AKTICLE V. 



FOSSIL MAMMALIA OF THE WHITE EIVEE BEDS OF MONTANA. 



BY EARL DOUGLASS. 



(Read May 3, 1901.) 



Since writing my paper on the Tertiary deposits of western Montana (1899)* further 

 explorations have been made and many valuable fossils secured. Part of these fossils 

 have been studied under more favorable circumstances, so that interesting additions can 

 now be made to our knowledge of these beds. 



In June, 1899, Prof. F. D. Smith, of the University of Montana, and myself started 

 eastward from Missoula with team and camping outfit, he to collect geological specimens 

 for the University and I to make further explorations in the Tertiary deposits, and to add, 

 if possible, to my collection of fossil mammals. Nearly all of my previous collecting had 

 been done east of the main divide or watershed of the Rocky Mountains. I had found 

 that Tertiary deposits occurred in the valleys of Flint and Deer Lodge creeks, and it was 

 hoped that enough fossils might be obtained to determine the horizons of these beds and 

 their relation to those east of the divide. 



In the valley of Flint creek, south of Drummond, near the village of New Chicago, 

 the upper deposits were found to contain, in a Limited area, quite an abundance of vain- 

 able Loup Fork fossils. The exact relation of these beds to those of other localities is 

 still a mallei' of doubt. The strata and the occurrence of the fossils are almost exactly 

 as in the upper Deep River beds. This is not true of any other deposits I have seen. 

 The bones, as a rule, are in nodules in cream-colored clays. The species seem to be mostly 

 new, but have not been thoroughly studied. Some of the most interesting specimens are 

 a stra.ngi! animal which had a proboscis and was related to Merycochosrus, a, hog-like 

 animal, the first found in America, and a skull of the so-called Blastomeryx, of the 11. 

 borealis type, with a mandible, proving that it is Palceomeryx. Nearly all parts of the 

 skeleton of Palceomeryx were found. The 3ferycochosrus-Y\kc animal I have described 



* See list of works on page 270. 

 A. I'. S. VOL. XX. EE. 



