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NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



FIELD WORK DURING 1901 IN THE CRETACEOUS BEDS 



OF LONG ISLAND 



BY ARTHUR HOLLICK 



The probability that Cretaceous strata underlie the surface 

 of Long Island to a greater or less extent, was conceded by 

 nearly all the early geologists who studied the stratigraphy of 

 the coastal plain in the vicinity. The general trend of the 

 known Cretaceous strata in New Jersey, and the lithologic simi- 

 larity between the plastic clays of that state and certain expos- 

 ures of clays on the north shore of Long island justified the 

 assumption that they were probably of the same geologic age, 

 but paleontologic evidence was lacking. 



As early as 1871 a few fossil leaf impressions had been dis- 

 covered in sandstone boulders in the drift at Williamsburg, 1 but 

 they were not recognized as Cretaceous till many years after- 

 ward. Subsequently similar remains were found at Glencove, 

 Sea Cliff, Lloyd neck, Eaton neck, Center island and else- 

 where and also a few in the clays at Cold Spring, Northport 

 and Glencove, most of which proved to be well known Creta- 

 ceous species. These may be found described in several papers 

 by the writer, together with their accompanying conditions and 

 the history of the events which finally resulted in the determina- 

 tion of their identity and significance. 2 



During the month of June 1901 several days were spent in 

 the vicinity of Glencove for the purpose of collecting. A con- 

 siderable number of specimens were obtained, some as loose 

 material scattered along the beach, but most of them from 

 layers of red shale in connection with the clay outcrop on the 



X N. Y. Lye. Nat. Hist. Proc. ser. 1. 1871. p. 149, 150. 



2 1 Preliminary Contribution to Our Knowledge of the Cretaceous 

 Formation on Long Island and Eastward. N. Y. Acad. Sci. Trans. May 

 1893. 12:222-37, pi. 5-7. 



2 Additions to the Paleobotany of the Cretaceous Formation on Long 

 Island. Torrey Bot. Club. Bui. Feb. 1894. 21:49-65, pi. 174-80'. 



3 Some Further Notes on the Geology of the North Shore of Long 

 Island. N. Y. Acad. Sci. Trans. Jan. 1894. 13:122-29. 



4 Geological Notes: Long Island and Block Island. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 

 Trans. Dec. 1896. 16:9-18. 



