PREFACE 



With the support and cooperation of the Buffalo society of natural 

 sciences and the department of paleontology of the state museum, 

 Dr Grabau has prepared this guide to the geology and paleontology 

 of Niagara falls and vicinity with the special purpose of affording 

 to visitors to Buffalo during the season of the Pan-American expo- 

 sition in 1901a viaticum in their tours through this region renowned 

 for its scenic features and classic in its geology. The ground has 

 been the subject of a multitude of scientific treatises concerned now 

 with the succession of events in the upbuilding of the rock strata 

 along the canyon of the river; again with the nature of the organic 

 remains inclosed in these strata; sometimes with the changes which 

 the falls have undergone in historic times, but for the most part 

 with the perplexing problems of the origin of the present drainage 

 over the great escarpment and through the gorge, the raison d'etre 

 of the falls, the various changes in the course and work of the 

 Niagara river since its birth and the significance of the present topo- 

 graphy of the region. These scientific investigations began with 

 the careful surveys instituted by the late Prof. James Hall, state 

 geologist and paleontologist, during the years of his explorations 

 in the 4th geologic district of this state from 1837-43, who, in addi- 

 tion to his record of the work done by this tremendous agent, de- 

 rived from this region an important term in the New York series 

 of rock formations, the Niagara group, and portrayed the organisms 

 of the various strata which are so superbly exposed along its great 

 channel. Lyell and Bigsby, Logan, Gilbert, Upham, Spencer, Lev- 

 erett and Taylor are among the names of others who have contrib- 

 uted, from various points of view, facts and hypotheses relating to 

 the geologic history of the river. In no one place however has the 

 general purport of all these various studies been brought together 

 so that the intelligent traveler or student can acquire them in con- 

 venient form. It is for this reason that Dr Grabau's work in bring- 

 ing together in concise form the essence of these investigations, 

 tempered and proved by his own review of them in the field, will 

 not fail to prove serviceable to a large element of the public. 



John M. Clarke 



State paleontologist 



