136 
tensive as that seen from the summit of Mount 
Sheridan, but it is superior to it from the fact that 
the objects one wishes to see are nearer at hand. On 
the eastern slopes of the mountain is a remarkably 
fine glacial cafion. 
From the Yellowstone Falls, camp was moved once 
‘ more to the geyser basins, whence a trip was made 
to the western limits of the park, vid the Madison 
plateau, returning through the Madison cafion, which 
exposes a fine section of the rhyolitic rocks that form 
the plateau. 
The latter part of September camp was again estab- 
lished at the Mammoth hot-springs. The weather 
throughout the month had, with the exception of a 
few days in the latter part, been exceptionally fine 
for field-work; but October was ushered in witha 
severe snow-storm. Notwithstanding the inclemen- 
cy of the weather, Messrs. Iddings and Wright under- 
took a reconnaissance of the region north of Mount 
Holmes, on the west side of the park, with a view to 
obtaining more accurate information as to the granitic 
area that lies just east of the rhyolitic flows that form 
the plateau of the park. The results, however, were 
meagre, on account of the severity of the storms and 
the depth of the snow. 
At the same time Mr. Hague, accompanied by Mr. 
Weed, crossed the park in the opposite direction, to 
the head waters of Soda Butte Creek, with two ob- 
jects in view, — 1°, to make a rapid geological recon- 
naissance across the northern part of the park to 
obtain definite personal knowledge of the Yellow- 
stone Range; and, 2°, to visit the Clarke’s Fork 
mines in order to learn their position in relation to 
the park boundaries, and to ascertain the extent to 
which mining operations have been pushed, and also 
to form an opinion as to the future prospects of the 
district as a mining-centre. The trip was a valuable 
one for general geologic purposes, and as suggesting 
plans for future operations, but for detailed work 
was not perfectly satisfactory, as the country was 
covered with snow, and snow-storms were of daily 
occurrence. 
Although work was continued for some time longer 
in the vicinity of the Mammoth hot-springs, the 
weather remained so stormy that it was decided to 
pack the collections and leave the field; which was 
done the latter part of October, when the members 
of the party returned to the east. 
Physical researches. — The geysers of the park 
suggest a number of physical questions which can be 
solved only after a complete and careful investiga- 
tion, opportunities for which are nowhere presented 
with greater facilities than within the limits of the 
Yellowstone national park. The study of these ques- 
tions was assigned to Dr. William Hallock, who 
steadily carried forward his observations in the Fire 
Hole geyser basins during August and September, 
and, since his return from the field, has been conduct- 
ing a Series of experiments in the laboratory at New 
Haven. When the results of these studies and ex- 
periments shall be made public, it will be seen that 
they are of the utmost scientific value. 
Photographic work. — Mr. William H. Jack- 
SCIENCE. 
[Vox. IIL, No. 52. 
son, so well known from his photographic work in the 
park, while connected with Dr. Hayden’s survey of 
the territories, accompanied Mr. Hague’s party, and 
had a most successful season. His series of instan- 
taneous views of the geysers in action will prove of 
great interest. 
He obtained a large view (sixteen by twenty- 
two inches) of the lower falls of the Yellowstone, 
from a point at the bottom of the Grand Cafion just 
below where the water reaches the cafion, after its 
descent of more than three hundred feet. He also 
secured a fine large panoramic view from the summit 
of Mount Washburn. 
A number of views of Yellowstone Lake were 
taken, that are particularly good. 
Topographic work.—In order that the detailed 
geologic structure of the park may be correctly de- 
lineated, it was decided to begin topographic work 
for a detailed map, especially as the survey of the 
western and north-western portions of the park had 
never been completed. This work was intrusted to 
Mr. J. H. Renshawe, who undertook plane-table work 
on a scale of two inches to the mile. He outfitted 
his party at Bozeman, Montana, and began work in 
August in the West Gallatin Range, — a beautiful 
and interesting group of mountains, seldom or never 
visited by tourists, lying in the north-west corner of 
the park, between Gardiner’s River and the West 
Gallatin River. The outlying spurs are cut and worn 
into most peculiar forms by glacial action. The sur- 
vey of this area, comprising about four hundred 
square miles, occupied nearly a month, on account of 
the rugged character of the country and the detail 
with which the work was carried on. In the more 
level portions of the park it progressed more rapidly. 
Three hundred square miles of the plateau region 
lying more to the southward were surveyed during 
the latter part of the month. In September the work 
was extended still farther to the southward, until the 
heavy snows early in October compelled the post- 
ponement of further work to another season. The 
entire area surveyed in detail during the season is 
outlined as follows: on the north and west the limits 
are the boundaries of the park in those directions; 
on the east it is bounded approximately by the Nor- 
ris wagon-road and Gardiner’s River; and on the 
south by the lower geyser basin and the Fire Hole 
River. Besides the detailed work thus defined, mean- 
ders were run, and preliminary work extended, over 
al] the usually travelled routes. 
Upon the return of the party to Bozeman in Octo- 
ber, a remeasurement, with compensated bars, was 
made of the base-line at that place, laid out in 1877 
by the ‘Geographical surveys west of the 100th me- 
ridian.’ In this work Mr. Renshawe was rendered 
efficient service by Messrs. Chase and Garrett of the 
U.S. navy. The former is now at work on the com- 
putation and adjustment of these measurements. 
Potsdam fauna at Saratoga, N.Y. —Mr. C. D. 
Walcott is closing up his work on the paleontology 
of the Eureka district, and preparing to take up the 
Potsdam fauna of the United States. From the past — 
season’s field-work, it was discovered that a massive 
