PALiEONTOLOGY. 351 



Merriam, John C, and associates. Continuation of palceo7itological researches. 

 (For previous reports see Year Book Nos. 20, 21.) 



The palseontological investigations of the past year have been conducted 

 with special emphasis upon the following problems: 



1. Palseontological succession in the extensive series of formations in the 

 John Day region of eastern Oregon considered with special reference to rela- 

 tion of the history of life to history of crustal movement and igneous activity 

 in this region. 



2. Relation between the study of the history of plants in the Pacific Coast 

 region, conducted by Ralph W. Chaney, and investigation of general palseon- 

 tological succession of higher animals, by Dr. Merriam and Dr. Stock. 



3. Advance in the series of extensive monographs of mammal and bird 

 faunas from asphalt beds of Los Angeles. 



4. Further advance in studies of mammal and bird faunas from asphalt 

 deposits near McKittrick, California. 



5. Study of the history of whales and seals, by Remington Kellogg. 

 Investigation of the history of animal and plant life of the great series of 



late geological formations found in the John Day region of eastern Oregon was 

 begun in 1899 through an expedition from the University of California under 

 the direction of Dr. Merriam. It was continued in an expedition of 1900 and 

 again in 1901 by studies made by F. H. Knowlton, of the U. S. Geological 

 Survey, and J. C. Merriam. In subsequent years minor expeditions conducted 

 further investigations into the life of this region and of the geological forma- 

 tions in which the fossils occur. 



As this region represents one of the best-known sections for studies giving 

 relation between the factors involved in this investigation, the succession of 

 strata is being mapped in detail in order to work out the history of life in 

 relation to the history of crustal movements. To assist in this work the United 

 States Geological Survey has begun the construction of a topographic map. 

 When the United States became involved in the World War the topographic 

 work was discontinued, but through the kindness of the Geological Survey it 

 was taken up again in the summer of 1923, thus offering the possibility for 

 realization of the extensive plan which had been initiated. 



Studies of the John Day region as now planned involve: 



First, the complete mapping of all geological formations in this region, to be 

 carried out under direction of J. P. Buwalda, of the University of California, 

 with the assistance of specialists in several fields of geology and palseontology. 



Second, intensive study of history of the great extrusions of molten material 

 represented in the enormous lava fields of this region, this investigation to be 

 carried on under the direction of Fred E. Wright. 



Third, mapping of the zones or series of strata characterized by different 

 types of plant or animal life, this work to be conducted by Dr. Buwalda, 

 Chester Stock, and R. W. Chaney, with the assistance of other investigators. 



Fourth, detailed study of the succession of plant remains. 



Ralph W. Chaney has continued his review of the principal occurrences of 

 plant remains in the Pacific Coast and Great Basin regions of the United 

 States, and has made much progress in his intensive studies of certain sections 

 containing exceptional material or an unusually important sequence of plant 

 remains. Special attention has been given to the succession of plant remains 



