NiNTjg: Annual Meeting. 71 



"Now, we have as yet not seen any species of this genus in our Cretaceous. Species of Cycas and 

 Zamites are abundant, especially in the Jurassic. They are seen also, less numerous, however, in the 

 lowest Cretaceous, and very rarely in the upper and middle Cretaceous. Heer has described one species 

 only from the upper Cretaceous of Greenland," etc. 



This would seem to indicate that Palms may have formed part of the fore.st landscape 

 of ancient central Kansas. 



While these researches were being made in Clay county, Mr. Charles Sternberg, a most 

 indefatigable explorer, has sent scores of fine specimens from Fort Harker. In former 

 years Prof Mudge has made most interesting discoveries on the Saline; and Dr. Les- 

 quereux, in 1872, explored the Dakota group from southern Nebraska far into Kansas. 

 The result of these explorations, thus far, has been to develop the fact, that far back in 

 the dim ages of the forgotten past, there grew and flourished here in central Kansas 

 vast forests, comprising most of tiie trees that now exist only in the temperate zones, 

 with many others almost as exclusively tropical or semi-tropical ; that these forests grew 

 on long, low islands, in the midst of, or on the borders of, the great Cretaceous sea, which 

 then rolled its heaving billows over all of what is now western Kansas. The presence 

 of so many tropical and sub-tropical remains proves that a mild and equable climate 

 obtained from the Gulf of Mexico to the arctic regions, as the fossil remains from the 

 Cretaceous beds prove the existence of a warm, shallow sea. 



In several places over the region I have explored, I have found impressions of wood 

 and bark — hundreds of these casts stamped indelibly upon tlie now solid rock, the wood 

 itself being very rarely preserved. Very few of these impressions of wood are ever 

 found in the same deposit with the leaves, indicating, perhaps, that these fragments may 

 have drifted to some distance from the spot whereon the trees grew. I have seen, in a 

 few instances, rocks of hardened clay and sand, covered with sun-cracks, sliowing condi- 

 tions analogous to those which now obtain along our own shores. 



Thus, this long line of hills and bluffs now known as the "Dakota group" indi- 

 cates an ancient shore-line, covered with heavy forests, enjoying a mild, even climate, 

 animated and irradiated by the same sun, moon and stars that now cheer and enliven 

 our landscapes ; and, probably, the haunts of many of the monsters whose bones we find 

 fossilized in the chalk and shale of the Cretaceous beds. We have yet, I think, no traces 

 of feathered inhabitants of these primeval forests. No animals roamed beneath their 

 silent shades. They lived, fulfilled their destiny, and passed away, leaving behind them 

 imperishable records of their life and usefulness — literally, "Footprints on the sands of 

 time." 



THE EIVER BLUFFS. 



BY PROF. JOHN D. PARKER, OF KANSAS CITY. 



Chief among influences moulding a people are those derived from Nature. Like odors 

 di.stilled from flowers, or colors playing in sunbeams, the subtle powers of Nature elude 

 analysis. But as the crystal lake mirrors the landscape which environs it, so Nature is 

 reflected in any people. In the mountains of Greece we flnd the greatest sesthetical de- 

 velopment of the Old World. Italy with its sunshine and flowers, its brilliant skies and 

 out-door life, developed an indolent but happy people. The canton sprang up amidst 

 the eternal mountains and Alpine glaciers of Switzerland. England, with its compara- 

 tively immense shore-line, its fogs distilled from the Gulf stream, and its pastoral lands, 

 developed a strong but phlegmatic race. Tlie New England hills naturally moulded a 

 people possessing the highest and best traits in man. Muscular development was required 



