UPPER PALEOZOIC FORMATIONS OF KANSAS 73 l 



the rules of correlation generally observed by geologists. 1 The 

 evidence is apparently about as conclusive as for other systems 

 in this country which are correlated with the Carboniferous, 

 Devonian, or Silurian of Europe. Apparently the main point of 

 Dr. Keyes' contention is "That [the] Permian, as originally 

 proposed, applies to a provincial series, and, according to our 

 usual standard, has, at best, a taxonomic rank below that of sys- 

 tem." 2 Yet he states it is probable that its main subdivisions 

 will be elevated " to the rank of series," which, instead of caus- 

 ing the name Permian to be dropped, as he suggests, will more 

 probably leave it with the rank of a system as originally defined 

 by Murchison. A geologist familiar with the Kansas formations 

 wrote as follows concerning the provincial series question : 

 "Grant, as Keyes maintains, that Permian is the name of a 

 provincial series, then where a similar series is found with simi- 

 lar fossils the same name ought to be given. All our names 

 were names of provincial series at first. What was Devonian 

 but the name of a series of rocks in Devonshire, England ? 

 When found in New York, by this argument, they should be 

 called New Yorkian or some other American name." 



The conclusions of Dr. Freeh. — On the other hand, the conclu- 

 sions of Dr. Fritz Freeh, the eminent professor of geology and 

 paleontology in the University of Breslau, may be considered. 

 He has carefully studied, both in the field and laboratory, the 

 Permian of Germany and Russia and examined in the field the 

 Permian of the United States, at least as shown in the Grand 

 Canyon and near Salt Lake City, Utah. 3 Dr. Freeh gives these 

 rocks the rank of a system, which is also the usage of Dr. Kay- 

 ser, of the University of Marburg, 4 but instead of Permian he 



1 For instance, if his account be compared with the list of physical and biotic 

 methods of correlation given by Professor Gilbert at the Washington meeting of the 

 International Congress of Geologists, it will be seen that several of the methods are 

 fulfilled (Congres Gdologique International, Compte Rendu, 5 me session, Washington, 

 pp. 68, 69). 



2 Loc. cit., p. 341 ; and p. 231. 



3 See Congres Geologique International, Compte Rendti, 5 me Ses., Washington, 

 1891, 1893, p. 481 ; and Lethaea palczozoica, Bd. II, 3 Lief., 1901, p. 515. 



4 See Text-Book of Comparative Geology, by E. Kayser, translated and edited by 

 Philip Lake, 1893, P- l &4' 



