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ADDITIONAL NOTES

OH TBI

POST-PLIOCENE DEPOSITS

Of THB

ST. LAWRENCE VALLEY.

BY. J. W. DAWSON, LL.D., F.G.S., 4o.,

. PRINCIPAL OP BC'ail.L OOLLKOB.

ISwU irfote tfjj Natural J^tatorg Societg of iWowtteal,

{ExtrcKkd/rom the Canadian NATURAiisx/or February^ 1868.)

MONTREAL :

PRINTED BY JOHN LOVBLL, ST. NICHOLAS STEEBT.

1859.

i.~

M. ^6 b i

7^/

I''

POST-PLIOCEIE DEPOSITS

OF THB

ST. LAWRENCE VALLEY.

In a paper on tlie Newer Pliocene and Post Pliocene deposits
of the vicinity of Montreal, communicated to the Natural History
Society last winter, I promised to follow up the subject, especially
in the direction of the mote minute organisms of these deposits,
and the comparison of the stratigraphical arrangements near
Montreal with those in other part- of the Province, In fulfil-
ment of this promise, I now proceed to state a number of foots
which I have ascertained or which have been communicated to
me in the past summer.

I. FoRAMIITIFERA. AND BrYOZOA.

^ The Foraminifera are creatures almost at the extreme limit of
simplicity of structure in the animal kingdom. Generally micros-
copic in dimensions and consisting of a soft and apparently
homogeneous jelly, they present no appreciable organs, except
little thread-like extensions of their bodies, which appear to be
their organs of prehension and locomotion. Such creatures might
at first oight be supposed incapable of being preserved among the
medals of creation. They have, however, the power of secreting
for their protection delic o and beautiful calcareous cells, divided
into a number of chambers which are added successively in the

^!^9im»

4 Post-Pliocene Deposits oj the St. Lawrence.

progress of growth, and communicate with each other and with
the outer world by minute orifices ; and as these creatures abound
everywhere in the ocean, their shells are constantly accumulating
on its bottom, so as in some cases to form thick beds of calca-
reous mfUter. The Bryozoa, equally minute in size, are fiir more
complex in structure; presenting, with a general polyp form,
complicated digestive and muscular apparatus, which place them
far in advance of the hydroid polyps, and have induced the majo-
rity of modern zoologists to arrange them with the mollusks.
They occupy horny or calcareous cells, which usually have wide
openings for the extension of the arms or tentacles which procure
the food of the inmates. These cells are arranged in branching
or flat and circular groups, which form a large proportion of the
zoophytes of the older naturalists, and are to be found everywhere
on submerged stones, shells, and sea-weeds.

I place these two tribes, in their structure so dissimila, , to-
gether, because they are found together in the drift deposits ; and
because, owing to this and to '.heir microscopic eize, they can be
conveniently studied in connection.

Before proceeding to describe the species found, I may mention
that though the minute dimensions of these objects may cause
them to escape the notice of many collectors, they are, when
studied with the aid of the microscope, not inferior in interest and
beauty to any other fossils found in our tertiary plains. The
Forarainifera may easily be detected by examining the clays in
which fossil shells occur, and particularly those holding Fuma
tornatns and the spicula of Tethea Logani* with the aid of a
pocket lens. When they are thus ascertained to be present, a
quantity of the clay should be well dried, broken into small pieces,
and stirred in a quantity of water, when the clay will subside and
the little shells may be' skimmed from the surface. When dry
they may be spread on a tray or on dark-colored paper, and
examined with the lens to ascertain what forms are present.
They may then be picked up witU a moist camel's-hair pencil,
and placed separately in small boxes for more minu te examina -

• For notices of these and other fossils referred to in these pages, see
my former paper, Canad. Nat. vol. 2.

Post-Pliocene Deposits of the St. Lavyrence. 6

tibu. For the microscope, they may be mounted either on a dark
ground as opaque objects, or in Canada balsam as transparent
objects ; and shouW be studied in both of these ways. With the
foraminifera, the collector will usually find valves of Cytheridea,
some of the smaller univalves, and detached cells of Lejiralia.

(1.) Position of Foraminifera and Bryozoa in the Post-Pliocene

Deposits.

Logan's Farm.— In the last volume of the Naturalist, I des-
cribed a number of species of fossils from Logan's farm, and
stated what I believed to be their relative position. By the kind-
ness of Mr. Logan, I have since been enabled to make an exca-
vation in the spot where these remains are most abundant, and
obtained the following section : —

ft. in.
Sou and sand, , , g

Tough reddish claj, q q.

Gray sand, a few specimens of Saxicava rugosa, Mytilus edulis,
Tellina Gmnlandica, and Mya arenaria, the valves generally
united, ^ g

Tough reddish clay, a few shells ofJstarte Laurentiana^ and Leda

Portlandica, , , ,

Gray sand, containing detached valves of Saxicava rugosa, Mya
truncata, and Tellina Granlandica ; also Trichotropis bore-
alis, and Balanus crenatus : the shells in three thin layers . 8

Sand and clay, with a few shells, principally Saxicava in de-
tached valves J 3

Band of sandy clay, full of Natica clausa, Trichotropis borealis,
Fusus tornatus, Buccinum undatum, Astarte Laurentiana,
Balanus crenatus, &c. &c., sponges and Foraminifera. Nearly
all the rare and deep-sea shells of this locality occur in this
^'^»*i' 3

Sand and clay, a few shells ofJstarte and Saxicava, and remains

of sea-weeds with Lepralia attached ; also Foraminifera, ... 2

Stony clay, boulder clay.

It thus appears that at Logan's fiirm we have littoral species at
top, and that all the rare and deep-water fossils, as well as the
Lepralice and Foraminifera occur in a comparatively thin band
near the base of the deposit. This corresponds precisely with the

'""^^^mJ

9 Post-Pliocene Deposits of the St. Lawrence.

order observed elsewhere in the vicinity of Montreal ; though at
Logan's Farm the arrangement is somewhat more complex than
in other localities.

Tannenes.— At the brick-yards near the village of the Tanne-
ries, nea Montreal, the surface of the Leda clay is well stored
with Leda, Portlaadica, Astarte Laurentiana, Natica clausa^
Tellina Groenlandica, and some other shells. It also containa
sponge spicula and foraminifera. The shells at this place, though
by no means so numerous as at Logan's ffrm, are remarkable for
their excellent state of preservation.

Beauport.—l visited this celebrated deposit for' the first time
last autumn. At first sight it consists of a mass of stratified sand
and gravel, equivalent to the Saxicava sand of Montreal, and
resting on boulder clay. Tlie overlying mass is filled with Saxi-
cava Tellince &c.; and the underlying boulder clay as usual
contains no fossils. My experience in the Montreal deposits,
however, led me to expect a bed, however thin, representing the
Leda clay, between theae ; and on searching at the junction of
the two great beds above mentioned, I was gratified by finding a
layer of sand about three inches in thickness, filled with the rarer
shells of the deposit, characteristic of its deeper waters, such as
Fusustornatw, Pecten Islandicus, Buccinum ciliatum, Modiolaria
discors, &c.* The Bhynconella psittacea occurs only in this layer,
and in such a manner as to lea^'e no doubt that it is buried here
in situ, in the very spot where it lay anchored to the stones of
the surface of the drift. On these stones, however, I found a new
and interesting field for observa'ion. In the thin layer above
referred to, all the stones, as well as those that lay on the surface
of the boulder clay or partly imbedded in it, were covered with
the remains of marine creatures, especially Balanus crenatus^
Spirorbissinistrorsa, Spirorbis spirillum, Lepralia and Hippothoa.
This la /er, in short, evidently represented a time when the sur-
face of the boulder clay, covered only by a thin l.-'yer of sand and
stones, constituted the bottom of clear and deep water, before it

^'/

• Sir 0. Lyell notices the fact that these shells are more abundant in
the lower part of the mass than above.

^v^fti

■I

Poti'Pliocene Deposits of the St. Lawrence, 7

became covered by the Saxicava sand. This bottom, although
no clay has been deposited on it, represents the Leda clay at
Montreal, and is exceedingly rich in the fossils usually found
at the surface of that bed. Foraminiferu occur in it, but they
are comparatively rare, and, so far as I could find, only of spe-
cies common at Montreal.

(2.) Species of Foraminifera,

In my paper of last year a few of these were figured, but the
nomenclature of these creatures was in a state so unsettled that
I hesitated to attach names to them or to identify them with
described species. I am now relieved of the greater part of this
diflSculty by the appearance of Williamson's excellent monograph
on the British Foraminifera, the nomenclature of which I shall fol-
low in noticing our Canadian species.

Fig. 1.

1. Polyatomella umbilicatula, "Walker (Fig. 1).*— Nine tenths
of the foraminifera from the Montreal clays belong to this species,
which also occurs at Beauport, and in equal proportionate abun-
dance living in Ga8p6 Bay. The specimens all belong to the
variety ineerta of Williamson ; and as among many hundreds of
specimens I can find none that present the typical characters of
the species, and as the general form is also less compressed than
in the typical specimens as described and figured by Williamson,
I should be inclined to believe this so-called variety in reality a
distinct species, were it not for the fact, that, while these curious

• See also paper in Can. Nat. Vol. 2, Fig. 17.

Post'Flioceiu Deposits of the St. Lawenct,

llttlo creatures are almost indefinitely variable, there is a re-
markable persistency of certain varieties in particular localitie*.
The modern specimena fron\ Gaspe correspond precisely with
their ancient progenitors of the Post-Pliocene clays. The size of
the fossil specimens is large for the species ; the diameter of some
individuals being J^th of an inch.

Localities. — Logan's farm, Montreal ; Brick-yards at Tanreries,
Montreal ; Beauport ; also recent in Gaspe Bay.

2. Nonionina crassula, Walker. — Among the fossil specimens of
the last species, there are many not distinguishable from it in
external form, in which I cannot find, either when viewed as
opaque or transparent objects, the characteristic septal apertures
of Polystomella. These specimens are usually smaller, more
hyaline, and smoother than those showing the apertures. If dis-
tinct, they must belong to the species above named. I found no
individuals of this description among my recent specimens from
Gasp6.

3. Folymarpkina laetett (Figs. 2, 3, also p«j)or in Canad. Nat
vol 2). This is perhaps the second species in relative importance,
though much less plentiful than Polystomella umbilicaiula. The
greater number of the specimens belong to the variety " typical*
of Williamson (Fig. 2). Others appears to be an exaggerated
form of the variety " ohlonga'^ {Fig. 8), and many others, espe-
cially the smaller examples, are of the variety " communis.^ A
similar range of varieties exists in the modern specimens from
Gasp6. Size -^-^ to j^.

Localities. — Logan's farm ; Tanneries ; recent in Gasp6.

fir

Fig. 2.

Fig. 3.

Post-Pliocene Dcpotite of the St. Lawrence.

^ f

4. Miliolina seminulum (Liii.)--(For figure, see paper in Can.
Nat. Vol. 2, Fig. 18.) In my paper of last year this species was
noticed as Quingueloculina occidentalism Bailey ; and I still be-
lieve it to be identical with the shell so named ; but I presume
that it, as well as many other supposed species of tlie genua
Quingueloculina of D'Orbigny, must be included in Miliolina
Seminulum, as extended by Williamson. This shell is not in-
frequeni in the clays at Montreal, and it also occurs in Gasp^
Bay. It approaches very nearly to the typical form of the spe-
cies, but is usually of small size, not exceeding J^th of an inch in
length.

Locality. — Logan's farm.

Fig. 4. Fig. 8.

5. Entosolenia glohosa (Fig. 4, 5).— This species is not uncom-
mon in the clay at Montreal. Fig, 21 of my paper of last year is
referable to it, as I had not then observed the internal tube, and
supposed it in consequence to be an Orbuiina. Figs, 4 and 5
show this internal structure. This species is very small, scarcely
exceeding ^i^th of an inch, and is very smooth and translucent

Locality. — Logan's farm ; Tanneries.

Pig. 6. Fig. Y.

6. Entosolenia costata, Williamson (Figs. 6, 1 ; also Fig. 22 in
paper of last year.)— This beautiful little shell differs from that
last described only in the possession of longitudinal narrow ribs.

10 Post-Pliocene Deposits of the Sc. Ltxwrence,

WilHainson, who had seen only two or three examples, establishes
it as a separate species with some doubt ; and since in my speci-
mens fron" the Montreal clays the number and distinctness of the
ribs are very variable, I think it probable that this shell is only a
variety of E, glohosa.
Locality as above.

Fig. 10.

Fig. 9.

Fig. 8.

7. Entosolenia Squamosa (Figs. 8, 9, 10). — This, the most
elegant of all our Post-Policene foraminifeta, presents several
beautifully ornamented varieties. In the last species the sidos are
marked by simple longitudinal ribs. In the simple varieties of
this the ribs are crossed by more slender transverse bands.
In others the rectangular spaces thus formed appear to have
circles inscribed in them. In others the distinclion of longitu-
dinal and transverse ribs disappears, and the whole surface be-
comes covered with a regular hexagonal network of raised lines of
various degrees of fineness. I have endeavoured to represent
several of these forms in the figures ; but there are many inter-
mediate varieties, and my wood-cut representations fall far short
of the exquisite beauty of the shells themselves, which appear
under the microscope as if worked in pure translucent porcelain.
Size jlf^ to i\.

Parker and Jones regard the three species last described as
identical. Williamson also leans to this view ; and since in my
specimens there is a gradation from those that are smooth to
those that are ribbed, and from these to those that are netted, I
can scarcely hesitate to adopt the same conclusion, in which case
the two last species must be regarded as varieties of £. globosa.

Post-Pliocene Deposits oj the St, Lawrence, 11

Size about j'^.

Fig. 11.

8. Biloculina ringens, D'Orb. (Fig. ll).— I have found only
two specimens of this species, and neither revealed much of its
real character until mounted as a transparent object. I have
figured one of them as it appears in this way ; and it well shows
the manner in which the successive cells are added, the orifice
being alternately at opposite ends of the shell.

Locality. — Tanneries.

All the species of Foraminifera above noticed are found living
as well as fossil. Three of them have been obtained by myself
from Gasp6 Bay, and the others may probably be found there.
The species most abundant in the tertiary clays is also that which
prevails in Gasp6 Bay, and the conditions of life in both are
the same. The Gasp^ specimens were found in mud, in from 10
to 16 fathoms, and holding Leda limatula, Tellina calcarea, and
Astarte sulcata, so that it may be regarded as strictly equivalent
to our Montreal Leda clay, in or at the surface of which the
Foraminifera chiefly occur. Tvv) species found at Gasp6 have
not as yet been recognized in the tertiary clays. One is a globu-
lar shell, probably Orbulina Universa, the other a rough, punc-
tured, yellowish species, probably Bulimina scabra.

All the species found in Canadian tertiary clays are widely
distributed in the North Atlantic, and some of them still more
extensively. Pc-VMorphina lactea is found in the British crag,*
and Entosotenia glohosa'xxx Miocene deposits at Petersburgh, U.S.f

Wood

t Bailey.

I \

Post-Pliocene Deposits of the St, Lawrerice*

They afford little indicatioii <>f cUma*©. Miliolina seminulum,
for instance, extending in tfee present seas from Greenland to Cuba.
With respect to depth of water, theit indications are probably
more precise, though on this subject t CiMi find little reliable infor-
mation. One fact is certain, that in Gaspe at present, a depth
of 10 to 20 fathoms corresponds balhynwtrically, in so far as these
creatures are concerned, with that repr<eiSiented by the upper layers
of the Leda clay, or brick-clay of Montreal. I have obtained*
however, at least one indication that tJiere are still lower depths,
not represented as yet by the fossils of our tertiary deposits.

I owe to the kindness of Capt. Orlebar, R.N., two small speci-
mens of fine clay, taken up by the sounding-lead from depths of
187 and 196 fathoms, ofi" Mount Camille, near Bic Island, in
the River St. Lawrence. On carefully levigating these specimens,
I found in them three species of Foraminifera, all distinct from
those of the tertiary clays and of Gaspe, and the silicious shields
of a number of microscopic plants (Dlatomacece), The Foramini-
fera 1 refer to the following species : —

jRoialina turgida, Williamson. (Fig. 20.)
SpirolocuUna depressa, D'Orbigny. (Fig. 21.)
Bulimina auriculata. Bailey. (Fig,. 22.)

uvm^-tn^aim.

Post'Pliocene Deposits of the St. Lawrence., 13

The Diatoraacese associated with these shells include Coscino^
discus lineatus and species of Gallionella, JSunotia, Cocconeis &vd
Achnantkesj most of them apparently identical with forms figured
by Bailey. There are also minute acicular spicula of sponges.

Since the highest points at which raised beaches have been
found in Canada scarcely reach an elevation of 80 fathoms above
thie sea level, we can scarcely expect to find on the present laod
evidence of depths equal to those represented by these soundintgs.
T^eir containing distinct species from those in the tertiary clays
is^ however, an interesting fact, and I figure these as a guide to
collecwfs who may be so fortunate as to find them in a fossil stale.

(3.) Species of Bryozoa.

From the abundance of the remains of these creatures on stones
at the surface of the bould'ir clay at Beauport, I have no doubt
tliat a number of species might reward a diligent search. My
time however at this locality was very limited, and although I
brought thence single pebbles with as many as four or five species
attached to them, I have no doubt that my collection includes
only a small fraction of the species occurring there. The speci-
mens are also in many instances in a defective state of preserva-
tion ; and as collectore of these objects well know, even in recent
specimens it is often very difficult to determine species from the
dead cells alone. I am therefore able to name at present only a
few species, but these, I trust, may be relied on with some cer-
tainty.

1. Hippoihoa, catemi^ria, Fleming; (Fig. 12.)— This pretty
little organism spreads its chains of cells over the tertiary pebbles
at Beauport just as it now does in the Gulf of St. Lawrence ; and
being of a dense and strong texture, iis remarkably well preserved.
It belongs at present tso. the Larainarian and Coralline zones, and
is found aj^uftdantly. ift (&asp6 Bay in nine fathoms.

2. Ilippothoci, (livmimta., Lamour. (Figi 13.) — ^Tbis smaller
and more delicate species is very abundant at Beauport ; but
from its minuteness and its similarity in color to the grey, wea-
thered pebbles, may easily escape observation. It differs from the

14 Post-Pliocene Deposits of the St. Lawrence.

typical form of the species in having the cells united to each other
directly, instead of by a slender calcareous thread ; but as John-
ston* mentions this as sometimes occuring in recent specimens
it may be regarded as merely the characteristic of a variety. I
have not yet found this species living in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Fig. 12. Fig. 13. Fig. 14.

3. TubuUporaflabeUaris,Ya.hT\G\n9. (Fig. 14.)— I refer— with
some doubt — to this species the organism represented iu fig, 14,
which occurs sparingly and not in good preservation on stones
at Beauport. Fabricius found this species in Greenland, and it
occurs in various parts of the North Atlantic. I have not found
it living, but it may be the same with the T. divisa, a species
closely allied to fiahellaris, found by Stimpson in the Bay of
Fundy.

Fig. 15.

Fig. 16.

British Zoophytes, page 292.

Post-Pliocene Deposits of the St. Lawrence. 15

4. Lepralia hyalina, Lin. (Fig. 16.) — The organism represented
in fig. 15 must, I think, be referred to this species. It is found
sparingly on stones at Beauport, often nearly covered with the
remains of its ovicapsules. It now lives in the Gulf of St. Law-
rence and the Banks of Newfoundland.

6. Lepralia pertusa, Johnston. (Fig. 16.) — This species is
very abundant at Beauport, and, as usual with it, is very variable.
The cells represented in fig. 16 belong to the most regular and
beautiful variety, which occurs in a state of preservation quite
equal to recent specimens. L. pertusa is still one of the most
abundant forms on the American coast ; and the study of the
diverse forms of cells which occur in the same patch, is very
instructive in relation to the errors likely to arise from basing
specific distinctions in these creatures on minute differences in the
forms of the cells.

The two last species appear to the naked eye on the stones of
the drift, as flat, roundish, white patches, somewhat, roughened,
like shagreen ; and under a lens of low power disclose the forms
of their cells.

Fig. 11.

1. Lepralia quadricomuta. N. S. (Fig. 17.)— This is a large
species, the cells being about -j^yth of an inch in length. It is
quite distinct from any cpecies known to me. Its description is

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^^'.- -v..^/Ti_imtjg

^,1

16 Post-Flioeene D^osits of the St. Lawrence.

as follows:— Cells arranged auernately, ovate, vetitricosc, smooth
on the greater part of the surface, but toward the lower end finely
marked with radiating and transverse lines, and at the margins,
roughened with scaly projections; aperture narrowed, flattened
at the distal margin, and armed with four hollow spines, those a*
the angles strongest; proximal margin deeply sinuated and pro-

iecting. ./•*!,

The specimens occur abundantly in the lowest part of the
deposit at Logan's farm, and are arranged in such a manner as to
show that they were attached to fronds of alg« which have
entirely disappeared. Being imbedded in soft clay, it is much
more difficult to secure perfect specimens than in the case of the
species attached to stones. From the position of this Lepralia m
the deposit, I infer that it lived in very d.ep water; and it is
possible th-^l vvacii we are better acquainted with the deeper parts
of the Guii ol SU Lawrence, it may be found there. Havmg
searched in vain for any described species corresponding with it,
I propose for it the name of L. qmdricornuta, founded on its
most obvious distinctive character, which is of more importance
here than in the case of a recent species, owing to the circumstance
that the spe(me«8 ittthe clay usually split in .u^ a manner as
to show only the inside of the cells, on which tile four horns
generally remaJa sufficiently distinct. ^

^ Patches of this Lepralia one- inch in length and half an inch m
breadth were fetmd at Logan's farm, and the cells were remarka-
bly uniform imsiise and shape. M found in a livingstate, its large
size and ele^t vase-like form will render it one of our finest
species. Its nearest allies appear to be L. vmt^osa, Hassell, L.
trispinosa, Johnston, and L. cmssispim, Stimpsoo.,

Before leaving the Bryozoa, it may be weU to name the addi-
tional species known to me as living, m the Q^lf of St. Lawrence
and likely to oecuu ia the dtifb : —

Membranipora, another species, Gasp^.

Flustra Murrayma, Gasp6, Metis, Miss Carey's collection.

Tubulipora patina, Gasp6, Metis, Nova Scotia.

y^ I penkellata^ Gaspfi.

Post-Pliocene Deposits of the St, Lawrence. 17

Idmonea Atlantiea, Ga8p6.

Cellularia neritina, Miss Carey's collection.

Celliilaria, another species, Gasp6.

Through the kindness of Andrew Dickson, Esq., I was lately
favored with the inspection of a flat stone taken up by the hook
of a fisherman on the Banks.of Newfoundland, which wonderfully
resembles, in its assemblage of species, the stones in the drift at
Beauport. It has at one end a group of Balanua crenatus of the
precise variety so common in the drift ; and over various parts of
the surface are abundant shells of Spirorbig sinistrorsa, with at
few of another species not as yet found in the drift. Large por-
tions of the surface are covered with Lepralia pertusa hja-
Una, &(i. ; and there is also a Tubulipora closely resembling that
found at Beauport. The shell of a dead Balanus contained a
little fine sand, among which were small and much rubbed speci-
mens of a Polystomella or Nonionina, and fragments of spines of
Echini. This stone is indeed almost a precise modern counterpart
of those buried in the drift at Beauport ; and they, like it, probably
lay in the bottom of a sea loaded in spring with boulder-bearing
ice.

I had almost omitted to mention that some of the stones from
Beauport, with Balantis, Bryozoa, &c., bear on their surfaces
distinct marks of glacial action, in their polish and striatioc ; and
that just as in exposed situations in modern seas, their animal
tenants have evidently selected the re-entering angles^ and least
exposed surfaces for their habitations.

II. Frksh-water Shells in the Post-pliocene Deposits.
I have on several occasions found specimens of Limnea in the
Post-pliocene clays, but always suspected some accidental inter-
mixture. I have been favoured in the past summer, by Andrew
Dickson, Esq., with specimens of land and fresh-water shells from
the bank of a brook emptying into the Mississippi, a tributary of
the Ottawa, two miles below Pakenham Mills, and at an elevation
of about 266 feet above Lake St. Peter. They were found in
■and and gravel containing Tellina Oroenlandica, and which Mr.
Dickson thinks is an undisturbed tertiary deposit. The specimens
furnished to me afford many internal evidences which would lead
me to the same conclusion. The species present are : —

^?l

i I

Post-Pliocene Deposits of the St. Lawrence.

I 1 1 ^

Valvata tricarimta, PlanorUs parvus,

Planorhis bicarinata, Amnicola poraia,

Planorhis trivolvis, Helix striaiella ?

Lymnea elodes ?
As may be seen by reference to the paper by Mr. Billings in
the first volume of this journal, all these shel'.s now exist in the
Ottawa valley. Proof of their existence there in the Post-phocene
era would be of great interest; and though I am fully aware of
the many chances that may cause recent fresh-water shellb to be
mixed with older deposits, I am strongly inclined to believe that
these deposits at Pakenham afford such evidence. Their occur-
rence is at least deserving of notice, that tlie attention of geologists
may be attracted to the locality.

III. Land Pi-ants.
I am indebted to Andrew Dickson. Esq., for the opportunity of
studying a large number of nodules containing plants, collected
by him at Green's Creek, on the Ottawa. They contain numerous
vegetable fragments, which appear to have been originally distn-
buted over the surface of a tract of clay and covered by similar
material, a layer of calcareous nodules subsequently forming along
the plane of deposition and imbedding and preserving the remains,
which are very little changed, though some of them appear to
have been in an advanced state of decomposition before being
imbedded. Among them I can recognize leaves or fragments of
leaves of the Populus bahamifera—yihich seems to be a very
abundant plant at this locality-leaves and stems of grasser,.
needles of pines, and a moss apparently of the family Fonttnaleee
or ffypnece* There is also a well preserved small dicotyledonous
leaf, which I have not yet been able to identify.

The most curious point in connection with these remains is
their association with what seem to be remains oi Alffce, and with
shells of Leda Portlandica having the valves cohering. They
would thus appear to have been deposited in the sea and in deep
water. I observed something of the same kind in Gaspe Bay,
where, at the mouth of the North-west river, I found Leda Uma-
tula living in dark-coloured mul containing vegetable matter,
much of it no doubt washed down by streams from the land.
• Sullivant, in a note just received, says it is probably not far from

JEfyp tiwm ripdriUTrif

Post' Pliocene Deposits oj the St. Lawrence. 19

IV. M18CKLLANBOU8 Fossils.

^ Opkiocoma.— In my paper of last year I mentioned an organism
ma nodule from Ottawa which seemed to be the remains of an
ophiuroid star-fish. I have since found similar remains in the
Leda clay at the Tanneries, near Montreal. The specimens are
entirely dismtegrated, but show the internal joints of the rays and
also the external phites and spines. From their form I judge that
they may have belonged to a small Opiiiocoma, not very dissimilar
from the 0. hellis now found in the Gulf of St. Lawrence ; but
whether identical with that species, or with that found by Sir
W. E. Logran at Ottawa, 1 cannot certainly determine. I figure
some of the remains merely to direct the attention of other
observers to these curious objects. (Figs. 18, 19.)

m^^

'^^m

Figa. 18 and 19. — Joints of QpkiocomOy magnified.

Modiola fflandtda.—A single valve of this pretty little shell
has been found at Logan's farm. It now inhabits deep water in
the Gulf of St. Lawrence. I may also mention that I have found
perfect specimens oi Modiolaria discors both at Logan's farm and
Beauport, which quite confirm Dr. Gould's identification of my
fragment of last year with that species.

Fusus (Clavatuta) ^MmcM^a.— Specimens of this ehell have
been found by Mr. R. Ramsay at the Brick-yards at the Tanneries.
It occurs extensively in the North Atlantic, and fossil in the
British Crag.

iJmoa.— Since the publication of my last paper, Mr. Bell of the
Geological Survey, has shewn to me in that collection a Bissoa
with five distinct revolving bands, separated by a flattish space
from the suture. On comparison of this shell witL tiy specimens
referred las' year to H minuta, I am inclined to think that they
are the same, but that the latter were worn, so as to present a
smooth surface. It is not unlike R. obsoleta of Wood's Crag
Mollusca. I have another little shell which closely resembles
Alvania ai^uris of the same author, but it is too incomplete for
its certain identification.

Spirorhis spirillum.— Th\B common species is found of small
size, attached to pebbles, at Beauport.

mmmmm^

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■

■.

Bi=

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W Post'Plioecne Depotits <fth» St. 'Lawrence,

V. Gbneral Rkmakxs.

In- so far an j^eneral conclusions in Geology are concerned, the
observations of the past year do not in any way conflict with the
conclusions stated in my former paper.

The arrangement of the deposits at Logan's farm and Beauport,
confirms tlie subdivision which 1 have attempted to establish, of
an underlying nog-fossiliferous boulder clay, a de«j)-water bed of
clay or sand (the Leda clay of Montreal), and overlying shallow-
water sands and gravels, the Saxicava sand of inj^ former paper.
This arrangement shows a gradual upheaval of the land from its
state of depression in the boulder-clay 'period, corresponding
with what has been deduced from .similar*appearance8 in the Old
World. "The upheaval of the bed of the glacial sea," says
Forbes, " was not sudden but gradual. The phenomena so well
described by Prof. Forchhammer in his essays on the Danish
drift, indicating a conversion of a muddy sea of some depth into
one choked up with sand- banks, are, though not universal, equally
evident in the British Isles, especially in Ireland and the Isle of
Man."*

We now have in all, exclusive of doubtful forms, sixty-three
species of Marine Invertebrates from the Post-Pliocene or Pleisto-
cene clays of the St. Lawrence valley. All, except four or five
species belonging to the older or deep-water part of the deposit,
are known as living shells of the Arctic or Boreal regions of the
Atlantic. About half of the species are fossil in the Pleistocene
of Great Britain. A majority of the whole are now living in the
Gulf of St. Lawrence and on the neighbouring coasts ; and I have
reason to believe that the dredging operations carried on by the
oflScers of the Geological Survey in the past summer, will enable
us to recognize all but a few as living Canadian species. In so
far, then, as marine life is concerned, the modern period in this
country is connected with that of the boulder clay by an un-
broken chain of animal existence. These deposits in Lower Ca-
nada afford no indications of the terrestrial fauna ; but the remains
of Mephas Primigenius in beds of similar age in Upper Canada,f
show that during the period in question great changes occurred
anaong the animals of the land; and we may hope to find similar
evidences in Lower Canada, especially in localities where, as on
the Ottawa, the debris of land-plnnts and land-shells occur in the
marine deposits.

* Memoirs of Geological Survey.

t Reports of Geol. Survey ; Lyell'a Travels.

i..^v.,.

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