THE THIRD EXPEDITION TO CENTRAL UTAH 



IN SEARCH OF DINOSAURS AND 



EXTINCT MAMMALS 



By C. LEWIS GAZIN 



Assistant Curator, Division of Vertebrate Paleontology 



U. S. National Museum 



The 1939 Smithsonian Institution expedition in search of the re- 

 mains of extinct vertebrate animals in central Utah had for its 

 special mission the further investigation of Cretaceous and Paleocene 

 formations exposed along the east side of the Wasatch Plateau. It 

 was hoped to obtain additional remains of dinosaurs and lizards 

 from the older rocks and a greater representation of the Paleocene 

 mammalian fauna. 



The party, consisting of George F. Sternberg, Franklin Pearce, 

 and the writer, met June 2 in Price, Utah. After assembling our 

 camp equipment and supplies in Price, we proceeded by truck about 

 50 miles in a southwesterly direction into the mountains. Camp was 

 made at a site locally known as Lone Pine Spring on the east slope 

 of Wagon Road Ridge near its southern extremity, commanding an 

 impressive view over the upper portion of Dragon Canyon toward 

 North Horn Mountain. 



Saddle horses were found indispensable in prospecting this region 

 of few roads, strong relief, and scattered exposures. Also, the use 

 of horses in getting large specimens from places of difficult access 

 to roads where the large plastered blocks could be handled by truck 

 was the only feasible solution to one of our most trying problems. 

 Roads in the region, though graded yearly by the Forest Service, 

 were generally rendered impassable for hours or even days after 

 each rain. This particular year, however, was one of marked drought 

 during the early summer, and in July the spring near which we 

 were camped nearly stopped flowing so that it became necessary to 

 haul water from another spring a few miles to the west. Heavy 

 rains toward the end of the month made secure the water supply for 

 the balance of the field season but greatly restricted the use of the 

 truck. 



Our first attack, after horses were obtained, was made on the 

 Cretaceous outcrops along the westerly slope of North Horn Moun- 

 tain. Here the party was successful in discovering fragmentary re- 



