NO. 12 SMITHSONIAN EXPLORATIONS, I917 25 



another large mass of extremely fossiliferous phosphatic limestone 

 was collected to illustrate the types of organisms composing phosphate 

 rock. 



In addition to the large exhibition material mentioned above, the 

 geologic work in the Appalachian and Ohio valleys resulted in the 

 securing of many hundreds of rock, mineral, and fossil specimens 

 which were needed to complete certain of the Museum collections. 



During the summers of 1916 and 1917, Mr. Frank Springer con- 

 tinued his researches upon the fossil echinoderms of the Ohio Valley 

 with a view to obtaining further material and information for the 

 completion of a monograph upon the Silurian crinoids of that area 

 which he has now in preparation. His assistant. Dr. Herrick E. 

 Wilson, collected in the vicinity of St. Paul and of Madison, in 

 Indiana, proving for the first time the presence in the latter locality 

 of the crinoidal faunas of both the Waldron and the Laurel forma- 

 tions. One object of the present field investigation is to obtain 

 further light on the relations of the Silurian faunas of the Chicago 

 and southern Indiana areas with those of western Tennessee. Mr. 

 Springer acquired by purchase all the echinoderms in the large collec- 

 tion of Mr. John F. Hammell, of Madison, Indiana, which included 

 that made by A. C. Benedict from the Indiana Silurian, containing 

 the types of a considerable number of species. This material has been 

 added to his collection of fossil echinoderms now deposited in the 

 National Museum. 



NORTH CAROLINA SOLAR RADIATION OBSERVATORY UNDER 

 THE HODGKINS FUND 



War conditions deferred an expedition which was proposed to be 

 sent to Chile to observe the variability of the sun in co-operation with 

 the Mount Wilson station of the Astrophysical Observatory. Prepa- 

 rations for the Chilean expedition had gone so far that the apparatus 

 and supplies needful for several years were boxed for ocean ship- 

 ment, and the observers, Messrs. A. F. Moore and L. H. Abbot, were 

 engaged to leave for South America in May, 19 17. It seemed, how- 

 ever, best to employ the outfit in the United States until a more 

 favorable time should come to carry on observations in Chile. 



Desiring to locate as far from Mount Wilson as practicable, so as 

 to avoid simultaneous weather disturbances at the two stations. 

 Director C. G. Abbot of the Astrophysical Observatory, after con- 

 sideration of Weather Bureau records, fixed upon Hump Mountain 

 in Avery County, North Carolina, as a high station, easy of access, 



