'auriferous gravels— independence hill flora 887 



erous gravels since the material was collected which furnished 

 the basis of Professor Lesquereux's investigations of this inter- 

 esting flora. A number of smaller collections made from time 

 to time by various members of the survey have also been studied 

 by Professor Lesquereaux, but they were from isolated and sep- 

 arated localities and furnish comparatively little additional infor- 

 mation as to the age of these deposits. The present excellent col- 

 lection is therefore of special interest. The vegetable remains rep- 

 resented are in general very finely preserved and admit of careful 

 and satisfactory study. Most of the species are represented by 

 ample material and some of them, by a large series thus making 

 possible a much more thorough biological study than could hereto- 

 fore be made. Almost all of this material has been determined, 

 the only portion remaining unidentified being a number of frag- 

 ments and a few either with obscure impressions or with doubtful 

 affinities. 



The collection as outlined above, embraces fifty-six species 

 of which number ten appear to be new to science. The new spe- 

 cies belong to the following genera : Ariscemites, Fiais, Ulmus, 

 Rhus, Zisyplms, ^scuhis^ Castanea, and ViburjiU7n. 



These forms considered merely in the light of new species of 

 course have little value in determining the age, but a more 

 extended research through the literature on the subject than it 

 has been possible to give at this time would undoubtedly bring 

 out points of relationship or possibly of identity and they 

 would then have a value as bearing upon the question of age. 

 Until this can be done they must all be left out of consideration. 

 As was to have been expected, a large number of the species 

 were identified with those described by Professor Lesquereux in 

 his paper on the flora of the auriferous gravels. Of the fifty-six 

 species twenty have never been found in other deposits. Many of 

 them were compared by Professor Lesquereux to living species 

 and undoubtedly influenced him in deciding that the formation 

 was of comparatively recent age. I have not had an opportunity of 

 comparing these species myself, and until this can be thoroughly 

 done they cannot be taken account of in the present connection. 



