Field Letter

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Fox Coulie, Alta Sept. 4th 1910 My dear Dr. Matthew: Your letter of Aug. 19th just received in last mail, it is 40 miles to our post office at present so we have mail only once in two weeks. I was very glad to have the news of the department and to hear that the you were arranging to move more things into the new hall. Now it looks like we could soon push the S.A. work again. It is a pleasure to work in this new field where no one has culled the good things but I tell you this season is a hard one to manage and we have to hustle when the sun does actually shine. We had seventeen days of rain during last month and three so far in Sept. However, the boat sinks deeper in the water each day with added material. Have now finished this spot of bad lands and will float down five miles tomorrow. Have finished the quarry taking out a fine collection of Albertosaurus material and have added to the collection a good specimen of small Ornithomimus which comprises pubes, ischia, hind limbs, several vertebrae and ribs. Also a fine pelvis of a small Trachodon. The fauna of this formation differs entirely from the Laramie. Carnivorous dinosaurs and Trachdons were very numerous while Ceratopsia were extremely rare. The Trachodons were very large and very small, saw one broken tibia the distal end of which is fourteen inches across transversely while the fore limbs are extremely long and quite massive. I doubt not this area closely bordered the ocean but so far have not found any but fresh water shells. The flora seems to have been composed largely of broad bushes and grasses have seen a single impression of a Sequoia branch but no other leaves. You had best deposit three hundred dollars more to my credit. That ought to be in excess of what I will use but II would rather be long than short. Next year our expenses will be considerably less than they have been this year for it has cost a good deal extra nearly four hundred dollars, to actually put us at work. There will be a field seasons work left after this year for we will hardly get more than halfway through the Lower Edmonton series and that will leave the Judith River besides. Will write again in a few days, Sincerely yours Barnum Brown
BACK (1910-AUG-30)		END

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Fox Coulie, Alta

Sept. 4th 1910

My dear Dr. Matthew:

Your letter of Aug. 19th just received in last mail, it is 40 miles to our post office at present so we have mail only once in two weeks. I was very glad to have the news of the department and to hear that the you were arranging to move more things into the new hall. Now it looks like we could soon push the S.A. work again. It is a pleasure to work in this new field where no one has culled the good things but I tell you this season is a hard one to manage and we have to hustle when the sun does actually shine. We had seventeen days of rain during last month and three so far in Sept. However, the boat sinks deeper in the water each day with added material. Have now finished this spot of bad lands and will float down five miles tomorrow. Have finished the quarry taking out a fine collection of Albertosaurus material and have added to the collection a good specimen of small Ornithomimus which comprises pubes, ischia, hind limbs, several vertebrae and ribs. Also a fine pelvis of a small Trachodon. The fauna of this formation differs entirely from the Laramie. Carnivorous dinosaurs and Trachdons were very numerous while Ceratopsia were extremely rare. The Trachodons were very large and very small, saw one broken tibia the distal end of which is fourteen inches across transversely while the fore limbs are extremely long and quite massive. I doubt not this area closely bordered the ocean but so far have not found any but fresh water shells. The flora seems to have been composed largely of broad bushes and grasses have seen a single impression of a Sequoia branch but no other leaves. You had best deposit three hundred dollars more to my credit. That ought to be in excess of what I will use but II would rather be long than short. Next year our expenses will be considerably less than they have been this year for it has cost a good deal extra nearly four hundred dollars, to actually put us at work. There will be a field seasons work left after this year for we will hardly get more than halfway through the Lower Edmonton series and that will leave the Judith River besides.

Will write again in a few days,

Sincerely yours

Barnum Brown

BACK (1910-AUG-30)

END