APRIL I, I915| 
NATURE 135 

proved unusually favourable for studying Robson 
Peak. Frequently in the early morning the details 
of the snow slopes and bedded rocks on the summit of 
the peak were beautifully outlined, but toward even- 
ing the mists, driven in from the warm currents of 
the Pacific, 300 miles away, shrouded the mountain 
from view. 
From the west slopes of Titkana Peak, east of the 
great Hunga Glacier, a wonderful view is obtained of 
the snow fields and falling glaciers east and north of 
Robson Peak. The glacial streams come tumbling 
down the slopes and otten disappear beneath the 
glacier to reappear at its foot with the volume of a 
river. 
At Field, British Columbia, worlk was continued at 
the great Middle Cambrian fossil quarry, where a 
large collection of specimens was secured. It was 
necessary to do much heavy blasting to reach the 
finest fossils which occur in the lower layers of rock. 
| uplift raised this plain still higher above sea-level, and 
in Maryland only remnants of the old surface are 
preserved in the flat sky line of the highest moun- 
tains. This ancient plain, or Schooley peneplain, as 
it is termed, is well preserved on the top of the Blue 
Ridge. 
A second great period of erosion occurred in early 
Tertiary times, the effects of which were chiefly in 
the Appalachian Valley proper, where the erosion is 
indicated by a pronounced plain at an elevation of 
about 750 ft. This plain was formed only on the 
softer Palaeozoic rocks, and, because of its prominence 
near Harrisburg, Pa., is known as the Harrisburg 
peneplain. Conococheague Creek traverses the 
Harrisburg peneplain in Maryland, and has dissected 
it considerably, but even the sky line of the ancient 
plain is still clearly evident. 
Other factors in the geologic history of Maryland 
are recorded in the well-defined gravel terraces along 

Fic. 1.—Langley man-carrying aerodrome (built :838-1903) equipped with floats, in flight over Lake Keuka, Hammondsport, 
The collection of 1913 contains a number of very 
important additions to this ancient fauna and many 
fine specimens of species found in 1912. A report on 
these collections is now in preparation. 
Geologic History of the Appalachian Valley in 
Maryland. 
Dr. R. S. Bassler, of the National Museum, spent 
a month during the summer of 1913 in the Appa- 
lachian Valley of Maryland and the adjoining States, 
studying the post-Paizozoic geologic history of the 
region, as indicated by the present surface features. 
Since Carboniferous times western Maryland has been 
above the sea, and its rocks have accordingly been 
subjected to a long period of aerial erosion. During 
Jurassic time the area remained stationary for so long 
a period that the surface of the land in the Appa- 
lachian province was reduced to a rolling plain. Later 
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N.Y., June 2, 1914. 
the major streams of the area and in great alluvial 
fans of large and small boulders, spreading out at the 
foot of the larger mountains, and sometimes reaching 
a depth of 150 it. 
Pleistocene Cave Deposit in Maryland. 
As the results of a further examination of the 
Pleistocene cave deposit near Cumberland, Md., by 
Mr. J. W. Gidley, of the National Museum, many 
new forms were added to the collection, and much 
better material obtained of several species represented 
only by fragments of jaws in the first collection. The 
series now includes more than 300 specimens, repre- 
senting at least forry distinct species of mammals, 
many of which are extinct. Among the better pre- 
served specimens are several nearly complete skulls 
and lower jaws. The more important animals repre- 
sented are two species of bears, two species of a 
