DIRECTIONS FOR COLLECTING VERTEBRATE FObSILS. 219 



land present no special obstacle, it appears to me the narrative as a whole should 

 not be rejected. 



But I think the date of Black-Bird's death can be determined pretty accu- 

 rately. It is quite certain that Black-Bird was the great Maha chief with whom 

 Glamorgan's fur company traded, and to whom Baron Carondelet, governor of 

 Louisiana, sent medals and presents. But all this occurred during the year 1794 

 to 1796. According to Omaha tradition, as reported by Mr. La Flesche, the 

 chief died during the year the tribe were so " much troubled with the small pox." 

 But August Chouteau testifies that the small-pox made its first appearance in 

 upper Louisiana, in the spring of 1801. This date is generally received as cor- 

 rect. The next year it began to spread among the Indians. The same naturalist, 

 already quoted, writes: "In 1 801, the Mahas were visited by the small-pox, 

 which made dreadful havoc, and destroyed at least two-thirds of the whole 

 nation." I find in all this sufficient proof to satisfy my mind that Black-Bird died 

 in the year 1802. 



As to the date when the Omahas began their migrations northwardly "from 

 near St. Louis, assuming that they ever were there, I have no information. But 

 it would seem that it may have been earlier than Mr. La Flesche supposes, as 

 (whatever the testimony is worth,) I find on Marquette's Map 1673, {Shea's fac 

 simile,) the " Maha" located in the interior on a line north of the mouth of the 

 DesMoines River. 



St. Louis, Mo., 1884. 



DIRECTIONS FOR COLLECTING VERTEBRATE FOSSILS. 



CHAS. H. STERNBERG. 



The proper outfit for a collecting expedition consists of a good team of ponies 

 or small mules, a light lumber wagon, cover, wall-tent, camp-stove or "Dutch 

 oven," knives and forks, tin plates and cups, and other cooking-utensils. Each 

 member of the party should be provided with a rubber blanket and coat, and a 

 couple of pairs of woolen blankets; besides these but little extra baggage should 

 be taken ; a good pair of woolen shirts are valuable. The tools should consist of 

 several small hand-picks, miner'spicks, with one point made into a duck-bill with 

 sharp edge ; butcher-knives, shovels and collecting-bags— made after the pattern 

 of mail-carrier's bags, of heavy ducking with two apartments— one for cotton, 

 paper and string, and the other for fossils. There should always be kept on 

 hand a supply of burlap sacks, old newspapers, cotton, manilla paper and hop- 

 needles ; boxes and barrels for shipping. 



A good saddle-pony is a valuable addition, as one can ride on ahead and 

 choose a good camp or discover localities. When a camping-ground is chosen 

 (which should of course, when possible, have wood, water and grass near at 

 hand,) the first thing to be done is to pitch the tent, this is done by stretching it 



