1896.] Geology and Paleontology. 213 



to melt, icebergs which formed by the breaking off of the ice on the 

 border were common. The icy water had Bacillariacese in it, for 

 they existed, as they do now, when the temperature was at 0° C. This 

 flowed down to the lower regions from the north and northwest. 



In California I did not classify the rocks containing the Bacillariaceie 

 leaving that to the older and more experienced geologists. Blake, who 

 had discovered them at Monterey, supposed them to be Miocene, for he 

 saw as Bailey showed them to be similar to the Virginian ones. In 

 Japan where I discovered them also I failed to classify them for Pum- 

 pelly, who had brought them home did not place them likewise. When 

 the infusorial earth was found in Florida, it had also been placed in the 

 Miocene Tertiary by Bailey. And when I had it from that state sub- 

 sequently at Manatee, I failed to classify it because I had not visited 

 the spot where it came from myself. Now I believe these are older 

 than what is called the Miocene. And I am confirmed in this supposi- 

 tion by what Towney said of the Virginia stratum. I prefer to place 

 them as far back as the Upper Eocene, the Oligocene as it is called. 

 In New Jersey at Asbury Park and Atlantic City the infusorial earth 

 has been found by Woolman and classified by him as Miocene. But 

 further north on the Atlantic side of the continent it has not been seen. 

 I examiued the clay that was dug at about two feet down at Foley's, 

 South Beach, Staten Island, N. Y., but although it contained marine 

 Bacillariaeese it was not what I wanted. I thought it belonged to the 

 Raised Coast period. At Martha's Vineyard, Mass. the clay classed as 

 Miocene by Dall did not contain any Bacillariaca?. 



It was on the 11th of August, 1895, that I visited Rockaway to get 

 rest from the turmoil and heat of the city. Rockaway is a beach or 

 promontory which extends down from a place called Far Rockaway 

 southwards on the coast of Long Island. Long Island is made up of 

 hills of no great height extending down the middle or on the north shore 

 of the island. A low range of country extends down the southern 

 shore where the Atlantic Ocean begins. It is fringed by sandy bars 

 which are mostly islands. These islands extend down the coast from 

 Cape Cod, Mass. to Florida. Key West is the most southern of the 

 islands which are known in Florida as Keys. The country on the 

 Atlantic side of the island is low, sloping down to the coast without any 

 elevation in it. 



I knew that I should go down by rail cutting through the hills until 

 I came transversely to the island to the promontory of Rockaway. It 

 is true that I wanted to get out of the cities heat but I had also two other 

 reasons for going. I wanted to study the glacial phenomena which I 



