ProssErR.]  Cretaceous.—Comanche Series of Kansas. 173 
to those of the Cheyenne is considered, together with the fact of 
their ecirespondent stratigraphic position. 
The explanation of the formation of Big and Little Basins is a 
matter of great difficulty. Recently Professor Haworth has accu- 
rately described the general features of these basins and suggested 
an explanation of their formation. His description of Big Basin is 
as follows: “A broad and level valley more than a mile across and 
nearly circular in outline seems to have been dropped vertically 
for about one hundred and fifty feet. This is locally called the 
great basin. On the east of it a hundred yards is a similar valley a 
fourth as large, which likewise seems to have been dropped a like 
distance. In the northern part of this latter valley a sink hole, 
about seventy five feet across now holds fresh water with a maxi- 
mum depth of twenty seven feet. This is locally called St. Jacob’s 
well, and is so marked on the U.S. topographic sheets. 
“These two areas are so large that it is difficult to understand 
how they can be classed as ordinary sink-holes as the Meade salt- 
well may be. Their origin should be looked upon as due to some 
greater movements, possibly similar in character to that which pro- 
duced the artesian valley near Meade, although no connecting 
fault has yet been located.’ 
In comparing the thickness of the Kiowa shales on Mt. Nebo, on 
the bluffs west of Kiger creek and in Little and Big Basins, it will 
be seen that their thickness decreases rapidly in going west. This 
is especially marked from the region of the Basins, no considerable 
thickness of the Kiowa having been found west of this locality. On 
the bluffs about three miles east of Cash City and Indian creek, loose 
shells belonging to the Kiowa are found near the line of junction be- 
tween the Tertiary and Red-Beds. On the map, Plate XLIV., the 
Kiowa has been represented by a mere band as extending to this 
point. Beyond this to the southwest no evidence of the Kiowa 
was seen, and so far as known to the writer the Comanche series 
is not represented between the Tertiary and the Red-Beds in the 
southwestern part of Clark county and southeastern part of Meade. 
The Basins are located in Vesta township Clark county and the 
formations of this portion of Meade were briefly described by Case 
1 E. Haworth, American Journal Science, 4th series, vol. II, p. 371. 
