Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-15

<<" OSSllI lsuntlnS Is becoming some
thing of fad remarked gov
ernment scientist, somewhat,
rerilaps, 70 the detriment Of museum col
Iections In fact, the numerous summer
schools that now put much of tier time
in by roaming the country in search OF
the strangely preserved forms CT long
extinct life are becoming rather bane
to the museum collector, whose researches
are often anticipated by the youthful en-
thusiasts and their expert tutCrs.
The word fossil conveys TO many
persons, in all proba bility, the .dea OF
something essentially dry and ulinterest-
ing. Yet tie reverse is the case W tn the
initiated who make the hunt f>r the
queer things fund in rocks and her
formations their flvCrite fad There are
numerous rich feds FIR the fossil hunter,
who merely requires for his fascinating
pursuit a little leisure and a hammer 10
yield results. In fact, there are many
things of great Interest in this regard to
be f. ind in stone beds almost anywhere
if people care To lock for them.
The possibilities of fossil finds in the
vicinity OF Washington were illustrated a
few summers ago by a scientific aid en-
ployed by the Smithsonian Institution.
While spending a holiday at q nearoy
resort he investigated a promi ing fornla-
ton. and unearthed, with other inter
esting fossil remains. what he believed
to be the petritied skeleton of Wild
horse. together with specimens OF rare
pre- historic reptiles and fishes.
Fossil fish are extremely abundant IN
some beds CT rock. Amy pers knowing
which beds to examine IN readily ind.
in a little time, far more fish than ne
would be likely to catch with q rcd In q
trout stream in the same time. Amc ns
a frr trhi a i
discovered almost anywhere are tie ellis
of mollusks. some of which differ little
in general appearance from the seashelis
one finds along any shore at the y esent
time Others, again. formed the hahita-
items &C creatures which have no unter-
parts i'll the seas today, and which IN
some instances, were Ct gigant proper
tons presenting. could anv human eye
have Witnessed them. amazing srecfacIes
as Trey fioated about the wilderness OF
waters.
What are known as 'Tipple-marks" are
frequently to be seen in very hard rock
on elevated land and mountains. Any one
who has noticed the marks made upon
the sands Of the seashore by the receding
waves will readily conceive how these
ripple-marks were fashioned But II Is
an impressive reflection that when the
receding waters of the primeval seas
scored these markings the latter We're
left upon soft sand which, hardening In
the course of myriads of years. has left
these permanent tracings. Many slab
of sandstone perpetuates the record or
primeval rainStornl, for the surface may
be seen to be studded with thousands OF
raindrop impressions. The rain. of course.
fell while the rand was soft and not yet
converted into rock. Along the Connect
cut valley are found numerous FOOT
prints of gigantic reptiles. which are
locally termed bird tracks A striking
specimen is to be seen among the geo
logical collections of the National Mu-
scum These are believed to have been
made upon what was then soft SAND py
dinosaurs gigantic lizards which M
ha bited this region during the so-called
triassic period.
Fossil eggs have been discovered I'M
bedded in stone. \ couple of splendld
specimens of this sort were discovered
not long ago in a bed of rock formed
during what biologists call the upper
period. and are now quite Solid
the interior of each being filled up with
mineral substance.
One of the greatest treasures in the Ma
tional Museum at Berlin is slab OF
white photographic slate, in which is i'm
)edded the complete skeleton of an eX-
H. \ n -