Exploration* in Alaska. 33 
dium kansasen&e occurs, together with Turritella mamochii, var. 
belviderei, and a species of Neritina ( apparently identical with 
that from Belvidere ), and one of Dentalvum. With others of 
the normal form, occur frequent specimens of the Turritella, in 
which the apical region is remarkably produced and attenuated. 
Bands of red and yellow ochre occur here. One or two similar 
outcrops occur in the east part of Rice county. 
I have used the older name, " Neocomian," in preference to the 
later one, " Comanche, " throughout in this article because, as it 
seems to me, there is no member of the American Cretaceous 
which is so clearly referable to a European chronologic equivalent 
as the series of shales here passed in review. The mime ' ' Chey- 
enne sandstone," herein applied to Belvidere G, is used merely as 
a temporary convenience. It is quite likety to become, when the 
palaeontologic and stratigraphic relations of No. G are better 
known, a synonym of " Trinit} 7 Sandstone, " as the latter will 
perhaps become "Potomac'' and that, at length, " Wealden " 
or " Purbeck. " 
EXPLORATIONS IN ALASKA. 
[The scientific expedition sent out last spring, under the joint auspices <>f the 
National Geographic Society and the United States Geological Survey, for the 
purpose of exploring the region ahout Mount St. Elias, Alaska, has returned. Mr. 
Russell, who organized the expedition and had charge of the work, is now in 
Washington. Tlie party consisted of Israel C. Russell, geologist; Mark 1>. Kerr, 
topographer, both members of the Geological Survey ; E. F. Hosmer, general as- 
sistant, and seven camp hands, hired at Seattle, Wash., of whom J. H. Christie 
was foreman. Owing to uncertain health Mr. Hosmer returned home from the 
first camp.] 
All arrangements for camping J u an unknown country were 
completed at Seattle early in June, and on the 17th the expedition 
sailed for Sitka on the steamer Queen, one of the excursion boats 
plying regularly between Puget sound and South-Alaska. The 
voyage to Sitka furnished an opportunity for seeing the fine gla- 
ciers of Taku inlet and Glacier bay, thus serving as an introduc 
tion to the still more wonderful icefields about mount St. Elias. 
On arriving at Sitka the members of the expedition were trans- 
ferred at once to the U. S. S. Pinta, under the command of Capt. 
Farenholt, who had previously received instructions from the Sec- 
retary of the Navy to take them to Yakutat bay. 
The Pinta reached the mouth of Yakutat bay on June 25. The 
3 
