Description of part of Wyoming Territory. 275 



noticed on the side of a butte a few weathered human bones, to which 

 I directed the attention of ray friend. On further examination wc 

 found others, t(>gether with some perforated canines of the elk, and 

 one of the identical " teshoa," above described. Dr. Carter observed 

 that the Shoshones sometimes buried their dead upon the top of promi- 

 nent buttes, and these remains had fallen from the grave of a squaw, 

 which, in the course of time, had become exposed by the wearing 

 away of the edge of the butte. The bones and elk-tusks were much 

 weathered. Their appearance, and the probable circumstance that 

 several years had elapsed before the butte could wear away to reach 

 the grave, appear to be sufficient evidence that the " teshoa" was an 

 implement of common use.] 



Astheclavs and sandstones of the Bridger terraces and buttes 

 crumble away, a variety of remains of terrestrial and fresh water ani- 

 mals are exposed to view. In some of the buttes they are compara- 

 tively abundant ; in others, they are rare. The fossils consist of the 

 bones and teeth of vertebrates, and tlie shells of molhiscs. Fragments 

 of silicified wood also occur, though not frequently. Shells of the 

 sandstones are composed of chalcedony ; but those imbedded in the 

 indurated clays usually retain their carbonate of lime. 



The fossil bones are completely petrified ; that is to say, their more 

 perishable constituents have been replaced mainly by silicious matter. 

 They are frequently as black as ebony ; and the teeth are usually black, 

 with the enamel highly lustrous. Often they are brownish, with a 

 greenish aspect, derived from the greenish matrix in which they were 

 imbedded. They are also found of a yellowish clay color and duller 

 aspect. 



Many of the bones are more or less crushed and distorted, as a re- 

 sult of the pressure of the superincumbent strata. The fragments are 

 generally but slightly dislocated, showing that the crushing occurred 

 while they were imbedded. The stronger bones are often well pre- 

 served, especially the rami of lower jaws and teeth, and the smaller 

 bones of the wrist and ankle. Whole skulls are exceedingly rare, and 

 when discovered are much crushed and distorted. Turtle shells are 

 among the most frequent fossils, but are usually more or less fractured, 

 crushed and distorted. In searching over the buttes, little piles of 

 bone fragments are often seen diverging from a prominent point ; 

 these, on examination, generally prove to be the remains of a turtle 

 shell, which, after exposure, has fallen to pieces. 



Generally the fossils are sharply preserved ; that is to say, they 

 rarely have a rolled or water-worn appearance, indicating that bones 

 and shells were soon enveloped in mud at the bottom of comparatively 



