The Past 1 1 



1900 (U. S. Geol. Survey, Monograph 40). The accumulated 

 materials had not all been dealt with at that time, but failing 

 health made it impossible to proceed, and for some years Floris- 

 sant was neglected. It was currently supposed that the beds had 

 been practically exhausted, and that little of importance remained 

 to be done. In 1905 Professors Henderson and Ramaley, of the 

 University of Colorado, visited Florissant, securing a small col- 

 lection which included some hitherto unknown species. After this, 

 there were expeditions in the field during several summers, the 



Scorpion Fly (Order Mecoptera) Holcorpa maculosa. 



Scudder 



Fossil at Florissant; collected at station 14 by Geo. 

 N. Rohwer. Drawing by Ruth Isensee 



work done through the cooperation of several individuals and 

 institutions. The results exceeded expectations, and the beauty 

 and interest of the specimens of plants and insects can hardly be 

 exaggerated. The best exhibited series is in the Museum of the 

 University of Colorado, but there are good collections in the 

 British Museum and elsewhere. The publication of the scientific 

 results has gone on at intervals, hampered by the cost of the 

 necessary illustrations, and by the difficulty of getting the work 

 done by some of the experts to whom portions have been entrusted. 

 It is unfortunately true that some good fossils have been obtained 

 by collectors who took no interest in the progress of science, and 



