NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 14t 



NOTES ON THE SANTA FE MARLS, AND SOME OF THE CONTAINED 



VERTEBRATE FOSSILS. 



BY E. D. COPE. 



The palreontological and geological examination, conducted by 

 the party of the U. S. Survey, west of the north meridian, Lieut. 

 G. M. Wheeler in charge, has alreadj'^, during the present season, 

 developed facts of interest, some of which are noticed below. 

 The exploration has extended to the extensive lacustrine deposit 

 in the vallej'^ of the Rio Grande, which has been termed by Dr. 

 Haj'den the Santa Fe marls. This author describes the deposits 

 as first appearing in the north near Taos, and continuing for an 

 unknown distance southward, and occupj'ing the valley between 

 the Rocky Mountains on the east, and the Jemez range on the 

 west, he regards it as late Tertiary, but without special determi- 

 nation or co-ordination with the other known lacustrine forma- 

 tions of this continent. 



Abundant material having been obtained by the party, it is 

 easy to determine the fauna, whose remains are entombed in it, to 

 be a part of that already described by Dr. Leidy and the writer, 

 as occurring in Dakota and Colorado, under the name of Pliocene. 

 This conclusion is indicated bj^ the presence of the genera Hippo- 

 therium, Protohijjpus, Procameius^ Cosoryx, Merychyus^ and 

 known Pliocene species of other genera, among which may be 

 mentioned Canis, Acerafherium, etc. In addition to species 

 already known, a number new to science were obtained, of some 

 of which descriptions are appended. 



Martes nambianus, sp. nov. 



Represented by a mandibular ramus which supports three teeth. 

 The anterior blade of the sectorial is rather obtuse. The first 

 premolar is one rooted ; the second and third are without pos- 

 terior coronal lobe, but exhibit small basal lobes, both anterior 

 and posterior. The anterior of the second is rather elevated, and 

 the entire crown is directed obliquely forwards. Canine com- 

 pressed. Mental foramina below the second and third premolars. 



Measurements. m. 



Length of three premolars 006 



Elevation of anterior lobe of sectorial. .... .002 



Depth of ramus at anterior lobe of sectorial . . . .003 



