EDWARD DRINKER COPE 323 



vertebrate paleontology of the Western Territories ever made in 

 this country." As originally contemplated his work was intended 

 to consist of four parts, namely: i. Puerco, Wasatch, and Bridger 

 faunae (Eocene); 2. White River and John Day faunae (Lower 

 and Middle Miocene); 3. Ticholeptus and Loup Fork faunae 

 (Upper Miocene) ; and 4. Pliocene. Book i covered Part i and 

 Part 2, including the marsupials, bats, insectivores, rodents, and 

 carnivora of the Miocene only. The remaining parts were never 

 published. 

 In March, 1874, he wrote to his father: 



"I recently went over the reptiles and fishes of Wheeler's sur- 

 vey with interesting results. I found one new group of fishes per- 

 taining exclusively to the waters of the Western Colorado the 

 only one peculiar; all the rest are usual forms of the east." 



In July of the same year there will be found among his letters 

 one, also written to his father, in which he says: 



"I have just returned from Washington, where I have con- 

 cluded a contract with G. M. Wheeler, of the topographical engi- 

 neers and director of the Geological survey of the territories west 

 of the looth meridian. By this I engage to work on the geology 

 and paleontology of the region he surveys until the work is con- 

 cluded (about a year) at the rate of $2,500 per annum, and $30 

 per month additional for provisions when in the field, and all ex- 

 penses of expedition paid." 



He at once took the field and spent the time from July to October 

 in New Mexico. I glean the following pertinent paragraphs from 

 his letters. 



On September 15, from the " Eocene Lake Formation " he 

 writes: 



"We began to find fossil bones. The first thing was a turtle, 

 and then Bathmodon (Cope) teeth! and then everything else rare 

 and strange till by near sun down I had twenty species of verte- 

 brates! all of the lowest Eocene, lower than the lowest at Fort 

 Bridger. The most important find in geology I ever made, and 

 the paleontology promises grandly." 



