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T/ 
 
 
 NEW FACTS 
 
 RESPECTING THE GEOLOGICAL RELATIONS AND 
 
 FOSSIL REMAINS OF THE SILURIAN IRON 
 
 ORES OF PICTOU, NOVA SCOTIA: 
 
 <<»< 
 
 
 By^J. W. Dawson, LL.D., F.R.S. 
 
 (From the Canadian liatuniHsf, Vol. IX. No. 6.) 
 
 
 ^u. 
 
 • I, 
 
 ■^■: 
 
 CAK 
 
 .Da7 
 
S':0 3 - CLu,. G/RO 
 
1:' 
 ( 
 
 ""hO 
 
 NEW FACTS RESPECTING THE GEOLOGICAL RE- 
 LATIONS AND FOSSIL REiMAINS OF THE 
 SILURIAN IRON ORES OF PICTOU, 
 NOVA SCOTIA. 
 
 By J. W. Dawson, LL.D., F.B.S. 
 (Read before the Natural History Society of Montreal, April 5tb, 18K0.) 
 
 The subject of this paper has already been discussed by me in 
 various previous publications ; and most recently in a paper read 
 at the Portland meeting of the Association for the Advancement 
 of Science in 1 874, and published in the Journal of this Society ; 
 and in the Supplement to the second edition of" Acadian Geol- 
 ogy," 1878. In these publications I have described the general 
 ?rrangement of the Rocks of the Cobecjuid Series in the rising 
 grounds on both sides of the East Branch of the East River of 
 Pictou, the superposition on these of Upper Silurian rocks holding 
 bedded red hematite, and the occupation of the valley itself by a 
 narrovy band of Lower Carboniferous beds. 
 
 I may explain that the name *' Cobecjuid group " was proposed 
 in my Acadian Geology, 1868, for the series of schistose and 
 crystalline rocks constituting the axis of the Cobequid hills, and 
 extending eastward from these, with some partial interruption, 
 through the hilly districts of southern Pictou, In the Cobequid 
 hills, where these rocks are well exposed, they consist of two 
 members : (1) an upper .series of gray and dark slates and 
 quartzites with a band of crystalline limestone and veins of iron 
 ores ; (2) a lower series consisting largely of felsite, porphyry 
 and agglomerate. Both series are pene ied by dykes and 
 masses of red syenite and dark-coloured diabase, the latter cutting 
 also the overlying Silurian rocks. These; last, as seen at Went- 
 worth and New Annan, overlie unconformably the Cobequid 
 group, and afford fossils characteristic elsewhere of the Upper 
 Silurian system. The least antiquity that can be assigned to 
 the Cobequid rocks is thus that of the Siluro-Cambrian ; and by 
 some, on the ground chiefly of mineral character, they have been 
 regarded as Huronian. I have ventured to suggest, on the evi- 
 
 U ^ "^ 
 
dence of their relations to the Upper Silurian beds, and to the 
 apparently older Cambrian series of the Atlantic coast, that they 
 may be representatives of the Skiddaw and Borrowdale series of 
 England, and of the Quebec <rroup of the Lower St. Lawrence. 
 
 These rocks, in their extension into Pictou County, present 
 characters not dissimilar from those seen in the Cobetjuids. On 
 the hi|;h ground on the west side of the east branch of the Kast 
 River, they consist of thick beds of gray and dark slate and 
 quartzite, having a giineral strike of N. 20° to 30^ W., and with 
 very high dips to the S.W. They include a great vein of specular 
 iron ore, associated with magnetite, ankerite, and limonite, of the 
 same character with that so will known on the south side of the 
 Cobe(|uids in Londonderry. 
 
 The rivi-r valley, which not improbably occupies an ancient 
 line of fracture, presents a narrow trough of Lower Carboniferous 
 rocks, containing limestone and gypsum ; and at the junction of 
 these Carboniferous beds with the older rocks, on the east side 
 of the river, there is a fissure vein, tilled with Limonite, and in 
 some places attaining to large dimensions. 
 
 The hills on the east side of the river consist largely of hard 
 gray slates, naoreous slates, obscure diorites, agglomerate and 
 felsite, with syenitic dykes and masses. They correspond very 
 nearly in mineral character with the Lower Cobe(|uid series, 
 and though rudely parallel to the slates on the opposite side of 
 the river, they have so suffered from fractures and une((ual denu- 
 dation that they present a very irregular surface, in the depres- 
 sions of which are the Upper Silurian hematites and their asso- 
 ciated beds ; and these recks also succeed those of the Cobequid 
 series to the northeastward, forming a long line of outcrop 
 extending from the East lliver of Pictou towards Arisaig. Thus 
 the general geological character of the region is similar to that 
 of the Cobequid hills, though locally more irregular and with 
 larger areas of Upper Silurian beds. 
 
 So far the structure of the district has been pretty well known 
 for some time, but its somewhat complex details have been little 
 worked out, except in connection with the tracing of the iron 
 deposits, in which some expioratious have been made, more espe- 
 cially by Dr. G. M. Dawson, Mr. Gilpin, and the writer. For 
 several years the principal iron properties have been under the 
 care of E. Gilpin, Es((., F.G.S., now Superintendent of Mines 
 for Nova Scotia, aud his surveys have thrown much light on the 
 
distributioD of the strutu oootuiuing the bedded iron ore», iDdi- 
 oating approximately the diineDsioDH and direction of the troughs 
 resting on the Cobcquid series, and the distribution of those 
 which flunk that series on the north-east. More especi.illy these 
 researches have shewn that there are two distinct beds of iron 
 ore, separated by a considerable thickness of slaty and quartzose 
 strata,^ and underlaid by slate, sandstone, and conglomerate or 
 breccia, differing from those of the Cobequid series. I do not 
 propose here to enter into the dettiils of these observations, but 
 merely to notice their relations to the palaeontology of the district. 
 
 The fossils collected in the district were obviously referable to 
 the " Arisaig series," ranging from the Clinton to the Lower 
 Helderberg inclusive, but tlie new facts indicated in Mr. Gilpin's 
 manuscript map, which he has kindly communicated to me, 
 suggested more careful local comparisons ; and as my collections, 
 though extensive, had not been made with reference to the now 
 details of distribution, I thought it desirable to supplement them 
 with additional material. This was obtained by Mr. Donald Fraser 
 of Springville, a well known explorer of the.se rocks, who by my 
 request visited all the exposures oi' the iron ores, and collected 
 the fossils found in the ore itself and the including beds, keeping 
 the specimens from each locality separate. In this way a large 
 number of additional specimens were obtained, forming a series 
 of local collections representing the different ore horizons. 
 
 The general result of the study of these specimens is to .show 
 that both beds of iron ore are Upper Silurian, and approximately 
 of Lower Helderberg ag As compared with the typical Arisaig 
 series, as defined in Acadian geology, they represent the middle 
 and upper part of that series. 
 
 The fos.sils referred to are unfortunately not always in the 
 best state of preservation. They are contained in hard rock, 
 from which they are extracted with difficulty, and are often best 
 studied in the impressions left when they arc weathered out. 
 They arc also not infrequently distorted. For these reasons it 
 is not always possible to be certain as to their identification ; 
 and in cases of doubt I have given a reference to the known 
 species which they most nearly resemble. 
 
 * In a work on the "Mines and Mineral Lands ol' Nova SLotia," 
 received while this paper was in the press. Mr. Gilpin estimates the 
 thickness of intervening heds at 700 feet. 
 
 jiliWiilil 
 
''W^ 
 
 In the lower bed of iron ore, as represented at the Webster 
 and Bhinchurd locations, the followiuc: fossils have been reooj^- 
 nized ; though in these beds the fossils are neither so abundant 
 nor so well preserved as in the upper beds. Those nmrked with 
 an asterisk are found also at Arisaif?. 
 
 * Stenoimra ((■haeteten) (allied to S.Jibnwi). 
 -I* Crinoid stems. 
 
 * Chonttcs Novitucoticd, Hail. 
 ■^ C. tniulstriittit. Hall, 
 
 ■■^ Spirlfar rugae- casta , Hall, 
 <S'. (a large species allied to aS'. arenom.) 
 
 * Strophomena pro/umla , Hall, 
 '■''' S. rhomhotdalis, Wilck. 
 
 '■^ RhynchoneVa SaJ'onfl, Hall. 
 
 Ji. (large species with about 20 prominent undivided 
 
 ribs, very characteristic of some parts of the iron ore.) 
 R. allied to R. nobilis, Hall. 
 Pcntanierus (allied to P. pseudo-gahutns). 
 Stricklandlnia BUliiigsi, n. s, (see infra), 
 Rensse/a rfa aqniradiata, Conrad. 
 
 * Orthis fcsfudinaria, Dalman. 
 Piafi/rcras, sp. 
 
 Plafyostoma dvpnssa, Hall, or allied, 
 '■'^ Orthoaras, aunulatcd (allied to 0. Ibex). 
 
 * 0. punctnstriatum, Dawson. 
 
 * Convdltes jiexuosHS, Hall. 
 
 ■^ CaJi/mcne Blumcnlmchii, Brong. 
 -'f- }Iom(donotns Daxcsoni, Hall. 
 IJomalonotus (finely banded pygidium ? n, s.) 
 
 These fossils are not numerous, but they present the same 
 partly Clinton and partly Upper Hulderberg facies seen in the 
 middle portion of the Arisaig series. 
 
 At the Ross location. East River, at the Holmes location, west 
 side of Sutherland's River, and at the east side of Sutherland's 
 River, in outcrops believed to be those of the upper bed, the 
 following species occur : — 
 
 * Stenopora (allied to S. fibrosa). 
 Si/ringopora, sp, 
 
 Cladopora. (slenderly branching species). 
 
 * Crania Acadiensis, Hall. 
 
■p 
 
 * Spirifer suhsnlaitiiM, Hall. 
 
 * Sp. riigm-'Cost'i, Hall. 
 
 Sp. (large specicH similar to that in last list.) 
 
 * Chonefes Nova Scottca, Hall. 
 
 ^- Strophomena rhomboUlafh, Wilck. 
 
 * »S'. Gilpini, n. s. (see iiifru). 
 
 * Orthin tcstmllnarid, Daluiuu. 
 0. pcrchganx. Hall (or allied). 
 O. (fiscKS, Hall (or allied). 
 Strnphoffontd vifristrintn, Hall (or allied). 
 
 * R/ii/Hchciiflfn SuffonU, Hull. 
 R. vellicatu, Hall (or allied). 
 li. pi/r<imi(fti(ii, Hall (or allied). 
 
 * Atn/jxi I'f'ficiihtn's, lAnu. (eoarsely ribbed variety). 
 tStruh/inHliiu'd Bi/ttngsi, u. s. (see intra). 
 PentdineriiH sp, 
 
 D'tM-luii (smooth conical species like D. oblong tta, Portlock 
 (see infra). 
 "^ Cythvrodon sulcuftm, Billings. 
 ^ i\l<g(imboniii (•unoll'itd, Hall (see infra). 
 
 * M. .stri'itti. Hall. 
 
 * Ptero}iif(ll(t carta, Billiu':>. 
 
 * F. oblonga, Billinjfs. 
 
 * P. I'tniisfa, Billings (or allied). 
 Avlcnhi textilis, Hall (or allied). 
 A., new species? (see infra). 
 
 * Clidophonis vonvoifricus, Hall. 
 
 * C elotiyafits .' Hall. 
 
 * Gninunj/aia reniota, Billings. 
 
 * Mnrchisonia Arivn'geiisis, Hall. 
 '■^ M. acicnla, Hall. 
 
 Plati/ostovia ihprcssa, Hall (or allied). 
 Cj/rtocn-as .siibrecfitm, Hall. 
 Ci/rtociras, n. s. (see infra). 
 •^ Orthorrras jmitctostriatmn, Dawson. 
 
 * CornuUtes jicxnoms. Hall. 
 C. n. s. (see infra). 
 
 * Homnlnnotua Dansoni. 
 
 II. (smooth pygidium, allied to //. iklphiHUcephalus). 
 
 * ('iilpnene Blumenbachii (large and small varieties or sub 
 
 species). 
 
 I- li^ftjJVJSS^ 
 
■WI ■ I 
 
 Ph(tci>j)n onuhifiiH (or nllied). 
 Dnfnuinid, allied to D. mlcrnriis, Hall. 
 '* D. Logiiul, Hull. 
 
 It will be seen that, while the iniijority of the species found in 
 the lower bed occur also in the upper, the latter is much richer 
 iu .species, and e.speciiilly in those of the Upper Arisaig or Lower 
 Helderber«5 proper. It is also remarkable for its much greater 
 number of Lamellibranchiiitc shells and Trilobites. On the 
 other hand it presents no points of resemblance with the Oriskany 
 fossils which accompany the ore of Nictaux in the western part 
 of Nova Scotia.* 
 
 The fossils above referred to are derived from the beds imme- 
 diately containing the iron ore deposits, or from the ore-beds 
 themselves. But in many parts of the district there are rich 
 fossiliferous beds, the relation of which to the iron ores is not so 
 manifest, though they obviously belong to the same great series 
 of deposits. From these beds I have obtained specimens of 
 nearly all the species above catalogued, and some others in addi- 
 tion. The most important of these latter are the following: 
 
 Zupkrentis, sp. not determinable. 
 
 Meristdla didyina, Dalman. A well-known European Upper 
 Silurian species, plentiful in some beds on the East 
 lliver, but which I have not yet seen from Arisaig. 
 
 Liugala sp. 
 
 RhynchoneUa transversa, Hall (or allied). 
 
 R. allied to R. acutljilicatu, Hall. 
 
 R. eqidradiata, Hall (or allied). 
 
 Orthis multistriata, Hall (or allied). 
 
 * Atrypa emacerata, Hall. 
 
 * Trematospira Acadia;, Hall. 
 
 * Goniophora consimills, Billings. 
 
 * Grammysia Acadica, Billings. 
 
 * Clidophorus concaitricus, Hall. 
 
 * C. cuneatus, Hall. 
 
 * Modiolopsis rhoinboidea, Hall. 
 
 * M. sub-nasutus, Hall. 
 
 * Bucania trilohita. Hall. 
 
 Bellerophon, allied to B. carina tus, Sowerby. 
 
 1 
 
 S 
 
 I 
 
 * See paper in this Journal, 1879, on ' Recent Papers on the Geology 
 of Nova Scotia.' 
 

 
 I 
 
 1 
 
 FIdfi/reraii, allied to /*. pi/nnnii/'itHm, Hull. 
 
 * Orthorei'df rxornntuni, Dawnon. 
 0. Pit'toenrr, n. s. (sec infra). 
 0. degnntiihim, Dawson. 
 
 * Beyi'lchii pustn/oKii, Hall. 
 
 Aciihispis, u small species nllied to A. inl>ar\tlnt<t of Hall 
 
 (see infra.) 
 lUdiiUh. — py^idiuni. 
 
 In the second edition of Acadian Geolojry, IHGH, the author 
 published a list of fossils, including many of the more character- 
 istic species above-named, and .summed up his conclusion as to 
 their age, as follows : " On the whole T regard the beds seen on 
 the East River of Pictou as belonging to the same line of out- 
 crop with the Arisaig series; but as probably containing in 
 addition to the Upper member of that series beds somewhat 
 higher in position." The fossils niore recently collected so far 
 modify this conclusion that I cannot affirm the existence of beds 
 upward as far as the Oriskany, but must be content to regard 
 the highest fossiliferous beds of the East R\\"?r Silurian as about 
 the horizon of the highest of those seen at Ai saig. 
 
 It still remains to inquire as to beds older tlian the Upper and 
 Middle Arisaig series. As to these great caution is necessary, 
 owing to the paucity of fossils, and to the liability to confound 
 the Upper Silurian rocks with those of the Cobequid group. 
 
 Coming up in the anticlimils, and along the flanks of the 
 masses of older rock, there are beds of conglomerate, brown and 
 white quartzite and hard slates, which seem to underlie the fossil- 
 iferous beds holding the iron ores, and may represent lower 
 members ol" the Upper Silurian series. In these beds vermicular 
 markings, perhaps fucoidal and perhaps burrows of annelids, 
 occur near Cameron's brook, and in the same beds are fragments 
 uf Lingnhv. I have little doubt that these beds are lower than 
 those holding the iron ores, though probably not below the base 
 of the Upper Silurian. On McLellan's Brook, Mr. Fraser has 
 found beds holding casts of Zaphrcntis, which may not improb- 
 ably be older than the Lower Helderberg. The tail of Illanus 
 referred to above was found in a small ore-bed on the Fraser 
 (Saddler) location, and which I believe to be not improbably 
 lower than the great beds of Hematite. These are the only fossils 
 known to me at present, which indicate a horizon older than 
 the Middle Arisaig. There a;e, however, great masses of 
 
 tttrntam 
 
 ■'■■*Tfitfr"""^lrff^irt r i ■ iiiivwrtii 
 
10 
 
 older rock wliich have afforded no fossils, and which probably 
 underlie those just referred to and may be Lower Silurian beds 
 tending downward to the Cobequid series and connected with it. 
 
 Rocks of this character are well developed in the basin of 
 Lake Murdoch, where, according to Mr. Gilpin, they are cut oft" 
 from the Blanchard ore-series by a fault on the southern side. 
 They are traceable to the eastward, .ipparently underlying the 
 beds associated with the " Webster" ore-bed, and are well seen 
 still further to the eastward on the upper waters of the French 
 River. The.se Is differ considerably in mineral character from 
 any others in the district, though resembling in this respect rocks 
 seen at the Blue Mountain, near Eden Lake, an'^ on the East 
 Branch of the 8t. Mary's River. They contain tliick beds ol" 
 Nacreous or Ilydro-mica slates, coarse slates, sometimes haviui; 
 :i conglomerated or brecciated appearance, green chloritie or 
 epidotic rocks, quartzite and agglomerate, and felsitic rocks. 
 They '.ave afforded no fossils, and appear to me to be quite dis- 
 tinct from the Upper Silurian formation. In the meantime they 
 may be connected witli the Cobequid series, with the typical 
 rocks of which stries tliey are certainly closely associated t'artlier 
 to the eastward. 
 
 One of the marked i'eatures of the Upper Silurian in the dis- 
 trict in ijuestion is the great development of bedded red hematite, 
 and of rocks more or less impngnated with this ore. Witli re 
 ferenee to its origin, this ore is evidently a marine deposit, and 
 formed under conoitions sufficiently favorable to marine life to 
 enable it to contain many shells of Brachiopods and remains oC 
 other animals. It is evidently a chemical deposit or precipitate, 
 and often assumes an oolitic structure. In the coarser or mor'> 
 impure bed« the little concretions of oxide of iron often surround 
 grains of sand, and the ore passes into a ferruginous sandstone. 
 The following section taken from a MS. Report of Dr. G. M. 
 Dawson shows the great development of the lower bed in one of 
 its exposures. These deposits (A' iron ore apparently began locally 
 in an early jiart of the Upper Silurian period, and were continued 
 into the Lower Helderberg period, while in the western part of 
 Nova Scotia, in the Nictaux district, we have evidence of their 
 continuance into the Oriskany age. 
 
 Another marked feature of these deposits is the absence of any 
 representative of the great Niagara limestone, and the consequent 
 passage upward of (Miutoii deposits into tho-e of Lower Helder- 
 
 t ' 
 
u 
 
 berg age. This absence of tlic Niagara limestone is general in 
 Nova Scotia, and along tli>! Atlantic margin of North America. 
 Farther West, in Northern New Brunswick, and in Gaspe, mas- 
 sive limestones appear, but they attain their greatest development 
 in the interior plateau south of the great lakes. 
 
 With reference to the dates and disturbances of these deposits, 
 it may be aflBrmed that there was much volcanic action at the 
 time of the deposition of the Cobequid series ; that this sc-iea 
 ox{)erienccd no little disturbance and alteration before the Upper 
 Silurian rocks wore laid down ; that the latter were subsequently 
 much folded and fractured before the Carboniferous Period, 
 and that since that period there has been sufficient movement 
 to cause the carboilifemus rocks to be locally highly inclined 
 and faulted. In the trappean beds, interstratified with the 
 Lower Carboniferous conglomerates of the coast to the eastward, 
 there is evidence ol' the eoutinuauee of igneous action u{» to that 
 time. As to the age of the iron deposits, the formation of the 
 great veins of specular iron and ankeritc was probably contem- 
 poraneous with the earlii'st disturbances of the Cobequid series, 
 and previous to the Lower Helderberg age. The great inter- 
 stratified beds of Hematite are undoubtedly of the latter age, 
 unless the lowest bed should be regarded as between this and the 
 Clinton. The veins of Limonite, mixed with oxide of manganese, 
 are later than the Lower Carboniferous, and constitute here as in 
 the Cobecjuids a secondary product of the decomposition of the 
 carbonate of iron contained in tlie ankerite and spathic iron of 
 the Cobequid series. 
 
 IRON ORE BED. WEBSTER LOCATION. 
 
 II. drift. /(. slatv lork. 
 
 r. iron ore 
 
12 
 
 NOTES ON FOSSILS. 
 
 A few of the species observed are new, and concerning; others 
 new facts were brought out in the examinations made. Tlie 
 more important of these points are referred to below 
 
 Chaetetes or Stenopora and Cladopora. — Two branchinjr corals 
 referable to these genera are very abundant in the East River 
 beds, and the former also occurs plentifully at Arisaig. The 
 former is a coral of the family Chncfetufa-, very closely resem- 
 bling *S'. fibrosa, but the specimens are not in such a condition as 
 to permit a close comparison. The latter is found only in the 
 state of casts, and is a large-celled species resembling C. fihrom 
 of Hall. 
 
 Stfufchindlniit BiUhigsianti, n. s. 
 
 This is a large shell, G centims. in breadth and 4 in length, 
 with a pointed beak and the sides spreading at an angle of about 
 120° to the broadly rounded lateral corners, which are united 
 by a nearly straight margin. The surface presents unequal lines 
 of growth, and in the middle of the dorsal valve is a low flat 
 ridge with a slight furrow in the centre. The ventral valve has 
 a corresponding flat sulcus. This shell is closely •illied to L. 
 I)((vl(hont\ Billings, from the Upper Silurian of Gasp^, but is 
 much broader in form. 
 
 Strophomenn Gilpivi, n. s. 
 
 Shell, when full grown, nearly an inch in diameter; length 
 and breadth nearly equal ; hinge line equal to breadth ; valves 
 little elevated ; hinge area narrow. Surface marked with nume- 
 rous fine radiating elevated lines, between which others are intro- 
 duced as they diverge from the beak. When the surface is well 
 preserved microscopic concentric striie are seen to cross the 
 radiating lines, and when the outer surface is removed the struc- 
 ture of the shell appears punctate. Muscular impressions oval, 
 elongate and narrow. This shell is very abundant near the 
 Sutherland River ore-bed. It appears to differ from any de- 
 scribed American species, but in general form and the style of 
 the muscular impressions resembles aS'. onuiteUd of Salter from 
 the Upper Ludlow of Britain, thouirh it has finer and sharper 
 superficial sculpture. 
 
r*' 
 
 13 
 
 Rhynvhonclhi , sp. 
 
 In the upper bed of iron ore one of the most freqnent shells is 
 a simply ribbed lihynchondlit , somewhat resembling Rh. velUcuta 
 of Hall, but too much distorted and too imperfectly preserved to 
 enable it to be determined with certainty. 
 
 Dlsrina, sp. 
 
 A small elevated smooth DiscuKi, marked only with very 
 delicate Hues of growth and near in form to the more elevated 
 varieties of Z>. oblongata, Portlock, from the Middle Silurian of 
 England. 
 
 Mcginnhonbi onici'Ihitd, Hall. 
 
 Perfect specimens of this beautiful little shell show that the 
 right valve is flatter than the left, and destitute of the cancel- 
 lated markings, having only concentric lines. When the valves 
 are closed the basal sulcus has very much the aspect of a byssal 
 aperture. These characters would a)ly this shell with Avicufuhr 
 rather than with ArcaiJa . 
 
 Avicnld lamellosa, n. s 
 
 Hinge line somewliat longer t'^an the breadth of the shell, and 
 about equal to its length. Left valve tumid, right valve less .so, 
 umbones apprcssed, base broadly rounded, anterior wing short, 
 but decidedly separated from the body of the shell, posterior 
 wing much larger. Surface smooth, but ornamented with concen- 
 tric thin raised lamella!, which are continuous over the wings 
 and body, and are elegantly waved, becoming distant from each 
 other on the lower side. Jjargest specimen 3 centim. long, 3*5 
 broad. At first sight this species resembles A. cquUatera of Hall, 
 but is quite distinct in form and markings. 
 
 Aviaild, sp. 
 
 A single left valve of a well-characterised species with the an- 
 terior wing neurly as broad as the posterior, and both flat and 
 smooth, or with microscopic concentric lines on the posterior one. 
 Body of the shell with about 15 radiating ribs, crossed by obscure 
 concentric ridges. I had at first regarded this shell as a variety 
 of -4. Honeijmani of Hall, but the anterior wing, when exposed, 
 showed it to be altogether different. I find it diflScult to dis- 
 tinguish the last-named species from A. ; • icerata of Hall, as 
 some specimens show radiating striae on the posterior wing, and 
 otherwise approach to that species. 
 
14 
 
 Ftcronitella curta, Billings. 
 
 More perfect specimens of this shell enable me to add to Mr. 
 Billings'* description, that the left valve is considerably more 
 convex than the right, and ornamented with concentric, crowded, 
 raised lamellae. There are two muscular impressions, the ante- 
 rior small, oval and near the beak, the posterior large and round. 
 
 Murchisonla, sp. 
 
 In addition to M. Arlsalgensis and M. ncicida, which are 
 ccmmon on the East River, there is a thirc' species, much less 
 elongated than the former, and with a single revolving band in 
 tie middle of the body whorl. The specimens are not very 
 perfect. 
 
 Holopea, sp. 
 
 A species not distinguishable from //. snb-conica of Hall from 
 the L. Helderberg. 
 
 Flati/ccras, sp. 
 
 A small but beautifully perfect specimen of a conical and some- 
 what pyramidal Platyceras. with slight plications on one side. 
 It is not distinguishable from young shells of P. pyramidatum 
 of Hall from the Lower Helderberg; and is the only shell of 
 this type I hav« seen in Nova Scotia. 
 
 Oi'thoceras Pivtoense, n. s. 
 
 Transverse section oval, perhaps partly a result of pressure. 
 Chambers narrow, 8 in an inch in a specimen 1-5 inch in greatest 
 diameter. Shell scarcely tapering in jdve inches. Surface when 
 perfectly preserved with delicate longitudinal striae. Siphuncle 
 not well seen but apparently inflated in the chambers. This is 
 seemingly a representative in our Upper Silurian of 0. hullatum 
 of England. 
 
 Orthoceran (allied to 0, Ibex). 
 
 This species has long been known to me from Arisaig, and I 
 have specimens also from the East River, but not sufficient to 
 make absolutely certain its identity or difference. 
 
 * Paljvozoie Fossils of Canada. 
 
 it 
 
 r 
 
\ 
 
 15 
 
 ^oceras, sp. 
 
 Two species of this gjenus occur in the East River collections. 
 One is not distingutshable from the C. subrectum of Hall (L. 
 Held.) The second is flattened laterally, distinctly bent, the 
 septa one-third centim. distant, in a specimen one centim. in 
 diameter. 
 
 Cornulitcs. 
 
 Shells of this species are very abundant in the East River 
 beds. Hall referred the Aris;ii<,' spociiuens to his species C. 
 jiexHoms ; but from their more slender form nanuMl them variety 
 gracilis. At the E.ist River the majority of the specimens are 
 of the Arisaij:; type, but some more robust. There are however 
 others more slender than any f iitul at Arisaij;. Specimens 1.3 
 centimetre in length are only 1 millimetre in breadth at the 
 large end, so that from their slenderness they might be mistaken 
 for TentucHlitf'S, though the annulations are those of Conuilites, 
 But for the apparent connecting forms, these slender specimens 
 might be regarded as types of a distinct species. 
 
 Trtlohitcs. 
 
 There appear to occur at the Slast River no less than three 
 species of IIoiiKtlonotus. The most common is II Dnwsovi, Hall, 
 and the others are known to me only by fragments. One has 
 much more numerous annulations on the pygidium than that 
 above named, the other has a nearly smootii pygidium, with about 
 twelve very flat annulations on tlie axis, and resembling that of 
 //. vanuxnnii, Hall, from the Lower Helderberg. The East 
 River collections also add an AcidiLspis to the Upper Silurian 
 fauna of Nova Scotia ; but the single speeimen found is unfor- 
 tunately too imperfect for description. 
 
 Note. — For information as to the economic geologv of this district, 
 I may refer to •'Acadian Geology," and to a valualilo Ileport on the 
 •' ]\rines and IMineral Lands of Nova Scotia,'' by E. Gilpin, A.M., F.G.S. 
 (Halifax, 1880.) 
 
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