W. M. Gabb on the Cretaceous rocks of California, 227 
4 pamphlet purporting to be a check list of Eocene fossils, pre- 
one of our oldest Paleontologists. So eminent an 
authority and the endorsement of so respectable an institution re- 
uire that I should say something in vindication of the position 
have taken, and give to the scientific world the grounds on 
which I base my deductions. 
The rocks of California, included by the Geological Survey 
under the general head of Cretaceous, can be easily separated 
Into two well-marked divisions. Our acquaintance with them 
has not yet been sufficiently detailed to attempt a further sepa- 
ration into sub-groups, though, in the older members, that can 
doubtless be done hereafter. This older group is without doubt 
the equivalent of the No. 5 and the upper part, if not the whole 
of No. 4 of Meek and Hayden’s Nebraska section. There ma 
€, and in fact probably are, older members of the Cretaceous 
formation represented in California, but our information 1s, as 
yet, too limited to make the assertion positively. In the north- 
ern part of the state, where these rocks have been least studied, 
isolated specimens have been obtained with a decidedly “ N 
mien” aspect. The more recent member, always conformable 
with the lower, and connected with it by a series of strata not 
very fossiliferous, appears to be the American representative of 
the Maestricht beds, the ‘Danien’ of the French authors. The 
Position of the older group is universally conceded, and it only 
Tests with me to establish that this newer group is without doubt 
Tetaceous and not Eocene as Mr. Conrad originally asse 
and still maintains. 
It has many points in common with the Maestricht beds of 
Europe. It contains but a single species, so far as known, of 
the complex-chambered group of Cephalopods. A solitary am- 
Monite, represented by half a dozen specimens, has been found 
by myself, in place, even to the very top of the formation. — 
he rocks which I included in my Division B, are found in 
and more particularly along the eastern face of the Coast Ranges 
over an extent of upwards of four hundred miles. They are 
i2 many places metamorphosed, but are in a number of localities 
highly fossiliferous. The principal localities from which fossils 
ve been collected are—the vicinity of Fort Tejon, New Idria, 
hear Griswold’s on the road between New Idria and San Juan, 
Clayton at the Monte Diablo eoal mines, Martinez, San Diego and 
2 one of the forks of Eel river near Rod Valley, Mendocino 
County. At on and Martinez they are connec th 
Division A Pore dona succession of intermediate beds but con- 
taining very few fossils. Near the village of Lower Lake, Lake 
then v2 these intermediate beds are again developed and are 
“2en highly fossiliferous. oS 
Tn the California Cretaceous rocks we have already recog- 
