4 The Aincricaii Geologist. •'"'>• ^'^^i- 
branches of Mr. Wind's well-rounded study should have passed 
to the front. I kit the fact remains! Geology took the lead 
and became first the i)rominent then later the all absorbing 
topic ; the constant theme of his study. Teaching itself became 
in a way only subservient in carrying forward his geological in- 
vestigations. A generous enthusiasm came to his aid in the 
pursuit of his favorite research. So all available time and 
means were made contributors to the great object of solving 
self-imposed geological problems. 
Geology is richer for this devotion to the advancement of the 
science. Vermont geology especially, has profited by taking 
to heart of a great unanswered question. Passing over many 
suggestions that readily arise as to the cause of his entrance 
upon this particular field we may go at once to the great subject 
of Mr. Wing's investigations. He himself states that in 1865 
he came to the "determination to ascertain, if possible, the geo- 
logical age of the limestones, slates and quartzytes of the Otter 
Creek valley." 
A few words here regarding the field, as well as the rocks, 
may help to a clearer understanding of the self-imposed task. 
Otter creek, better Otter river, the longest stream within 
Vermont, has its source in Dorset, Bennington county, flows 
north through the western part of the state, receives many af- 
fluents in its course through the counties of Rutland and Addi- 
son, and has its mouth at Fort Cassin, on lake Champlain in the 
north part of Addison county. The region studied by ^Ir. 
Wing is part of an area of the crystalline limestone of middle 
and western Vermont. To the south the rocks are connected 
with those of Massachusetts and Connecticut, while on the 
north they are related to those reaching up to the Canadian line. 
The more special field of exploration was the part of the lime- 
stone region lying between Rutland and ]\Iorriston north and 
south, and theadjoining region reachingwestward to lake Cham- 
plain. The crystalline limestone of the Otter valley had in the 
Vermont geological report of Hitchcock been designated as the 
"Eolian limestone." 
This limestone, this "Eolian," with its sandstone beneath 
and its slates above ; what its geologic age ? This was the 
(luestion which Mr. Wing asked and which he set himself res- 
olutelv to answer. 
