376 



Sequoia hiformis has a distant relation to Sequoia BeicJienbacM, one of 

 the most widely distributed species of the Cretaceous formations. We 

 should, therefore, in considering the above table, recognize the relation 

 of the Point of Eocks' flora with the European and the American Ter- 

 tiary (counting Black Butte and Golden as Tertiary), as marked by 

 twenty species in twenty-three, or 87 per cent., while that to the Cre- 

 taceous is only indicated by three species, or 13 per cent. We have thus 

 to recognize that Point of Eocks still belongs to the Lignitic Tertiary by 

 its flora, though we discover in it traces of its approacli to the Cretaceous. 



This conclusion is in exact concordance with the records of the 

 strati graphical observations made from Black Butte to Eock Spring.* 

 When I visited Point of Eocks for the purpose of studying the fossil 

 IDlants of the locality, I could not discover any vegetable remains there 

 and around, except Fucoids. But I made on the distribution of the 

 strata the following remarks, copied from my report: "In following the 

 railroad from Black Butte westward, the Lignitic formation already seen 

 at the surface of the country from below Bitter Creek station, forms an 

 irregularly broken ridge, whose general dip toward the east is varied by 

 low undulations. In that way, the measures slowly ascend to Point of 

 Eocks, where they overlie the black shale of the Cretaceous jSTo. 4, there 

 constituting the axis of an anticlinal, which is cut belovvPoint of Eocks by 

 the meanders of Bitter Creek. The counterface of the axis a^jpears west- 

 ward in corresponding strata after passing Saltwell Valley, and hence 

 the dip to the west brings to the surface the upper strata of the Liguitic 

 at Eock Spring. The section of the measures is perfectly clear and 

 exposed in its whole length. At Point of Eocks,t and near the highest 

 part of the anticlinal axis, the Cretaceous strata are exposed eighty feet 

 in thickness, immediately and conformably overlaid by one hundred and 

 eighty-five feet of the Lignitic sandstone, which from its base bears fucio- 

 dal remains." These data may be considered as correct in a general way -, 

 for I do not attach any importance to my measurements. Moreover, I 

 am uncertain about the precise locality where the fossil plants here 

 described have been found. According to the statement of Professor 

 Hayden, the specimens sent to me were obtained near the station of Point 

 of Eocks, and therefore at a distance of one mile or more east of the 

 rocks forming the face of the anticlinal, and thus i:)robably above them. 

 From all these data here recorded, from stratigraphy and paleontology, 

 the station of Point of Eocks may be considered as marking about the 

 point of division between tbe Tertiary and the Cretaceous, in the so- 

 called Bitter Creek series. The plants, therefore, of this locality are of 

 great scientific interest. »,?&-3j,^ 



Considering the remarks of European authors, who have already given 

 their opinion in regard to the flora of our Lower Lignitic, it seems that 

 its relation is still more evidently marked with Eocene types than I sup- 

 posed. 1 have, indeed, mentioned Vihurninn marginatum extremely abund- 

 ant at, Black Butte as related to one species of Sezane; one Ficus of 

 Golden as identical with another of the same flora. Now Count Saporta, 

 who is deeply iuterested in the progress of the botanical paleontology of 

 this country, and who has seen some of the plates prepared for the Flora 

 of the Liginitic, writes : " That Splienopteris Eocenica is closely allied to 

 Aspleniiim Wegmanni, Brgt., of Sezane; that species analogous to what 

 I have described as Ahietites duMvs and Ahietites setigera have been 

 found in the Upper Cretaceous of St. Paulet, France; that our Palms, 



* Dr. F. V. Haydcn's Annual Eeport for 1872, p. ;«3. 



1 1 name Point of Rucks the part of the anticlinal axis facing Saltwells Valley, not the 

 station of Point of Kecks merely. 



