ProssER.|  Cretaceous.—Comanche Series of Kansas. on 
St. John, 1883.—The next important paper is St. John’s “Sketch 
of the Geology of Kansas,’ and on his “Geological Map of Kansas” 
all the county south of the Arkansas river is mapped as upper Coal 
Measures and Cretaceous, though the line of division is represented 
considerably farther east, crossing the counties of Reno, Kingman 
and Harper in a nearly north and south line.? 
In the description of the Dakota formation it is stated that in 
the Arkansas valley, horizons similar to those near Brookville 
[Saline county] have been discovered “which are characterized by 
a molluscan fauna, some of whose forms, at least, indicate more in- 
timate affinities with the Texan Cretaceous fauna than has hereto- 
fore been observed so far north in deposits of this age.’ 
Cragin, 1885"86.—In this year Professcr Cragin published his 
“Notes on the Geology of Southern Kansas.”4 The greater part of the 
paper is given to a description of the Red-Beds and Gypsum Hills, 
but the latter part of the paper gives an account of the overlying 
formations. Professor Cragin says: “The deposits above the gyp- 
sum I examined but little, and only in western Barber and eastern 
Comanche counties. They belong to the Benton [Upper Cretaceous] 
and later deposits. * * * A Jjocality a few miles southwest of - 
Sun City, locally known as the ‘Black Hills,’ affords an easily recog- 
nized horizon for reference in any studies that may be made of the 
neighboring formations, being well up above the gypsum, conspicu- 
ous, and quile unique. It may be designated as the ‘Black Hill 
horizon.’ The deposit from which the hill takes its name is a bed 
of carbonaceous and rapidly decomposing shale. In connection with 
the shale are found fragmentary seams of poor lignite. Imme- 
diately above and below this is a layer of shell conglomerate made 
up largely of Ostrea and Gryphaca. 
“Below these is a formation quite unlike any other I have seen or 
heard of in Kansas, and well worth a visit to the place to see. Itisa 
variegated sandstone, unfortunately too friable for utility, but dis- 
playing a most beautiful variety of colors. Brown, purple, blue, 
1 Third Biennial Report State Board of Agriculture of Kansas, p. 571. 
2 See map between pp. 574 and 575. 
3 Ibid., p. 588. 
4 Bulletin Washburn College Laboratory Natural History, Vol. 1, April 1885, pp. 
85-91, Topeka. 
I 
