J878.] 351 [Rathbun. 



of the coast of Brazil, valuable, not only for its scientific riches, but 

 also for the fertility of its soil, which arises from the decomposition of 

 limestones. The collection of fossils obtained from this Cretaceous 

 area was probably larger than that from Pernambuco, and comprises 

 Teleostean and Selachian fishes ; several forms of Crustacea; Nau- 

 tilus, Ammonites, Ceratites, Natica, Turrilites, Turritella, Janira, 

 Ostrea, Trigonia, Cardium,. Astarte, Mytilus, Gervillia, Pectunculus, 

 Posidonomya, etc, among the Mollusca; Corals, Echini, a single 

 large specimen of star-fish, etc., etc. 



Mr. Branner spent two months in studying the geology and other 

 natural history features of the island of Fernando de Noronha, which 

 differs entirely in structure from the main-land, being of volcanic 

 origin, and furnishing splendid illustrations of dykes and basaltic 

 columns. Mr. Branner's work was fully illustrated by a fine series of 

 photographs and sketches. At this time I was exploring, with the 

 photographer, the southern coast of Bahia and the Abrolhos region. 

 A large set of photographs of the Botocudo Indians was made by 

 Snr. Ferrez on this expedition, and forms a valuable contribution 

 toward the study of that tribe. 



During the latter half of 1876 and the first half of 1877 explora- 

 tions were carried on in the southern coast provinces, as follows: in 

 Santa Catharina by Prof. Hartt and Mr. Wagoner; in Parana by Mr- 

 Wagoner; and in Sao Paulo by myself. In Santa Catharina the re- 

 gions investigated were the Carboniferous basin of the Tubarao, 

 never before visited by a geologist, the " sambaquis" of Laguna, and 

 the geology around the Sao Francisco do Sul. Many perfect skulls, 

 ornaments, axes and other stone implements, and pottery were ob- 

 tained from the "sambaquis". Mr. Wagoner made a geographical 

 examination of the highlands west of the bay of Sta. Catharina, and, 

 from the Eio Itajahy to Coritibanos. The identity in structure of 

 the Serra Geral and the Serra do Tubarao was proved. The fossils 

 found in the Serra seem to be Carboniferous.. 



In Sao Paulo, I studied the metamorphic rocks from the Serra do 

 Mar to the Serra do Mantiqueiro and beyond ; the deposits of trap 

 furnishing the " terra roxa" the rich land of the coffee region ; the 

 beginning of the Carboniferous basin in the south of Sao Paulo, con- 

 taining remains of Saurians (?),; and the " sambaquis" of the vicinity 

 of the city of Santos. Mr. Wagoner's trip in Parana was from Anto- 

 nina, near the coast,, to a point far into the interior of the province, 

 passing Guarapuava where coal had been found. In the interior he 



PROCEEDINGS B. S, N. H, — VOL. XjlX. 23' AUGUST, 1878. 



