250 University of California Publications in Geology [Vol. 9 



is equivalent to a portion of the Etchegoin, and cannot be distinctly 

 separated from it as suggested by Dr. J. P. Smith. Whether the 

 whole Purisima Formation is equivalent to the Etchegoin cannot at 

 present be definitely settled, because the fauna of the lower Purisima 

 is rather meager and is not sufficiently characteristic. 



The Merced Series, the upper portion of the Purisima, and the 

 upper Wildcat contain a number of short-lived species in common and 

 it is evident that they are approximately equivalent. The Merced 

 Series and the upper Wildcat are certainly contemporaneous, and 

 the lower portions of these two formations are not far removed from 

 the uppermost Purisima. 



The lower Wildcat and the so-called "Miocene of Bear River" 

 have a few species in common which are not found above these hori- 

 zons. They also contain species which occur abundantly in the 

 Empire Formation of Coos Bay. From this evidence it seems prob- 

 able that the lower Wildcat and the "Miocene of Bear River" belong 

 to a lower horizon than the typical Merced and follow the Empire 

 Formation very closely in the order of deposition. 



From the superposition of beds similar in age it is probable 

 that the lower Wildcat and the "Miocene of Bear River" are closely 

 related to the Etchegoin and a portion of the Purisima Formation. 



Transmitted June 16, 1914. 



