SWALLOW — MEEK'S NOTES OX GEOLOGY OF KANSAS. 523 



ately below and none above ; bituminous shales below and 

 none above; beds of carbonate of iron below and none above; 

 cancellated shales above and few below; and what is stronger 

 than all the rest, our evidence shows that three-fourths of all 

 the fossils above this line are Permian, and nearly all below 

 are Carboniferous; and yet they repeat it, that '■'•all the evi- 

 dence sustains " their opinion that all these strata belong to 

 one formation ; and they also say this opinion* was " ac- 

 cepted by most of the geologists in this country and Europe." 



It may be that nearly all have adopted Messrs. Meek and 

 Hayden's views on this and all other matters of Western Ge- 

 ology. If so, they must have been very active to keep up 

 with all the changes of opinion expressed in the various pa- 

 pers of these distinguished authors, and they must have 

 needed the consolation of Benton's maxim, " Wise men 

 change, fools never." Again, if all have accepted their views, 

 it seems a very singular and unfortunate circumstance that 

 Messrs. Meek and Hayden have been compelled to write such 

 voluminous and learned criticisms on nearly every one who 

 has A'entured to express opinions on the geology of their 

 chosen field. One author, Prof. Newberry, I believe, escaped ; 

 for he not only adopted their views and facts without change, 

 but also praised them for their valuable contributions to 

 science. 



If this be so, it shows how careful men of such great and 

 wide-spread influence should be never to express an opinion 

 which is not fully sustained by the facts. 



But Profs. Marcou, Agassiz, Heer, Geinitz, and Drs. Shu- 

 mard and Swallow, Maj. Hawn, and Count D'Archiac and 

 others, have been so unfortunate as to differ from them, and 

 the most of us have felt the disagreeable sensation of having 

 that everlasting string of genera and species, (sometimes 

 under one name and sometimes under another,) arranged 

 and rearranged before us until they have been displayed in 

 every possible view, form and arrangement, to prove that 

 what we had said did not agree with Messrs. Meek and Hay- 

 den's views, and were, therefore, unworthy of credence.! 



This state of things is unfortunate for science. Men of 

 taste and refinement do not like to be in a dispute about 

 scientific matters, and hence forbear to express facts and 

 views which will be sure to bring men about their ears who 

 do not regard the amenities of good breeding in their criti- 

 cisms. But as my official duties have compelled me to 



* Amer. Jour. Sci., July, 1857, pp. 32 & 36. 



f Am. Jour., July, 1867, p. 32. It is lo be hoped they will not feel 

 bound to correct all views not in accordance with theirs, as it will take 

 too much time from more valuable labors, and science may live it all do 

 not agree with them. 



[April, 1868.] 34 



