part Of the clay formations that
have resulted from the weathering OF
our lavas. have been deposited,
owing to the steepness Of the land
slopes. in the ocean where they are
beyond our reach. When such de-
posts have been made on land. it
has been always where they are liable |
to be carried away again as erosion |
and besides the material |
OF sedimsntsry deposits in our
stream: consists chiefly OF rock par /
ticles which. however fine. have |
not reached 3 stable condition !
yet chemically, as those Of the clsys |
and silicious sands Of older countries
have We can scarcely hope, there |
fore, 10 learn much from this source
Of the extinct fauna and fora of the
Islands.
OF the marine fauna. we may learn
more possibly. since the lime stone
formations. which include them do
preserve for an indefinite time the
remains imbedded therein, but these
lie for the most part where they were
formed at G depth that makes them
Cslcgreous deposits on land have
occasionally preserved remains, es-
1ecially OF shells which may possibly
lold some of the secrets We have
sought in vain elsewhere. Such de
1Osits have been formed occasionally
N a somewhat large scale, as, {. g.. in
he crater Of Diamond Head, where
he crusts are some times several
inches thick, but the conditions of
heir formation were such that they
we're not likely to include organic re- (
nsius very frequently, and l ques.
ion whether there exist such deposits
Il any considerable antiquity
l have myself found interesting
ossils IL fair state of preservation
4 several places One Of tne most
remarkable localities Is at Moanalua,
where a stratum Of sandstone made
lp Of diEintegrated tufa fragments
: filed with leaf impressions which
ire. some OF them. exceedingly per
.ect. 1t would not be difficult 70 dis
inguish by the yeining and other
characters OF the leaves the species
o which they belong, for they must
2e such as are still extsnt
The tuia conglomerste at the base
If Diamond Head. which seems to
AVE been formed by the action OF
water flowing from calcsreous hot
springs higher up, IS rich in fossil
shells, which belong to species that
low seek the shelter OF cool. damp
woods. We cannot imagine them
living under conditions any thing
Ike those now prevailing there. 1t
S possible that the dampness of the
.ocks over which water constantly
rickled might supply all that was
ll - & - /