STRATIGRAPHY OF THE McCANN SANDSTONE. 



BY C. N. GOULD. 



In July, 1897, while on a reconnaissance trip through Kay 

 county, Oklahoma, my attention was called to a number of 

 small fossil invertebrates in the red sandstone that was being 

 placed in the foundation of a house. On inquiry, I learned 

 that the rock came from McCann's quarry, on Deer creek, about 

 twelve miles southwest of Black well. Although recognizing 

 the value of the discovery of fossils in the Red Beds, on account 

 of the lack of time I was unable to visit the quarry. A number 

 of fossils were obtained and sent to Professor Prosser, who kindly 

 undertook their identification. 



In March, 1898, by the advice of Professor Prosser, I made a 

 trip to the quarry. Although my visit was necessarily hurried, 

 in addition to the invertebrates, which are found in great num- 

 bers, I secured a small quantity of vertebrate material, consist- 

 ing of teeth, scales, and bones. This was sent to Doctor 

 AVilliston. A general survey of the locality was made — enough 

 to satisfy me that the quarry was located near the base of the 

 Red Beds, but no accurate sections were taken. 



It was not until the latter part of July, 1898, that I was per- 

 mitted to make a thorough examination of the locality. By 

 the kindness of Doctor Williston, I was enabled to spend several 

 days in the vicinity. On this trip I was accompanied by Mr. 

 Mark White, an enthusiastic scientific student of Southwest 

 Kansas College. Mr. White rendered valuable service w4iile in 

 the field. Some of the best finds were the result of his perse- 

 verance. 



Deer creek is tributary to the Salt Fork of the Arkansas, 

 twelve miles southwest of Black well. The creek is a typical 

 prairie stream. In its upper course it is fed by Tertiary springs. 

 The slopes are in most places gentle. On the south side of the 

 creek, for a distance of four or five miles, a steep bluff is capped 

 by a ledge of dark red or mottled sandstone from two to five feet 

 thick. In this sandstone on several farms quarries have been 

 opened. The most important of these are on the farms of 



[175]-K.U.Qr.-A ix 3-July, '00. 



