Gilpin observer., 1900-06-07
FOSSILS OF PATAGONIA.
Professor Hatcher of Princeton
Brings Back Rare Specimens.
EXPEDITION WAS A SUCCESS.

Not Only from archaeological and
Geological StnnGpoints, but From
Geographical Ones rs Weil-Spccl-
mems VIII Dc Mounted and Added
to the Uniyersity's GeoloG;cal Mu-
scum.
department of geology and paleon-
tology in Princeton university, has just
returned to Princeton from an eight
months expedition to Patagonia.
where he has been making researches
in geology and paleontology.
Professor Hatcher and his assistant.
Mr.. Peterson, left New York last De
cember for the Indian land in The
southern part of South America, arriv-
ing there a few weeks later. After es.
tablishing their headquarters at Sandy
point, along the coast of the strait of
Magellen, they went inland among the
Indian tribes and explored the plains
and mountains of Patagonia lying be-
tween the forty-siXth and fifty-third
parallels.
The expedition proved very success
full, especially in obtaining many rare
specimens of fossil, vertebrate and in
vertebrate, says the Philadelphia Press.
A large collection of valuable chino
logical, geological and botanical speci-
mems We're also gathered. and several
points in the sciences of geology and
paleontology which have hitherto been
the subject Of controversy are now
definitely settled.
On this expedition Professor Hatcher
discovered the first mesozoic mammals
ever found in Patagonia and obtained
a collection Of mesozoic Invertebrates
which will rank with those to be seen
in the best museums of the world. Just
before leaving the country he had some
30 cases of these invertebrates ship
ped to the United States. They will
be brought to the university ana pre-
pared for exhibition in the geological
museum.
While the expedition has as whole
been very successful, the department
Of paleontoiogy deserves especial
mention. The quantity of ma aterial OBJ
tained is so great that it can only be
adequately expressed in tons, and the
quantity is even surpassed by the quail
ity of the collections. The invertebrate
fossils will receive the careful atten-
ton of DR.. Ortman of the university
museum, and he will have some of them
on exhibition within few months. but
the adequate preparation and study Of
the enormous collections of fossil,
mammals and birds, will require sey-
eral years of further work.
What especially charactcrizes these
collections is not only the extraordi-
nary number of the genera and species.
but even more the remarkably perfect
preservation of the specimens. Almost
every genus is represented by one or
more complete skeletons, and forms
hitherto known only from more or less
fragmentary parts may now be studied
and figured as entire organisms.
1t Is scarcely an exaggeration to say
that no geological or archaeological
work Of recent years is of greater gen
eral interest and Importance than that
for which the way has been made
straight and easy by the skill and
energy of Professor Hatcher. lie has
aiSO lildOe cOiiectiOIS Oi MARINE ana
fresh water invertebrates, dry and al
coholic, which have proved to be OF
unexpected value. He further gathered
a large series Of cryptogamic plants.
which are already in the hands CT
specialists, and partial account of
them has been published.
The expedition has also been impor-
tant in Its contributions to geography
by the discovery of mountains, lakes,
rivers and glaciers which have never
before been named or recorded on any
map. A large and valuable series of
Photographic negatives were taken
which depict geological and physio.
graphical features Of that section Of
country. and these may be used by
Professor Hatcher In an illustrated
lecture given later on.
He will remain In Princeton several
months and direct the work Of prepar.
Ing the collections from Patagonia OBJ
tained for the university. He expects
to continue his researches in Patagonia
and will probably sail for that region
some time In 1900.
Crops Eaten by n Mysterious Worm.
Crops Eaten by n Mysterious Warm.