L. Lesquereux—Lignitic formations of the Rocky Mountains. 655 
observations and by the fossil mollusks. From a recent re-ex- 
amination of these leaves, I find no trace among them of any 
species which could be compared and referred to Cretaceous 
plants known till now. They bear the characters of the Eocene 
flora, while those of Bellingham Bay, which I considered at 
first as of the same age, appear referable to the Lower Miocene 
or to an upper stage of the Hocene by the predominance of ser- 
rate leaves: Planera, a large species of Salix, Quercus Gaudini 
recognized in the Upper Miocene of Italy, Diospyros laneijolia, 
abundant at Evanston, ete. The presence of Cretaceous anima 
fossil remains, above the coal of Vancouver, could merely indi- 
cate the same disagreement between the vegetable and anima 
remains as at Black Butte. 
m the descriptions of the species of so-called Miocene 
plants published in Dr. Newberry’s notes on Ancient Floras, 
etc., it is evident that the specimens furnished to him for exam- 
ination have been mixed, or have come from different localities, 
and represent different horizons. He has, as Upper Miocene, a 
preponderance of Coniferous remains, especially Taxodiwm 
distichum, Thuya, Glyptostrobus, and Sequoia, which all abound 
in the shale specimens sent this year by Profs. Hayden and 
Cope from South and Middle Parks, as they have been sent be- 
fore from Elko Station and Green River with Planera. He has 
opulus Arctica, species of Alnus and Corylus, in common with 
the Middle Miocene of Carbon. With Evanston he has the 
_ types in local floras by a difference of temperature, while it 
merely indicated different horizons. My explorations of the past 
two years have therefore forced me to modify some of my views 
on the distribution of our Western Tertiary flora, and to fix, for 
the present at least, the groups in the following order, as pub- 
lished in Prof. Hayden’s report of this year. 
1. The Lower Lignitic: that of Black Butte, the whole Col- 
orado basin as far south into New Mexico as the Placiére 
anthracite coal has its flora, Hocene: Lower Eocene for America. 
- are known to me by the examination of 
the poorer angaa bn gh Ragbeonttt are described, and whi I have compared 
in the museum of the Smithsonian Institution. 
