190 Gryphcea Pitcheri — Marcou. 
U. 8. Infaatry, who many years before had been on detached service frout 
Council Bluffd. 
I write this history to show that I have b^ea a geological observer for a 
long series of years and to furnish a reason for my sending the fossils ob- 
tained on the march from Fort Gibson, via Port Smith to Fort Towsou, to- 
my particular friend Dr. Morton. 
During the time I was a student of Natural History, more attention wa* 
given to the lithological character of rocks than at present or since their 
fossil contents have been so carefully studied. For that reason I could 
sooner trust myself in giving an opinion of the character of a given for- 
mation from its mineral constituents, than to express one based upon such 
a critical knowledge of paleontology as is requisite to enable one to dis- 
tinguish the species of a genus, as nearly related as those of the genus. 
Oryphma. For this reason also I should feel strongly inclined to adopt the 
opinions of a geologist who formed his Judgments in the field, rather than 
to accept the opinion of a cabinet student, however profound he may be, 
Trusting in the ability of professor Marcou to defend his own opinions, 
I think it is only necessary for me, who have never assumed the responsi- 
bilities of authorship in geology, to express my concurrence in them a» 
regards the existence of the Jurassic formation described in the Oeology of 
North America 
With respectful con.siJeration, I am very truly yours, 
Z. PlTCnKR. 
P. S. — The only map in my possession which shows the course of thfr 
Kiamechia, is the one contained in Maj >r Emory's Report on the United^ 
States and Mexican boundary, vol. i, where it is spelled Kimichi. 
From this important letter of Dr. Pitcher, it results that not 
only the locality where the Gryphma pitcheri Morton, came 
from, was not the Llano Estacado, but also, that it is not even 
comprised in the state of Texas; being in the Indian Territory, 
in the district attributed to the Choctaw nation; verj' near the 
western boundary of the state of Arkansas. In the maps pub- 
lished lately by the ofiBce of the Engineer Corps, war depart- 
ment, that small stream is called Kiamishi, Kiamashi and even 
Kianashi. 
In 1853, I came upon that Gryphwa pifcheri, not far west 
from its original area, at Fort Washita; and farther west up the 
Washita river, at Com it creek of Lieutenant Whipple's topo- 
graphical map (Pacific railroad explorations) by 99° longitude 
and 35°, 50' of latitude, I saw it also, a few miles north on the 
banks of the Canadian river, at the great bend of that river. 
Those two last localities are the most northern and western 
points where, until now, the Gryphcea pitcheri is known to exist 
with certainty. 
