226 The American Geologist. October, 1897 
filled with Pliocene and more recent deposits, but were exca- 
vated during the period of high altitude following the Mio- 
cene. The submarine valleys were then either originated or 
enlarged. There is good reason then for believing in several 
periods of high elevation in pre-Pleistocene times, a fact which 
makes it more difficult with present knowledge to distinguish 
the effects of the early Pleistocene elevation which it is the 
most particular object of this paper to demonstrate. 
Evidences of a Post-Pliocene Disturbance and Uplift. 
The Santa Barbara Islands. The evidence furnished by 
the vertebrate remains as well as by the flora of the Santa Bar- 
bara islands has been considered by professor Le C'onte as 
abundant proof of an early Pleistocene elevation of the coast 
of California. The opposing opinion has strangely overlook- 
ed these facts in assuming a submergence at this time. Our 
knowledge of these islands is as yet very incomplete as far as 
the geology is concerned, bvit two observers have described 
the occurrence of the Elephas bones on the north side of San- 
ta Rosa island. Dr. L. G. Yates* refers to the beds as follows. 
"On the north side of the island about 10 miles from the 
wharf, near the mouth of Soledad canon, we found an excel- 
lent exposure of strata consisting of about 90 feet of post-Pli- 
ocene deposits containing fossil bones of vertebrates, and at 
one place, fossil Physas (P.d'orbingniana) at a depth of some 
75 feet below the surface. 
This deposit is horizontal and overlies strata of older rocks 
probably Pliocene, which dip 13° N. E. and contain Peoten, 
Turhinella caestrum, and Jlinnites gigeantea in abundance 
and in an excellent state of preservation. There is no indica- 
tion of drift on Santa Rosa island, hence we cannot account 
for the presence of the fossil elephant on the theory of its hav- 
ing been brought by floating ice as advanced by some writers." 
He goes on to say that the chain of islands was formerly con- 
nected with the land to the east and that the Santa Barbara 
channel was a sound opening out to the west. 
In an unpublished manuscript in the possession of the State 
Mining Bureau the late Mr. C. D. Voy describes the geologj'-of 
Santa Rosa island in more detail. The older rocks of the is- 
■^Am. Geol., vol. v, p. 51. 
