264 



Annals of the Carnegie Museum. 



rigida was a rather tall and graceful palmetto, much resembling in 

 general appearance S. palmetto of our Southeastern States. The ribs 

 were numerous and about one-half of an inch in breadth. The im- 

 perfect nature of the specimen does not permit of a definite determi- 



FlG. I. Portion of leaf of Sahal rii^iJa Hatcher. One-sixth natural size. 



nation of its generic or specific characters. There can be little doubt 

 however, that it pertains to the genus Sabal. Its importance is 

 chiefly due to the fact that it affords conclusive evidence that palms 

 existed in the Laramie and thus points to a mild, subtropical climate 

 for our western plains region, throughout that period. Climatic con- 

 ditions quite compatible with, if not absolutely necessary for, the 

 the maintenance of the exceedingly rich Dinosaurian fauna that is 

 known to have inhabited this region in Laramie times. 



