GEOLOGICAL STUDIES IN EUROPE 



By CHARLES ELMER RESSER 

 Curator, Strattgraphic Paleontology, U. S. National Museum 



Usually the geologist takes advantage of suitable summer weather 

 to examine rock outcrops for needed data, hut occasionally it becomes 

 desirable to learn by personal contact what others, working along 

 similar lines, have discovered. Thus, during the past field season I 

 pursued the latter course and spent the available time in examining 

 the Cambrian fossils in European museums and visiting the local 

 workers. As space does not permit the recording of more than a 

 mere fraction of my observations, it is necessary to present but a very 

 sketchy account of the season's work. 



In recent years several Norwegian geologists have attacked the 

 very difficult problems presented by the mountain region that forms 

 the backbone of Norway, and by patiently and faithfully applying 

 modern geological principles, they have been able to uncover unsus- 

 pected structure and to elucidate whole chapters of geological history. 

 Having read much about this work I was anxious at least to see 

 these highlands from the train windows in crossing to Oslo, and 

 therefore I first went direct to Bergen. 



Bergen is, in many respects, the most beautiful city it has been my 

 lot to see. Situated on several narrow strips of comparatively flat 

 land at the head of a long, winding fjord, it is flanked on three sides 

 by hills that rise very abruptly to a height of a thousand feet. Viewed 

 from the restaurant high up near the top of these hills, reached com- 

 fortably by a funicular, the city is spread out as on a map. From this 

 vantage point the intimate contact of the Norwegians with the sea 

 is forcibly brought to one's attention by the numerous ships and boats 

 dotting the waters and by the proximity of the buildings to the sea. 



June 15, the Sunday spent in Bergen, was one of the three or four 

 cloudless days experienced all summer. The ride across the moun- 

 tains to Oslo was very interesting and instructive for besides the 

 opportunity to observe the topographic, glacial, and geological fea- 

 tures, numerous illustrations of intelligent adjustments to the envi- 

 ronment were constantly brought to my attention. Notwithstanding 

 the late spring which had not yet melted the heavy winter snows or 

 permitted vegetation to put out leaves, our train was filled up several 

 times with people young and old all carrying back packs, either going 



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