REVIEWS 73 



Data which he presents appear to give results quite diverse from what he 

 manifestly intended. For the major subdivisions they militate strongly 

 against his conclusions rather than support them. Moreover, Girty's elab- 

 orate tables showing the detailed vertical ranges of the fossils clearly not 

 only do not strengthen Adams' position, but very greatly weaken it; and, 

 on the other hand, furnish the strongest evidence yet published that the 

 main divisions previously recognized are very nearly the proper ones. 

 For Adams' chief conclusion the introducing of the faunal evidence is very 

 unfortunate. 



The relationships of the so-called Permian of Kansas to the Red Beds 

 are of great significance. Mr. Adams states that — 



the distinctions which have thus far been oudined in Kansas do not hold when the 

 rocks are followed southwestward along their strike into the Indian Territory. 

 Approximately along the Arkansas River, or a little south of that stream, the inter- 

 stratified limestones disappear from the section, and the formations are accord- 

 ingly shales and sandstones. Moreover, the rocks in the Indian Territory 

 gradually assume a red color in the higher portion of the section, the line of transi- 

 tion to this color being diagonal to the strike. The Red Beds of Kansas belong 

 to this phase. 



Regarding the biotic characters Dr. Girty aptly observes that — 

 the constituents of the Kansas section consist of alternations of limestone and shale, 

 the latter sometimes containing more or less sandstone. During limestone-making 

 periods invertebrate life was varied and abundant; but few of the mud beds, how- 

 ever, appear to have supported animal life. With some exceptions, therefore, only 

 alternate formations are represented by fossil faunas. The youngest fauna 

 obtained is that of the Marion formation, the Wellington having so far proved 

 devoid of marine fossils. The oldest fauna occurs in the Cherokee shales. It is 

 rather meager, so far as known, but it is probable that numerous additions to our 

 list of species can be obtained at favorable localities. Many of the faunas in the 

 section are large and varied, and while all are not equally extensive, I believe 

 that their uniform excellence is far above the average in sections of equal length. 



The value attaching to tables such as the one given depends upon the consider- 

 ation of several factors. The most important among these appear to be the fol- 

 lowing: 



1. The precision with which the collections are located in the generalized 

 section. 



2. The consistent accuracy of the determination of species. 



3. The variety and abundance of the formational faunas, and the uniformity 

 maintained in these particulars throughout the section. 



4. The completeness with which the faunas are represented in these particu- 

 lars by the collections. 



With all these elements favorable, the sequence of faunas and the range of 



