CHAPTER II 



MY FIRST EXPEDITION TO THE 

 KANSAS CHALK, 1876 



SPENT the winter of 1875 and '76 as 

 a student at the Kansas State Agricul- 

 tural College. 



Here a party was gathered to explore 

 western Kansas for fossils, under the leadership of 

 Professor B. F. Mudge, the enthusiastic state geolo- 

 gist and a popular professor of the college. The ex- 

 pedition was to be made under the auspices of Pro- 

 fessor O. C. Marsh, of Yale College, whose efforts 

 have secured for that institution the largest collec- 

 tion perhaps in the world of American fossil verte- 

 brates. 



I made every effort in my power to secure a place 

 in the party, but failed, as it was full when I applied. 

 It has always been hard, however, for me to give up 

 what I have determined to accomplish; so, although 

 almost with despair, I turned for help to Professor 

 E. D. Cope, of Philadelphia, who was becoming 

 so well known that a report of his fame had reached 

 me at Manhattan. 



32 



