The San Francisco call., 1905-01-23

BERKELEY, Jan. 22.-Professor
John c. Merriam of the geological de-
partment OF the State University last
night made public the results of dis
coveries for which he is responsible,
that are expected to revolutionize
theories held by scientists regarding
the origin and descent Of Ichthyosaurs,
f1shsaurians whose fossils have been
the subject of extensive study by geo
logists and scientists in general, and
which studies have thrown valuable
light upon the formation of the world
and the character of its reptile lie
ages ago.
Professor Merriam has contributed
his discoveries to the scientific press
of the country and the result is ex-
pected TO stir greatly that section OF
thinkers. Incidentally the field OF
palaeontologic research in Cahrornla
naturally will have the center OF the
stage. as the theories of Professor
Merriam follow discoveries made by
him in the mountain ranges OF the
State.
The California savant's deductions
are couched in scientific terms diff
cult of comprehension by the people,
but their significance relates to
changes of opinion regarding the orig
in of the Ichthyosaurs, which ne
thinks must follow as the result of
new discoveries of Ichthyosaur fauna
HAS RIGHT TO SPEAK.
DIR. Merriam's right to speak au-
thoritatively on the subject may be in
ferred from the place of honor given
him by Henry Fairfield Osborn, Da
Costa professor of zoology in Column
bia University, and curator in the
American museum of natural history,
n%oh 10 Wi i0Ia N
Ichthyosaurs, contributed to the Gen.
tury magazine, begins his article with
a reference to IAN expeditionsfrom the
University of California which dis
covered in rocks of Triassic age, un-
der the shadows of Mount Shasta, re-
mains of a new type of fshsaurfan,
which was appropriately named Shas-
tasaurus by Professor Merriam. This
led to the proofs of the existence in
Northern California of a large and
very ancient bay of the Pacific ocean
during a period long previous to the
elevation of the Sierra Nevada range"
Henry Fairfield Osborn is looked
upon as the highest authority on this
and kindred subjects in America ana
his readiness to accord Professor
Merriam distinction and equal footing
with him is considered sufficient ex-
cuse to regard the California man as
one qualified to discuss in tone OF
authority the involved SUBJECT OF Ach-
thyosaurs.
Professor Merriam has this to say
of his most recent discoveries as they
relate to Ichthyosaur specimens:
Professor George Baur furnished evidence
that the limbs OF the jurassic ichthyosaur are
highly specialized structures, developed In
adaptation to aquatic life. He showed that
limbs of the triassic ichthyosaur come nearer
10 the type Of the extremity found in primitive
reptila than do those Of later representatives
81 4Hok nrAor
available triassic specimens showing limbs
were from bituminous shales OF Besano. Iorn-
hardy. These he separated from iohthyosaur
and called them a new -mixosaurus
The California triassic developed collections OF
new groups of ichthyosaur differing in impor-
tant particulars from the genera Of Europe.
NEW LIGHT FOUND.
So many new forms have appeared in this
fauna that some of the questions relating to
the origin and descent OF the ichthyosaur must
now be reopened. The addition OF the new