4 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 



more imperfect species, which, by process of growth, have obtained the perfect 

 condition in which we find them. 



Great oyster-hke shells are found in the Niobrara called by Conrad, Haplo- 

 scapha. They often measure twenty-seven inches in diameter and are usually cov- 

 ered with small oyster shells, ostrea congesia. Among fishes the first resembling 

 our common edible species are found. The species that leads them all in point 

 of size and ferocity, is Cope's Porthevs. 



P. nwlossus was twenty feet in length. It was provided with a huge bulldog 

 shaped head with fangs projecting from the mouth four inches. The roof of the 

 mouth and lower jaws were covered with teeth irregular in size — some long and 

 conical as the ones mentioned ; others much shorter. These huge fishes were also 

 provided with other means of defense or attack in the shape of great bony spines, 

 with one edge enameled, that, even in their fossilized forms, are hard and sharp 

 enough to be used in cutting wood. In some species one edge is toothed. They 

 are often three feet in length and are made up of bundles of rods which terminate 

 in the sharp teeth of some species, or are beveled down to make the sharp edges 

 of others. I have no doubt but that these enormous fishes would not hesitate to 

 attack their neighbors, the saurians. They were certainly well provided with 

 weapons, for, in addition to the ones mentioned, their tails were forked and made 

 up of bundles of hard bony rods, and, I imagine, a blow from this would disable 

 an antagonist easily. Another peculiar species found in Western Kansas is "the 

 snout fish, or Cope's Erioiethes. Though small, not over five or six feet in length, 

 its bony snout, six or eight inches in length, must have proved a terrible weapon. 

 I discovered three new species, of this genus in 1877. We have also the Enchodus, 

 a fish with teeth, one on each premaxilla, that were shaped like the incisors of a 

 beaver. Sharks abounded; I have often found their flat coin-like vertebra and 

 delicate serrate edged teeth. One species of this family are provided with teeth 

 covering the roof and floor of the mouth, which were doubtless used as a mill for 

 grinding up food. Some beautiful crinoids were found by Prof. Mudge's party in 

 the rocks of this formation. A company has been organized at Trego, Kan., for 

 the purpose of utilizing the chalk by making waterproof cement — said to be 

 equal to the best Portland cement. Great quantities of iron pyrites and gypsum 

 are found. The rocks are of little value for building purposes, although it has 

 been used in making the buildings at Ft. Wallace, with the belief that they would 

 harden when exposed to the atmosphere, but they are as soft now as when the 

 buildings were first made. Near Wallace, however, builders can draw from the 

 conglomerates of the Loup Fork Group, which are found on the high lands near 

 by. 



I am greatly indebted to Prof. E. D. Cope's Cretaceous Fauna, from which 

 I have drawn largely in the preparation of this paper, as I could obtain many 

 facts from no other source. I hope he will pardon the use of some of his descrip- 

 tions. 



