PREFACE. 



The science of Fossils, or Paleontology, is that upon which 

 the geological history of the earth mainly rests. Without it, 

 geology would be but a fragmentary science, a science of the 

 structure of the earth only. By the aid of fossils, the succes- 

 sion of rocks, their distribution and relations are determined. 

 They are the key which unlocks the most difficult problems of 

 stratification. Upon them the seeker after the economic sub- 

 stances of the earth must mainly depend. Until the paleon- 

 tologist has deciphered the records, the geologist can only grope 

 blindly. The study of fossils, then, needs no apology from the 

 economist. As a pure science, paleontology is inextricably 

 united with the science of biology, the science of living things ; 

 as an applied science, it is equally intimately related to the 

 structure and history of the earth. In the tracing of the rocks' 

 strata, physical characters are often deceptive and unreliable ; 

 paleontological characters are decisive and incontrovertible. 



Kansas has long been a famous region for the paleontologist. 

 Perhaps no equal area in the United States presents such varied 

 and remarkable fossil records as does Kansas. The fame of 

 her fossils is world-wide. The pages she has added to the geo- 

 logical history of the earth are already classic. 



But, while the state has furnished so much of interest and of 

 value to the sciences of geology and paleontology, the published 

 accounts, what there are of them, have been accessible only to 

 the specialist in scattered and abstruse papers. 



Constantly is the writer in receipt of inquiries from citi- 

 zens of our state, especially teachers, seeking information re- 

 garding its fossils. Invariably he has been compelled to reply 

 that such information is accessible only to the specialist and in- 

 vestigator. Specimens are often sent for identification, which 

 the senders might easily determine for themselves if only they 

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