90 .UEPOr-T OF THE SECRETARY. 



iu Arizona. Upon the completion of the field work in connection with 

 this duty, j\Ir. Walcott proceeded to Texas and made a brief study of the 

 Paleozoic rocks in Burnet, Llano, San Saba, and Lampasas- Counties. 

 Though the study of these areas was limited, some very satisfactory 

 results were obtained. After his return from the south it was too late 

 to resume the investigations which he had abandoned in Vermont and 

 New York. 



On November 26 Mr. Walcott's report on the Deer Creek coal-fields 

 of the San Carlos Indian Reservation was forwarded to the honorable 

 the Secretary of the Interior, 



Mesozoic Paleontology. — The paleontologic work of the division un- 

 der the direction of Dr. C. A. White included the examination of the 

 collections made by Mr. Becker on the Pacific coast. The successful 

 completion of this task has already been noted iu the reference to that 

 division. Much preliminary work in connection with this duty was 

 performed by Dr. White, and to this and to the study of his own col- 

 lections he gave most of his time until his departure for the West in 

 early June. 



The arrangement of fossils for installation in the National Museum — 

 a task which Dr. White superintends by reason of his curatorship in the 

 National Museum — demanded much of the time and attention of his as- 

 sistants during the winter season. This included the preparation of a 

 catalogue of the type-specimens of this division for insertion in the re- 

 port of the Director of the National Museum. 



The preparation of an index-catalogue of the Mesozoic and Cenozoic 

 fossils was undertaken by Dr. White, and such satisfactory progress 

 made that it is believed its publication in 1885 will be possible. 



On the opening of the field season and during the absence of Dr. 

 White, collecting jiarties proceeded to such localities in the southern 

 Appalachian District as contained formations which come under this 

 division. On returning from California in September, Dr. White at 

 once began the prei)aration of a report upon the Pacific coast collec- 

 tions. This was about completed at the close of the year. 



Cenozoic Invertebrates. — A systematic study of the Invertebrates of 

 the Quaternary has long been an unfilled want in the paleontologic 

 work. In September the Survey was so fortunate as to secure the 

 services of Dr. W. H. Dall, who immediately entered upon his duties. 

 As a preliminary step, he began putting the large collections which 

 had accumulated from time to time in such shape that while under 

 study they can be utilized as' a means of identification for incoming 

 material. This task, in conjunction with the necessary attention to the 

 routine duties connected with this division furnished work for several 

 months. 



Paleobotany. — No field-work was urdertaken by Prof. L. F. Ward 

 during 1884, his large collections made heretofore occupying his entire 

 time and attention. His especial line ( f study was the collections ob- 



