212 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XIV. No. 345. 



horizontally banded ; that is, the colors 

 change regularly from clear to dark. At 

 times, in the darker portions are observed 

 harder layers of limestone rich in clay. In 

 the lowest layers of these middle beds we 

 find the greatest abundance of gypsum and 

 pseudomorphs. A layer of compressed 

 smooth lenses of sandstone frequently 

 appears {Metamynodon and Protoceras sand- 

 stone). Where the lenses are thin and 

 smooth the lamination is even, where the 

 layers are thicker, with coarser material, 

 we observe cross-bedding. The Uppermod 

 Beds of the White Eiver Oligocene are 

 altogether different. They are composed 

 of very uniform material (often of volcanic 

 ashes according to Dr. Darton), containing 

 numerous nodules and round concretions ; 

 there are also large concretions, with the 

 turtles again abundant, in fact, arranged 

 quite differently from the Lower and Mid- 

 dle Beds. This sedimentation is manifestly 

 of seolian character. 



" When we put together all these ob- 

 servations to form a conclusion as to the 

 structure of these beds we come to the fol- 

 lowing result : At the beginning [of the 

 Oligocene] a broad, slowly flowing stream 

 spread out towards the east and formed a 

 broad, widespread and uniform delta land- 

 scape (Titanotherium Beds) ; this even, 

 swampy land was dry during the dry sea- 

 sons, but was flooded in every high-water 

 period ; besides the water the wind fre- 

 quently took part in the transport of the 

 dust and materials. The concretions are 

 structures of the percolating waters 

 (Lower Oreodon Beds, numerous land 

 mammals). Now followed a long period 

 in which this region was flooded by a 

 shallow rather than deep lake. The inflow 

 of water did not exceed the evaporation, 

 and so through the varying concentration 

 there was a precipitation of the dissolved 

 materials which gave rise to the banded 

 layers. In the same manner the gypsum 



and barite in these layers is explained. 

 Stronger currents poured in sand, which 

 accumulated in low elevations (Middle 

 Oreodon Beds). At last there came a 

 widespread seolian condition in the form 

 of loess, which spread out upon the gradu- 

 ally retreating or evaporated levels of the 

 lake." 



CHARLES ANTHONY 8CH0TT. 



With the death of Charles Anthony 

 Schott, Assistant, United States Coast and 

 Geodetic Survey, closes a most useful life, 

 led by a remarkable man. 



He was born at Mannheim, Baden, Ger- 

 many, August 7, 1826, and began his studies 

 very early, learning to read before reaching 

 four years of age, and it is stated that his 

 work began as a small boy. He graduated 

 from the Polytechnic School at Carlsruhe 

 with the degree of C.E. in 1847. 



He came to the United States in 1848 

 and entered the United States Coast Survey, 

 thus beginning his life of enthusiastic work 

 in the advancement of science by the so- 

 lution of the problems which confronted 

 this organization created to obtain accurate 

 charts of the extension coasts of the United 

 States. He was immediately'' attached to 

 the Computing Division in the office of the 

 Survey where he remained until October, 

 1849, when he was assigned to the schooner 

 J. Y. Mason and steamer Walker as hydro- 

 graphic draftsman. In July, 1850, he 

 returned to the Computing Division and on 

 July 1, 1852, he was regularly appointed to 

 the position of computer. Fi'om time to 

 time he acted as chief of the Computing 

 Division in the absence of the regular Chief 

 and in 1855 was permanently placed in 

 charge of this most important Division. In 

 1856 he was advanced to the grade of as- 

 sistant, the highest in the surve.y after the 

 superintendent. 



The ability, zeal, indefatigable industry 

 and vast mental resource so eminently 



