M. I. Goldman — Catahoula Sandstone of Texas. 287 



In writing it, it has been as much my object to gather some of 

 the principal lines of evidence available in the interpretation 

 of a disintegrated sediment as to interpret the Catahoula sand- 

 stone. I hope I have shown that these lines of evidence are 

 numerous and valuable; and if they do not, in this case, permit 

 of a more positive conclusion it is largely because such an 

 isolated study, and the general science of the petrography of 

 the sedimentary rocks itself, are both too incomplete. Had it 

 been possible to accompany this laboratory study by fuller 

 held observations and by the laboratory study of the rocks 

 associated with the Catahoula sandstone, it is evident that 

 many of the conclusions would be much more certain. And 

 furthermore, in order that the evidence when obtained may be 

 interpreted with more confidence, it is necessary that there be 

 available for comparison a much greater number of extensive 

 descriptions of different types of modern sediments accom- 

 panied by critical consideration of the exact geographic condi- 

 tions under which they were formed, and analyzed by methods 

 so standardized that direct and sure comparison maybe possible. 



This investigation was made in connection with a paleobo- 

 tanical study of the Catahoula formation by Professor Edward 

 W. Berry of the Johns Hopkins University. A report by 

 him and Mr. G. C. Matson will probably be published later by 

 the United States Geological Survey. A brief preliminary 

 statement, that he kindly furnished, concerning the peculiar 

 flora and some of the leading faunal types is appended as of 

 interest in connection with the above petrographic study. 



The flora is almost entirely a strictly tropical coastal one. 

 It contains at this locality : Myristica or nutmeg (fruits) ; 

 Phoenicites or date palm (fruits) ; abundant fruits of an un- 

 identified palm. 



From the same formation in its wider extension are : Fagara, 

 a tropical coastal genus of small trees {JRutaceae) with ever- 

 green punctate leaves ; two fern genera, Lygodium and Acrosti- 

 chitm, the latter a widespread, tropical, tidal marsh species ; 

 leaves of 2^. fan palm, and seven species of petrified palm wood 

 found in this formation in Texas and Alabama, and some also 

 in the Oligocene of the Island of Antigua ; species of fig 

 (Ficus), rain tree {Pithecolobium) and coastal forms of 

 Proteaceae (Fmbothrites), Rhamnaceae (Paliurus), Myr- 

 taceae {Myrica\ Combretaceae {Terminalia), and Sajpotaceae 

 (Pumelia). 



Animal fossils from the formation in its wider extension are : 



Camel bones. 



A small Ostrea. 



A Linthia (?) (Echinoidea). 



A Rhinoceros (?). 



