llie Cmcinnaii Rocks. — Perri/. 32T 
observed liave been duly explained l>y theories some of which 
it seems to the writer are not at all applicable. 
It is the object of this paper to present some of the physical 
peculiarities of the Cincinnati group and to draw from them 
some conclusions to which they seem to point. 
It seems to mc that the greatest obstacle to a right under- 
standing of the method of deposition of these rocks has been 
an almost universal belief in the rule that limestones are of 
deep-sea origin. To one wedded to a belief in the universality 
of this law, a fossil, however significant it might be of shallow 
water conditions, if found nn sandstone or shale, loses its sig- 
nificance if found in limestone. "Limestone is a deep-sea 
deposit, ergo shallow water indications in limestones are 
impossible. Whatever in limestone is found that resembles 
these must be accounted for in other ways." 
Increased study of these rocks has brought to light many 
facts not accessible to the earlier writers, and has thrown such 
additional light on the subject as to necessitate the rejection 
of some of the earlier conclusions. 
We will cite the occurrence at numerous horizons of a wave- 
like structure of the limestone. This is a marked feature from 
the Point Pleasant beds to the very top of the Cincinnati rocks, 
and has attracted the attention of all students of this series. 
These were. not thought to be the result of wave action, because 
they were chiefly found in limestone, and limestone being a 
deep-sea deposit was beyond the reach of such agencies. 
Speaking of this wavelike structure, Prof. Orton says:' 
"This peculiar structure was noticed by him (Dr. Locke) in 
the upper beds of the formation, but it is an even more strik- 
ing characteristic of the rock in its lower beds as shown in 
the river quarries of Cincinnati or in the lowermost 100 feet 
that are there exposed. * * The waved layers are overlain by 
.shale in every instance. Dr. Locke's explanation of these facts, 
involving a fluid state of the carbonate of lime and sheets ^f 
shale falling in 'vertical strata' through the deep seas, seems 
entirely inadmissable." 
"The only other explanation tlius far proffered (1873) is 
that suggested by the name, viz. : that the floor of the Cin- 
cinnati sea A\'as acted on from time to time by waves or similar 
movements of the ocean waters. In opposition to this view 
' Geolojiioal survey of Ohio, vol. i. p. 'Ml . 
