32 



EOCENE AND LOWER OLIGOGENE COKAL FAUNAS 



CORALS FROM THE MARTINEZ AND TETON BEDS OF CALIFORNIA. 



Six species have been determined from these beds, viz: 



riabellum remoudianum Gabb. 

 Flabellum califoniicum 'S'aiighan. 

 Trochocyathiis striata (Gabb). 



Trochocyathus zitteli Merriam. 

 Trocbocyatbus stantoni Vaughan. 

 Trochocyathus californiamis Vaughan.' 



It is not known whether Favia merriami Vaughan, Haimesiastrcea 

 petrosa (Gabb), and Stephanocoenia fairbanksi Vaughan are Cretaceous or 

 Eocene. 



As we do not know the association of these species, very little can be 

 inferred about the bathymetric conditions under which they lived. The 

 simple corals probably lived in water at least 100 fathoms deep; the three 

 compound species probably lived at a depth of less than 50 fathoms. 



This introduction has been written for the ]inrpose of showing what 

 assistance may be rendered by accurate paleontologic knowledge in solving 

 some of the problems of the oscillation of the sea bottom in past geologic 

 time. If we possess a minute knowledge of the stratigraphy of a series of 

 beds, and of the lithologic constitution of each part, and have carefully 

 made collections of fossils at every horizon from Avhicli they can he 

 obtained, accompanied by exact stratigraphic data, I believe it j^ossible, by 

 using the physical data furnished by stratigraphic knowledge and the 

 paleontologic data obtained by knowing the faunas, to discover with con- 

 siderable accuracy both the number and the amount of the oscillations that 

 any series of beds has undergone during its deposition. Corals are usually 

 especially good indices of the depth of the water in wliich they lived, of 

 its temperature, purity, etc. 



AFFINITIES OF THE EOCEXE AXD EOWER OEIGOCENE CORAES OF 

 THE UXITED STATES FOR THOSE OF OTHER COUNTRIES. 



Verv few of the fossil corals of these two periods are the same as or 

 similar to corals from localities not on the North Ameiican Conti)ient. 

 Occasional resemblances between the American and European species are 

 pointed out in the descriptions. In some instances the specific distinction 

 between an American and a closely related European form is not alto- 



' Since this mauuscript was prepared, Doctor Merriam informs me that tbisspecies is Cretaceous, 

 being associated with CoraUiochama oruuiti and other Cretaceous species. 



