The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-12-18
Is PARTIES JOIN IN
SEARCH FOR FOSSILS
Smithsonian Institution Sends
Several Expeditions Out for
Geological Data.

Nineteen parties and individuals, rep
resenting the Smithsonian Institution
in the field were engaged in the collec-
tion OF data relative to astrophy sizes,
geology, biology, and anthropology
during the past year. Besides these,
nine representatives Of the Bureau Of
American ethnology secured informa-
ton relative TO the American Indian.
While most of the exploration occurred
in the United States, considerable work
was carried on in Canada the West In
dies, Peru, Switzerland. and Borneo,
Cashmere. Egypt. Greece, and Italy.
A recent publication of the institution
describing the various explorations. in
cludes report on the archaeological
field work of the secretary. DR.. Charles
d. Walcott, in the Canadian Rockies.
near the Robson Park district In Brit
ish Columbia and Alberta, and in Field,
British Columbia
Search for Fossils.
The mountainous scenery in the FORM
er region is quite alpine in appearances,
including snow-capped and glacier CO.
cred peaks which tower LOO to $500
feet above Lake Kinney. itself some
1000 feet above sea level. On this trip
DR.. Walcotts party approached from
the west to study the invertebrats fos-
sils in this section which he considers
one Of the finest in the world.
At Field. work was carried on In the
great Cambrian fossil quarry, where.
after blasting out the solid beds to a
depth of twenty-five feet, a fine collec-
ton for the National Museum was Sc
cured.
Another geological research party I'M
der the direction OF J. W. Gidley was
later epoch. In this connection, they
excavated in the Pleistocene cave de-
posit near Cumberland, Nd, discovered
in 1872, and found many new forms of
msmmals, and more complete remains
OF several species represented in the
first collection soley by jaw fragments.
The collection now numbers about 600
specimens which represent forty or
more distinct types OF hitherto unde-
scribed animals. many OF whish are now
extinct, including the bear, peccary,
wolverine badger, marten. porcupine.
woodchuck. dog and the American
eland-like antelope.
Other specimens found in less com
plete form were the nxstodon tapir,
horse. and beaver. besides several small
er rodents. shrews. and bats.
Find Horned Dinosaur.
Charles W. Gilmore. of the National
Museum. conducted explorations In the
northwestern part OF Montana, where
some vertebrate fossil bones were dis
covered 4 total Of over 800 separate
fossil bones were collected. among them
a nearly complete skeleton Of a new
Ceratopsian or horned dinosaur. the
smallest known Of the great horned
reptiles. and the first to be found hav-
ing complete articulated tail and hind
foot. Another find was a partial skele-
ton Of the new Trachodont, or duck
billed dinosaur recently described from
specimens obtained in Canada
DR.. r. s. BasSler spent some time
in the Appalachian valley of Maryland
studying the postpaleozoic geologic his
tory OF the region as indicated by the
present surface conditions, under the
auspices of the United States National
museum and the Maryland Geological
Survey.
Another field research party which
concerned the, collection OF fossils was
maintained in Illinois by Frank Spring
er, in connection with the preparation
of his monograph on the fossil crinodea,
and 20 add to the museum collections of
these fossil invertebrate marine ami
mails.