1893. ] Geology and Paleontology. 813 
General Notes, 
GEOLOGY AND PALEONTOLOGY. 
Recent Volcanic Eruptions in California.—In a paper pub- 
lished in he Independent, Professor G. Frederick Wright makes the 
following remarks concerning recent voleanie eruptions in California : 
“ The absence in America of volcanic phenomena east of the Rocky 
Mountains is amply compensated for by their abundance west of them. 
Probably the largest lava fields in the world are situated in Idaho, 
Washington, Oregon, California and Nevada. In age these belong to 
the latest of the geological periods, being for the most part tertiary. 
For many reasons there is much interest in determining how near 
down to the present time these volcanic eruptions have continued. 
* The traveler over the lava beds of the Pacific slope cannot fail to 
be impressed by the fresh appearance of the basalt which covers so 
large a part of the surface. Considerable areas can readily be found 
whose surface looks as fresh as that of the slag from the furnace of 
yesterday. Many reports have been set in circulation by travelers 
that some of the volcanic cones have been witnessed by them in active 
eruption. Thus the members of Astor's party who, in 1811, crossed 
the Teton Mountains just south of the Yellowstone Park, averred that 
they saw peaks to the north of them sending forth voleanie smoke and 
vapor. Asthey were men of large experience, some men of science 
have been inclined to give credence to their opinion, and are con- 
firmed in this view by the fresh appearance of some of the craters in 
the vicinity of Mount Jefferson, on the shores of Henry's Lake; while 
the activity of the geysers in the Yellowstone Park is perhaps indica- 
tive of the continued activity of vol f throughout that general 
region. 
* But there are so many phenomena that may be mistaken for vol- 
eanie smoke and vapor when seen from a distance that it is safer not 
to eredit such general statements. Clouds and drifting snow might 
easily deceive a distant observer. It is probably thus that the 
reports originated concerning the volcanic activity of Mount Hood 
during the middle of this century. Mount Hood is indeed a volcanic 
crater ; but so far from being active it is now filled with snow. Mount 
Rainier, or Tacoma, presents, however, the double phenomena of blow- 
ing hot and cold at thesame time. The upper 5,000 feet of its surface 
is almost a continuous sheet of ice, but through a small orifice in a 
portion of the crater which crowns the summit, volcanic steam contin- 
