640 BROWN AND (/CONNELL THE JURASSIC OF CUBA 



later date, but the broad stratigraphic results may here be set forth in 

 advance of the paleontological details. 



History of Investigations 



Since the beginning of the nineteenth century, when Alexander von 

 Humboldt 2 visited Cuba and reported the existence of Jurassic rocks in 

 the western part of the island, there have been numerous, for the most 

 part unsubstantiated, rumors of the presence of the Jurassic, but pale- 

 ontological evidence has been lacking until recently. In 1881 De Castro 3 

 called attention to the occurrence of ammonites in the Province of Pinar 

 del Eio, and referred them to the Jurassic without, however, illustrating 

 any or mentioning any by name. De Castro and Don Pedro Salterain, 

 in 1884, published a geological formation map of Cuba, a part of which 

 was revised and added to in 1916 for the detailed map of the Province 

 of Pinar del Eio. 



Even as recently as two decades ago, knowledge of Cuban Jurassic was 

 very meager. "The Report on a Geological Eeconnoissance of Cuba," 

 made under the direction of General Leonard Wood, by C. Willard 

 Hayes, T. Way land Vaughan, and A. C. Spencer, geologists, contains 

 the following statement : 



"Jurassic? — Strata of Jurassic age have been reported from Cuba and the 

 Isle of Pines since the time of Humboldt. The determination is based upon 

 paleontologic evidence which, when examined critically, proves to be insuffi- 

 cient, and we merely make a note here that limestones occurring in the Prov- 

 inces of Havana and Pinar del Rio have been referred to a Jurassic horizon." * 



To Dr. Carlos de la Torre, professor in the University of Havana, 

 belongs the credit of having brought the Jurassic ammonites of Cuba 

 to scientific notice. In 1909 he published a preliminary statement in 

 regard to collections which he had made at Vinales, 5 and in the next 

 year he brought out two more papers, 6 in one of which he figured some 



2 Alexandre de Humboldt : Essai Politique Tile de Cuba. Two volumes and map, 36-1 

 + 408 pages. Paris, 1826. (See p. 53.) 



3 Manuel Fernandez de Castro: Pruebas paleontologicns de que la Tsla de Cuba ha 

 estado unida al continente Americano y breve idea de su constitution geologica. An ales 

 Acad. Ciencias Habana. vol. xxi, 1884, pp. 146-165. (See pp. 151, 152.) 



4 Willard Hayes, T. Wayland Vaugban, and A. C. Spencer : Report on a geological 

 reconnoissance of Cuba. 1001. 



5 Carlos de la Torre : Excursion ( 'ientinca a Vinales. Anales Acad. Ciencias Habana. 

 vol. xlvi, 1900, pp. 00-103. 



6 Carlos de la Torre : Comprobation de l'existence d'un horizon Jurassique dans la 

 region occidentale de Cuba. Compte Rendu, Congres geologique international, xi , 1010. 

 pp. 1021-1022. Stockholm. Also, 1910 : Investigaciones paleontologicas en has Sierras 

 de Vinales y do Jatibonico. Anales Acad. Ciencias Habana. 1009-10, 33 pages and 21 

 plates. 



