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 1 
 
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 U > I 
 
 K- 
 
 McGILL UNIVERSIT 
 
 PAPERS FROM THE DEPARTMENT 
 
 OF 
 
 Geology. 
 
 •(vitii 
 
 Nc. 4.— Fossil Sponges and Other Organic Remains 
 FROM THE Quebec Group at Little Metis. 
 
 BV 
 
 Sir J. William Dawson, C.M.G. 
 
 :!# 
 
 With Four Plates. 
 
 [Reprinted from the Transactions of the Royal Society of Canada, 
 Section iv., 1896, pp. 91-121.] 
 
 Montreal, 1897. 
 
^ 
 
 t^BCTION IV. l.SW. 
 
 [91] 
 
 Tbans. R. S. C. 
 
 VI. — Ailditionol Noti'S; on Fossil S/i'ou/rs nml athir Ori/diiir h'ciiitiiii 
 the Quebt'c Group of Littlr Mcfis^ aii the Loicit St. Ldirri m'l. 
 
 By Sir J. WrLLiAji Dawson, LL.D., F.RS. 
 
 With Notes nil S'lwc iif the Specimevs by I>r. (r. .1. Hinde, F.l'.S. 
 
 (Rend May 20, 18JK5.) 
 
 I 
 
 [1. Intvotliu'tory ; II. Subdivisions of tbe (^uoboc Grou^) ; III. Littlo 
 
 .Metis iiay ; IV. General Remariis on the Fossil Sponges; V. Notices 
 of the Several Species ; VI. Other Animal Remains ; Conclusion.] 
 
 I. — Introductory. 
 
 • 
 
 The jiresent paper is a continuation of that on the same subject 
 contributed to the Royal Society of Canada in 1889, and published in its 
 Transactions for that year. It is intended to bring the subject up to 
 date with reference to discoveries of new species and additional facts us 
 to those previously known, and also to tix more definitely the age of the 
 beds containing the fossils, more especially in connection with the more 
 recent observations of the otttcers of the Geological Survey of Canada. 
 
 The (Juebec Group was instituted by Sir VV. K. Logan, and described 
 by him, in 18t)3, as a peculiar coastal and Atlantic development of the 
 formations known in the interior of North America as the Calciferous and 
 Chazy membei-s of what was then known as the Lower Silurian system.' 
 Logan undei-stood that on the submerged continental plateaus and ocean 
 depths of any given geological period there must be local as well as 
 chronological ditt'erences in the de]josits, and that the terms applicable to 
 the foi'mations in the inland seas, which in times of continental depression 
 covered what are now interior continental plains, cannot rightly designate 
 those laid down contemporaneously on the borders of the open and per- 
 manent ocean. We now know that these last are the most general and 
 continuous i-ecords of the history of the earth, though the continental 
 deposits, depending on subsidences alternating with elevations, give the 
 most decidedly graduated scales of geological time in their successive and 
 apparently distinct dynasties of marine life. Hence the plateau deposits 
 
 ' Geologj' of Canada, p. 205 «;< seq. ; Appendix to Murra.v".s Report on Newfound- 
 land, 18(J5, quoted by me in .Journal of London (ieoloKical Society, 1HS8, p. 810, and in 
 Canadian Record of Science, 1800, p. V.io, 
 
92 
 
 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
 
 are the most easily available as jfeologieal chroiioiueters. and have In'on 
 HO used both in Europe and America ; but they do not aceurately repre- 
 sent the series of ehangeu going on in the great oeeanie areas and their 
 
 BSrt- 
 
 Viewed in this way, Logan's name, Qnehec (iroup, designates the 
 oceanic deposits formed on tlie Atlantic border of Nortli Ameriea at u 
 time when very different conditions prevailed in those now inland areas 
 which afforded the elassitieation of the New York Survey. The fact of 
 this great ditlerence remains, and the tei'm designating it will continue to 
 be of value to geologists, so long as they are desirous rtuionaliy to corre- 
 late the sequence of formations in America and in iOuro^ic, and to connect 
 with their science those great facts of paheogeograjjiiy wliich enable us 
 to realize the diverse conditions of the deju'essed and ehjvated portions of 
 the earth's surface in diti'erent geological times. The name is fartlier 
 justified by the fact that the lower })()rtions of our great St. Lawrence 
 river follow a course in the Province of (Quebec wliich enables them bet- 
 ter than any other section in America to illustrate the diHerence between 
 the depo^■ s of the Atlantic and continental areas in the earl/ Paheozoic 
 period. 
 
 I regard the.se consiilerations as of great importance in relation to 
 the fossils described in this paper, because they are members of a fauna 
 of almost univei'sal oceanic distribution ; in its time extending continu- 
 ously over vast spaces and periods, aiul serving to bridge over the gaps 
 in the broken series of the continental plateaus. It is likely to gain in 
 signiticance and in relative value as science advances; and, when more 
 fully known and appreciated, to do much toward reniedj'ing that imper- 
 fection of our geological record, which depends, to some extent, on our 
 basing it on localities where physical disturbances have interfered with 
 the continuity and orderly succession of life. It is only by the patient 
 and long-continued study of the formations deposited on those parts of 
 the permanent oceanic areas available to us, that we shall ultimately be 
 able to trace back the marine life discovered by the dredgings of the 
 •'Challenger," to early geological times. 
 
 When Logan commenced his survey of Canada in 1842, little of this 
 was understood, and he had before iiim the task of solving the enigma of 
 original ditferences of deposits and suiierailded mechanical disturbances in 
 Eastern Canada, with the wholly inadequate key atlorded by the inland 
 aeries of formations worked out by the survey of New York, which itself, 
 when it came into contact with the marginal series, became involved 
 in that Taconic controversy, which has scarcely yet subsided, and which 
 must remain in some degree unsettled as long as geologists fail to see that 
 they cannot force into one system the dis.'<imilar formations of the ocean 
 and of the continental plateaus. 1 have no wish here to dwell on tliese 
 controversies ; but may refer for some statement of my views on the great 
 
[DAWSON] FOSSIL srONGES AND OTHER OrtGANIC REMAINS 
 
 93 
 
 natural facts which underlie them, to the publications named in the foot- 
 note to this section.' f < 
 
 & 
 
 lys 
 
 II. — Subdivisions ov the liuEHEc Giioui'. 
 
 Confining ourselves to the sections on the south whore of the Lower 
 St. Lawrence, the subdivisions, as worked out by Logan and Jtichardson 
 and more recently by Klls, with the aid of Whitea\'»'H in regard to the 
 Trilobites, Bi-achiopods, etc., and of Lapworth'^ and Ami in the grapto- 
 litic fauna, may be stated as follows in ascending order : ' 
 
 1. The Sillery Si'/'ies, seen at the Chaudi6re Eiver, near Quebec, and 
 also at Matane and Cape Rosier, as well as at Little Mdtis. Among its 
 characteristic fossils are the little brachiopod Obolella (Linnarssonia) 
 pretiosa, Billings, and Dldyoncma saciale. of Salter {D . flabellare of Eich- 
 wald), also species of Bryo(jraptiis and Clonoijraptus. The prevalent 
 rocks are grayish sandstones anil conglomerates with shales of red, gray 
 and black colours, and more rarely bands of limestone and dolomite. It 
 may be regarded as the base of the Quebec Group proper, and as the 
 equivalent of the Calciferous of more western districts and of the Tremadoc 
 of Wales, and perhaps as the highest member of the Cambrian system. 
 
 2. The Levis Series ; to which belong the shales, limestones and 
 conglomerates exposed at Levis, opposite the city of Quebec, and which 
 has been recognized as far east as Ste. Anne des Monts. Its most charac- 
 teristi • fossils are graptolites of the genera Phylhnjraptus, 'Tetnujraptus, 
 etc., most of which are described by Hall in his classical monograph on 
 this fauna ; while its Trilobites, etc., have been studied by Billings, and 
 catalogued by Ami, who separates the fossils found in boulders in the 
 conglomerate from those properly belonging to the formation.* This 
 series is in the horizon of the Upper Calciferous and Chazy, and may be 
 regarded as equivalent to the English Arenig and Skiddaw. 
 
 3. The Marsouin Series ; found at that place and at Griffin Cove, 
 White Hiver, and elsewhere, and heading graptolites of the genera Diplo- 
 graptus, Cmioyraptus, etc. It is apparently of Chazy-Trenton age and 
 equivalent to the English Bala. 
 
 4. Still higher beds holding Biployraptus pristis and other forms 
 characteristic of the Utica shale, and therefore newer than the Quebec 
 Group proper, occur west of Marsouin River, near Tartigo River and 
 elsewhere. At this period, owing to the subsidence of nor'.hern land, the 
 
 ' Appendix to Harrington's Life of Sir William Logan, p. ^XA et aeq. ; On the 
 Eozoic and Palflaozoic Rocks of Eastern Canada, .Tournal London Geol. Society, 1888 ; 
 The Quebec Group of Logan, Canadian Record of Science, 1890 ; Salient Points in the 
 Science of the Earth, 1894. 
 
 * Transactions Royal Society of Canada, 1886. 
 
 * For notices of previous work and recent discoveries, see Report by Ells, Geolo- 
 gical Surrey of Canada, 1887-88. 
 
 * Report Geol. Survey of Canada, 1887-88. 
 
 Sec. IV., 1896. 6. 
 
94 
 
 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
 
 i^uelu'c (Iroup torKlitions of cold wutrr Jind imuldy de|)<);?its ovcrs]>i'oad 
 the whole intorior of the contiiieiit. thus ltk'iidin;f the oceanic and plateau 
 oonditioiiH for a time, and forming the natural close of the Quebec 
 (Jroup. because temporarily obliteratiii<; the geographical distinction on 
 uhich it is based. 
 
 III. — Little Mktis Bay. 
 
 The author of this paper has had occasion for many years to sjiend 
 i\ portion of the sumpier at one or other of the health-resorts on tie 
 Lower St. Lawrence, and has latterly ]»referred Little .Metis, as one of the 
 most |)leasant in its atmosphere and surroundings. He has there natur- 
 ally endeavoured to familiariice himself with the rocks and fossils acces- 
 sible in walks or short drives and boating excursions, and to devote some 
 time and labour to any locality which seemed unusuall}' jiromising. 
 
 At Little Metis, and indeed along the whole coast between the city of 
 Quebec and Cape Rosier, a stretch of about 350 miles, the shore on the 
 whole follows the strike of the great mass of sandstones, shales and 
 conglomerates of the Quebec Group and which are everywhere thrown 
 into sharp anticlinal and s^-nclinal folds, and often repeated by longi- 
 tudinal faults, while they are also much disturbed by transverse faidts 
 and flexures. 
 
 These older rocks are covered in places with the sands and clays of 
 the Pleistocene period, locally containing marine shells, and accompanied 
 with vast numbers of gneiss boulders from the Laurentian Mountains of 
 the north shore, here about forty miles distant, and with occasional, but 
 often very large, blocks of Silurian limestone from the hills to the south- 
 ward. Though masked on the lower grounds by these superficial dejxtsits. 
 the older rocks appear everywhere in the hilh- ridges and in the coast 
 cliffs and reefs. 
 
 Little Metis Bay faces the northeast, and its outer boundar}' consists 
 of a strong gray sandstone forming the Lighthouse Point and extending 
 to the eastward in a long and dangerous reef, which it is hoped may. at 
 some future period, form the basis of a harbour of refuge for shi|)ping. 
 Immediately to the southwest of the point, the shore recedes rapi Ih" (see 
 map"), the sea having cut back along the outcro])s of dark shaly bands 
 which overlie the standstone, the whole di])])ing to the southward. These 
 occupy the northern division of the bay, about half a mile in width. 
 South of this a second reef of sandstone divides the bay, rising into a high 
 bluff, known as Mount Misery. This is divided hyy a shallow cove, and at 
 its southern extremity there projects i low |)oint of sandstone and con- 
 glomei'ate, which seem to extend eastward on a little outlying island 
 and a submerged bank, on which the sea breaks at very low tides, anil 
 which connects it with another and highe • islet about two miles distant, 
 called the Boule Rock. This consists of sandstone and conglomerate 
 
[daw£jon] fossil sponges AND OTHER ORGANIC REMAINS 
 
 98 
 
 (lippinfjf southward at a hi^h an^le. South of the point above mentioned, 
 the shore a^ain honds rapidly westward alon<>; a belt of dark shaly beds, 
 and forms the southern and narrower division of the bay. almost dry at 
 low tide, and into the southwest corner of which the Little Metis River 
 flows. From this southwest anjrle of the bay another bed of very hard 
 sand6.1one eap])ed by conglomerate extends along the coast to the north- 
 eastward, and after a break reappears beyond Tun-itf's Hotel, in the 
 clitt'of the Crow's Nest, from which at a lower level it continues for some 
 distance towaril Sandy Bay. 
 
 sf4. 
 
 ,.»■» 
 
 RIVER STLAWRt^l^^ 
 
 SaneA/one &Oanotor,.9rale 
 Shale 
 
 P"^ 
 
 Sketch-map of Little Metis Bay and vicinity, siiowing locality of Fossil Sponges. (Scale about two 
 inches to a mile.) Geographical line.s from a map by Dr. Ells. 
 
 Sectional view on the beach north of the church, represented in the sketch-map. 
 
 (Length about 5.50 feet.) 
 {A) Conglomerate. (B) Sandstona or quiirtzite. (C) Olive arenaceous shale. 
 (i» Black shales, with some olive bands and thin layers of hard, arenaceous dolo- 
 mite ; remains of sponges in a few layers. (E) Muddy shore : indications in places 
 of soft, dark shale. (F) Hard, gray and olive shales, with bands of dolomite and 
 sandstone. (6r) Pleistocene sand and boulder clay. 
 
 The whole of these beds have southerly and southwest dips, though 
 in places they become vertical and contorted. These disturbances, how- 
 
 \ 
 
96 
 
 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
 
 ever, 80 far as can be ascertained, are local, and do not affect the general ar- 
 rangement, ;>xoe])t in so far as slips parallel to the strike may repeat the beds. 
 
 The layers holding fossil sponges, to be described in the sequel, are 
 Been in low reefs or ledges of black and olive shale, extending along the 
 Bouth side of the bay from near the mouth of Little Metis Jiiver for about 
 a furlong to the eastward, and are quite regular and undisturbed, though 
 inclined at an angle of about 50°. The sandstone and conglomerate im- 
 mediately overlying confornuibly this band of shales is capped with 
 boulder-clay and sand, and forms the rising ground on which stands the 
 Wesleyan church, indicated on the map. The section given on p. 95 shows 
 the attitude and nslation of these beds, and is drawn from the church to 
 the northwestward. 
 
 Before proceeding to describe the eponge-beds and their fossils, it 
 may be well to notice the overlying sandstone and conglomerate, and 
 similar beds in the vicinity, with the fossils they contain, and the rela- 
 tions of these to other beds on the Lower St. Lawrence. 
 
 The upper sandstone {li in the section) is so hard that it might be 
 regarded as a quartzite, differing in this respect from some of the other 
 beds in the vicinity, as, for instance, those of Mount Misery and the 
 Lighthouse Point. It dips S. 20° W. magnetic, at an angle of about 50°, 
 and is about sixty feet in thickness, though apparently thinning to the 
 eastward. Its lower side is i-emarkably flat and even, and has been 
 
 undercut by the sea. 
 
 owing 
 
 to the softness of the shale below. On 
 
 its strata planes are many fantastic, radiating forms indented on the 
 weathered surfaces, and akin to those which in the Cambrian quartzites 
 of Nova Scotia I have named AstropoUthon} No other fossils have been 
 observed in it. In tracing this bed to the eastward, it is seen to be over- 
 laid by, and to pass into, a very coarse conglomerate, with an arenaceous 
 paste and partly angular or rounded boulders, some of them more than 
 two feet in diameter. Some are of a light gray limestone, others are 
 quartzite, sandstone and indurated slate. Some of the limestone boulders 
 hold fossils, and from one of these I obtained the following form;:, kindly 
 identified for me by Mr. Matthew : 
 
 Pleurotomaria 'i 
 
 Iphidea bella, Billings. 
 
 Hyolithea (species). 
 
 Branching organism (possibly a sponge). 
 
 Fragments of various small Trilobites. 
 
 Olenellus Thompaoni, Emmons. 
 Ptychoparia Metisaica, Wakott.'^ 
 P. (species). 
 Protypua aenectua. 
 Solenopleura (species). 
 Stenotheca rugoaa, Walcott. 
 
 These fossils are all, so far as determinable, of Lower Cambrian age, 
 and must have been derived from limestones already undergoing waste 
 
 ' Acadian Geology, Supplement, 1878, p. 82. 
 
 '•* First found some years ago in a similar boulder from the Boule Rock. Along 
 with it was found a small sponge, Trachyum vetiiatum, described and figured by 
 Walcott in his memoir on the Lower Cambrian. 
 
[DAWSON] FOSSIL SPONGES AND OTIIEll ORGANIC REMAINS 
 
 97 
 
 lit the time of tho Quebec Group. Thus, thouirh the coni^lomemte over- 
 lies and irt newer than tho shales holdinj^ sponi^es, the limestone boulders 
 contuincd in it an; of muoh greater atfo. It has loiii^ been well known 
 that similar ai»])oarances oc(^ur in nearly all the limestone confflomerates 
 of the Quebec (rrouj), and at tirst they led to serious difticulties as to tho 
 age of the fornuition. Sometimes they are very deceptive. I have seen 
 in tho conglomerate at St. Simon a slab of limestone, eight feet in length, 
 which might readily, in a limited exposure, 1)0 mistaken for a bed in 
 place, but which is really a Lower Cambrian boulder containing numer- 
 ous fragments of OlenoUus and other ancient Trilobites, and several 
 species of IFvolithes. 
 
 These g. ,t and irregular beds of conglomerate would appear to indi- 
 cate ice-action in the Lower Paheozoic sea, and it would seem \hat the 
 boulders must have been denuded from reefs of older Cambrian rocks 
 now mostly covered up or removed by denudation, while, unlike tho 
 condition of things at tho time of the Pleistocene drift, no Laurentian 
 material seems to have been accessible. 
 
 Up to 1887 the beds in Little Metis Bay had been very unproductive 
 of fossils. They had atlbrded to the late Mr. Eichardson the little Lin- 
 narssonid pretiom, and I had found in the sandstones of Mount Misery 
 and the Lighthouse Point a few fragments of a /{etiolitcs, apparently 
 R. cnsifonnis of Hall, and in the shales near the Lighthouse Point abun- 
 dance of worm trails, some of the typo of that described by the Swedish 
 geologists as Arenicolites spiralis. In so far as these fossils afforded 
 information, they tended to refer the whole series to the lower part of 
 the Quebec Group, and, as it seemed to be an ascending one to the south- 
 west, the impression conveyed to me was that the black shales near the 
 upper part might belong to the base of the Levis series. As already 
 stated, however, the new facts ascertained respecting the position and 
 fossils of the Sillery series now tend to the conclusion that the whole 
 belongs to this lower member. 
 
 For detailed sections of the productive sponge-beds I may refer to 
 my paper of 1889, merely remarking here that in a band of shale, with a 
 few thin layers of dolomite, the whole more than 100 feet in thickness? 
 onlj' three or four layers, each from one to three inches in thickness, 
 have been productive of fossils. 
 
 IV. — General Kemarks on the Fossil Sponges. 
 
 The discovery of fossil sponges at Little Metis Bay was made by 
 Dr. B. J. Harrington, F.G.S., in 1887, in examining loose pieces of black 
 shale washed up on the beach. On searching for these shales in sifu, 
 they were found in low reefs on the shore at about half-tide level, and 
 diligent search disclosed the fact that in a few thin bands of shale sponge 
 remains were abundant, though from the extreme delicacy of their spicu- 
 
98 
 
 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
 
 lar skeletons they wei'c not easily recoi^nizeil, except in a brii^ht li<:;lit 
 and on the moistened surlaces of the shale. In that and subsequent years 
 I undertook detailed collec'tin<>: in these beds. The thin productive lay- 
 ers heiuif inclosed in ledges of compact shale, much material had to be 
 quarried awaj' in order to obtain access to them, and the work could be 
 carried on only at low tide. The best method of proceeding was found to 
 be to trace the fossiliferous layers along the ledges, and having quarried 
 out as ge slabs as possible, to convey these to where they could be 
 split up and examined at leisure. By pursuing this method sufficient 
 quantities ol' material conld be obtained to enable satisfactory compari- 
 sons to be made. The method, in short, was the same which 1 have pur- 
 sued in collecting delicate fossil plants and the smaller animal remains 
 from the Devonian and Coal formation, and which has enabled .so many 
 species of delicate vegetable organisms from Gasp^ and Nova Scotia to 
 be restoi'cd in their external forms. 
 
 The facts observed up to 18.S0 were detailed in the ]»aper of that 
 date, in pre[)aring which I was indebted to Dr. (i. .1. Jlinde, F.R.S., the 
 author of the British Museum Catalogue of fossil sponges, ana of so many 
 valuable ])apers on these organisms, for most imi)ortant information as to 
 the structure and ))robable affinities of the s[)ecies. In addition to the 
 notes of Dr. Hinde given in the previous jiaper. I am indebted to him fo.- 
 further important suggestions contained in these i>ages, and for the 
 description of an additional .species. 
 
 Since 1889 excavations havo been continued from time to time, with 
 the view r.ore partAularly of discovering new species and of obtaining 
 more |)erfect examples of those previously known. In noticing the results 
 obtained, I shall tii-st refer to certain points relating to mode of occurrence 
 which have been more definitely settled, and shall then present a catalogue 
 of the species, with short descriptions and figures. 
 
 In regard to the figures. I ma\' explain that those in the text are of 
 two kinds: (1) Camera tracings, slightly enlarged, of the picules, as 
 seen under the microscope; (2) Restoraticms, mostly based on combining 
 several more or less comjtleto specimens. Those in the plates are produced 
 from enlarged photographs taken usually from moistened surfaces under 
 a bright light. The.se were printed and carefully retouched to render 
 them more distinct, then ivproduced in negatives of or near to the natural 
 size, and copied from these for printing. Those which were sufficiently 
 distinct for this, were reproduced without being touched. 
 
 In the former ])aper, of 1SH9, Dr. Hinde ably discussed at some 
 length the state of preservation of the s})ecimens. He remarks that the 
 skeletons of the greater number of the species were ma''e up of delicate 
 spicules, often cruciform, and arranged in such a manner as to form a 
 thin lattice-like framework inclo.sing a hollow s)tace or sack, and siipjjort- 
 ing the soft animal membranes. In the meshes of this framework, and 
 
 
[DAWSON] FOSSIL SPONGES AND OTHER ORGANIC REMAINS 
 
 99 
 
 sometimes forming an external dermal coatinu;, were minute spicules and 
 delicate ))rotective spines. The spicules, originally composed of amor- 
 ))hous 01- colloidal silica, are now for the most part entirely replaced by 
 pyrite, and not infreciuently they arc also encrusted with a delicate 
 coating of minute crystals of the same mineral, so as greatly to incieaso 
 their ap])arent magnitude, though in most cases it is possible under the 
 lens to distinguish the original spicule from its coating. The sponge thus 
 ajjpcai-s as a delicate bronze-coloured framework or mass of spicules on 
 the surfaces of the shale. In a few instances the spicules have retained 
 their primitive siliceous material, and more rarely tiie nniterial of the 
 spicules has l)ecn entirely removed, leaving their imjyressicms merely on 
 the matrix. It sometimes hap])ens, especially in the case of species with 
 somewhat dense 8picu;nr walls, that the meshes included in the spicular 
 framework are tilled in with pyrite, so as to show merely the general 
 form and faint indications of the spicular structure. 
 
 Originally rooted in the soft ooze of the sea bottom, the specimens 
 seem sometimes to have been buried in xitu, so that when the shale is 
 s[)lit t''ey appear in transverse section or as round tlattened discs; but in 
 most cases they seem to have drifted from their anchorage, either with 
 or without their anchoriiig-rods, and to have lieen flattened later- 
 ally. When entire, they sometimes ])i'esent, when the shale is split 
 ojien, a surface of dermal spines, masking the skeleton ])ropei\ In other 
 cases the dermal s])ii\e8 come away with the matrix, leaving the skeleton 
 spicules exposed. Thus the same species may presen* very difll'erent 
 appearances under difl'erent circumstancos. In most cases the body of 
 the sponge has been more or less disinttgrated or reduced to ])atches of 
 loose spicules, and some large surfaces ai'e covered with a confused coat- 
 ing of spicules and anchoring-rods belonging to several species. In some 
 cases also the loose spicules, or fragments of them, seem to have been 
 gathered in little oval or cylindrical piles and inclosed in pyrite. At 
 first I was disposed to regard these as coprolitic ; but Dr. Ilinde doubts 
 this, and i-egards them as merely loose spicules drifted together into 
 hollows or worm-burrows. 
 
 All these differences of preservation and ex|)osure ])resent consider- 
 able difficulties in discriminating the species; and these are scmietimes 
 increased by the associatitm of 8])ecimens of different ages. It thus 
 requires experience and abundant material to obtain definite I'esults. 
 Nevertheless Dr. Ilinde, who has had very extensive acquaintance with 
 fossil sponges in various conditions of preservation, makes the following 
 remarks in reference to the specimens submitted to him : 
 
 •'The Metis specimens are specially interesting, since they throw 
 much fiesh light on the character of the earliest known forms of these 
 organisms, and their discovery is the more op])ort»nie from the fact that 
 our knowledge of the existing hexactinellid sponges — the group to which 
 
100 
 
 ROYAL siUCIETY OF CANADA 
 
 all. or nearly all. tlu'so fossils l)eloni>; — ims i urn vastly increased bj- the 
 Avork of Prof. F. E. Seliul7,i'. of Berlin, on the hexaetinelled sponifes 
 (lre(l<i;e(l up hy tlie Challeni>er P^xpedltion, and thus we are now better 
 enabled than idfherto to compare the fossil and the i-ecent forms.' 
 
 Tlie conditions (»f accumulation of the Metis shales seem to have 
 been very favourable to the ])vritization of orijanic remains. The sliells 
 of Linnarssonia. small frai;-ments of Trilobitesand frondsof Alga', seem, all 
 alike, to have been amenable to this change, and cylinders and spirals of 
 solid crvHtalline pyrite occupy the burrows of worms, while nodules of 
 the mineral destitute of any organic form also occur. On the other hand, 
 in some layers containing fossils, there is no trace of ]ivrite. but in these 
 it is very ditticult to see the spicules, owing to their similarity in colour 
 and lustre to the sla*e. 
 
 V. — NOTUKS OK THE SEVERAL SPECIES. 
 
 The arrangement of Palaeozoic fossil s|)onges is still to some extent 
 provisional. That adojited below is the (me most current at present, and 
 necessarih' depends entirely on the material and structure of the skeleton. 
 
 Viewed in this way, the whole of our Metis sponges, if we except a 
 few uncertain forms to be mentioned in the secjuel, belong to the order 
 Silicca, including those which form their skeleton of siliceous needles or 
 spicules. Under this are sponges with simjilc spicules (Monactinellids), 
 and these seen', to be the oldest of all, since the needles found in the 
 Ilunmian cherts and those recognized by Mr. Matthew in the Laurcntian 
 a])])ear to be mostly of this type. Others (Hexactinellids) present cruci- 
 form spicules, or spicules with six rays, ])laced at right angles to each 
 other. The.so are arranged so that tlie i-ays ar<' joined by their points, 
 forming very com]tlex and beautiful frameworks, the variety of which 
 is inci-eased by the fact that the ditterent i-ars may be unequally de- 
 veloped, or some of them may be abortive, giving forms available for 
 a great nmny beautiful constructive uses. We shall tind that the com- 
 plexity and diversity attainable by spiculai- forms, all based upon one 
 general law, but admitting of countless ditferences and moditications, had 
 already nearly i-eadiecl its nuiximum in a very early geological period. 
 
 The Hexactinellids may again bo divi<led into two groups, acioi'ding 
 to the united or loose condition of ihe spicules. When these are tirmly 
 cemented together by siliceous matter, we have the group Dicfyonma, 
 and when they are united merely by animal matter, and consequently 
 fall asunder on decay, they belong to the gi-oup /jjjssdkina. Under these 
 we have families, genera and species. 
 
 The following list is u revision, with important additions, of that 
 given in 1889. 
 
[DAWSON] FOSSIL SPONGES AND OTHER ORGANIC REMAINS 
 
 101 
 
 Order SILICEA. 
 
 Suborder Hexactinellida. 
 
 Gnnip Lyssakina. 
 
 Family Protospongid.e. Hin(k>. 
 
 Genus PROTOSPONGIA, Salter. 
 
 This genus was established by the hite Mr. Salter fi*om some remains 
 of lattice-like spicular bodies found in the Middle Cambrian of Wales, and 
 which, thougli fragmentary and obscure, that eminent naturalist was 
 able to refer to the group of Siliceous sponges. The genus includes several 
 of the Metis species, which have enabled us to complete the characters of 
 Salter's genus. 
 
 1. — Protosponoia tetranema. Dawson.' 
 
 (Figs. 1 to 5. PI. I., Figs. 1 and 4.) 
 
 + ¥4- 
 
 Fni. 1. — Pro(ospongia tetranema. 
 A small specimen restored. 
 
 Fi(i 
 
 'L—Protospongia tetranema. Anchor- 
 ing-spicules slightly enlarged. 
 
 In the specimens in which the outline of the sponge has been pre- 
 served, the body appears to have been roun<led or broadly oval. There 
 was an aperture or osculum at the summit, though it can be distin- 
 guished only in a few specimens. The wall of the sponge appears to have 
 consisted— as in the other species of this genus— of a single layer of 
 cruciform spicules of various dimensions, disposed so as to form a frame- 
 work of quadrate or oblong interspaces. The rays of the larger spicules 
 constitute the boundaries of the larger squares; but owing to decay 
 
 1 The characters of this and several of the following species were given in " Notes 
 on Specimens in the Peter Kedpath Museum," and in the Transactions of the Royal 
 Society, 1880. 
 
102 
 
 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
 
 and fliittoniiin tlu' spicuk'S are usually nnich displaced. Within thewc, 
 st'rondarv and smaller S((uares are marked out l»y smaller spicules, 
 Judi^ini^ Ity the loiiifth of the rays of the la rger spicules, the larger squares 
 would he ahout 4 mm. m diameter, whilst the smallest do not exceed 
 
 Fn;. '.i.—Protospotij/ia tetranrma. Priiniiry, secondary and 
 tertiary cruciform spicules, x 5. 
 
 1 mm. The rays of the individual spicules seem to have heen united 
 merely hy the animal matter, and not by a silicious cement. The osculum 
 is protected hy defensive spines (Fig. 4). and in young specimens these 
 are often very numerous. The rays of the larger spicules are conical, 
 gradually tapering from the central node to the pointed extremity ; 
 whilst the rays of the smaller spicules appear to he nearly- cylindrical. 
 
 From the base of the sponge, four slender, elongated, filiform rods 
 pi'oject. They are api)ro.\imately cylindrical, pointed at both ends, very 
 slender, and from 50 to TO mm. in length. Their proximal ends are 
 inserted apparently in the basal part only of the .sponge. In perfect 
 s])ecimens they are seen to approach and cross each other in the middle, 
 and then to diverge, finally again approaching and forming a loop with 
 a minute central point. So many examples of this structure have now 
 
 
 sf 
 
 '%^t^4# 
 
 Fig. A.—Protosponffia tctrancma. Osculum enlarged . 
 
 and surrounded l)y minute spicules. Fm. o.— Anchoring-rods. 
 
 been found that there can bo no doulit as to its true mitui-e, though in a 
 few instances the loop has broken asunder, leaving the rods free. Kven 
 in this case, however, the}' show their curveil emls (Fig. 5). 
 
I 
 
 [DAWSON] FOSSIL SPONGES AND OTHER ORGANIC REMAINS 
 
 103 
 
 This is one of the most abuiKhint species at Little Metis. Thore can 
 he no hesitation in phicing it in the i^enus Protospomjia, since tlie same 
 avvangenient of the spicular mesh-work is present in it as in the type of 
 this ifenus. In the earlier examples of the i^eiius, however, the presence 
 of anchoriniii-spicules was not recognized, owing, no doubt, to their imper- 
 fect state of preservation, and this feature nniy now he i-eckonetl as one 
 of the generic characters. In the present species, however, these anclior- 
 ingspicules were very peculiar, and seem to l)e rays of a cruciform 
 spicule, which were bent upward and lengthened, forming a stalk for 
 the sponge. This would give a firm attachment, and adapt itself to the 
 gradual risi' of the bottom to which the sponge was attached. The 
 mechanical pi'ojtertics of such an arrangement of spicula are obviously 
 well suited to ett'ect their purpose. 
 
 Some further remarks on the /yssakiiw character of Frotospomjia 
 will he found in the paper of 1889, and the moi'e recent collections also 
 show that the skeleton spicules, at fii-st small in the young specimens, 
 grew in length, by additions to the ends of the rays as the body increased 
 in size. 
 
 2, — Protospongia mononema, Dawson. 
 
 (Figs. 6, 7 and 8. PI. I.. Figs. 2 and 3.) 
 
 Fig. Q.— Protospongia Fio. l.—Protonjmnqin monovema. Cruciform and 
 
 mononema. Restored. protective Hpiciile.s, x 5. 
 
 General size about one inch in diameter, originally globular but now 
 flattened. Body spicules cruciform and more slender than those of 
 
m» 
 
 104 
 
 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
 
 P. tcfrtinema. Superficial or del'onsive spicules very numerous and some- 
 what long and slender, so as to give a liirsute appearance, and in flat- 
 tened specimens often to obscure the body sjiicules. Eoot, single, stout, 
 often three inches lonj,;, witli two to four short, spreading branches at 
 base. These terminal spicules are flattened at the extremities. The 
 
 Fig. 8. -Pi'otosponffia mononema. Primary, secondary 
 and tertiary spicules, x n. 
 
 anchoring-rod in tliis species is often increased in thickness by a crust or 
 frosting of pyrite, and this would seem to indicate that it had, like tlie 
 modern Hyalonema, animal matter as well as silica in its composition, or 
 that foreign organic bodies attached themselves to it. 
 
 Nearly as abundant as the preceding form, wliich it differs from in 
 the character of the anchoring-rod. each of which may be regarded as a 
 single elongated anchor-shaped spicule, with five rays. The skeleton 
 Bpicules ai-e also more slender and delicate, and their rays longer, and 
 there is a greater development of protective dermal spines. The osculum 
 is narrow and with many long defensive needles. (Plate I., Fig. 3) 
 
 3. — Protosi'ongia polynema, Dawson. 
 (P^igs. !» and 10.) 
 
 Fig. 9. — Protonponqia polynema. Portion 
 of base of large specimen. 
 
 A large sponge in great shapeless flattened patches, boveral inches in 
 diameter, though there are smaller individuals also. Body spicules fine 
 and slender, making a very open mesh. At base numerous simple root 
 
[DAWsoNl FOSSIL SPONGES AND OTHER ORGANIC REMAINS 103 
 
 spicules, short, and. in some cases, expaiuied at llioir extremities. Youn^ 
 individuals seem to have been glolnilar and pi-oluihly se„.sile, while large 
 individuals had a flat base; but the general f'onu is greatly obscured by 
 crushing, especially in the larger specimens. 
 
 Fig. m.—Protospungia polynemai Primary, .secondary 
 and tertiary spicafes, x 5. 
 
 4. — rROTOSPONGIA DELICATULA, DaWSOn. 
 
 (Figs. 11 and 12.) 
 
 Globular or oblong in form, 1 to 4 cm. in diameter. Body spicules 
 cruciform, regular, forming a very dense mesh, about 1 mm. or less in the 
 o[)ening. Osculum probably wide. Defensive spicuies very short and 
 close. Several short anchoring-rods. Some indications of a double row 
 of spicules in the body-wall. The density of the spicular body-wall 
 causes it often to be encrusted and obscured by pyrites. 
 
 Fio. 11.— Protosponyia delicatula. {a) Re- 
 stored. (6) Portion of base enlarged. 
 
 Fig. 12.— Primary, secondary and 
 tertiary spicules, x 5. 
 
 Rauff, in his monogra])h on fossil sponges, identifies tliis with Wal- 
 cott's Ct/athophycus {Teijanium) subsphcericus of the Utica shale, but com- 
 parison with specimens kindly furnished by Dr. Walcott shows that there 
 
106 
 
 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
 
 18 no f^round for this except a i-eseiiililance in Lfoneral form. The strut- 
 tums, 80 far as known, are quite ditt'crent. 
 
 Note. — The two followini; species, haviutf tlie row.s of spiciiles diagon- 
 ally arrauired. as I remarked in de.seriltinjf them in 188'J. have l)een 
 placed hy Eautf in a new i^enus Diagonivlld. I douht the expediency of 
 this on the mere ground of divergence of the rows of rae.shes from 
 horizontality. But tlieiv are other peculiarities of these sjiecies. which 
 miglit fairly entitle them to constitute distinct sections of the i;-enus, 1 
 therefore, i»lace them hy themselves, noting these ditferences : 
 
 5. — Protosi'Oncua CORONATA. Uaw.son. 
 (Figs. 13, U and 15. PI. 11., Figs. 5 and G.) 
 
 Fi(i. \'A. — Pfotonpongm coro- 
 nafa. Restored. 
 
 Fi(i. H.—Protospongia coronata. Primary, second- 
 ary and protective spicules, x 5. 
 
 Body ovate. 2 cm. long, hut fragments indicate that it grew much 
 larger ; sjiicules coarae and four-rayed, so connected as to give tlie appear- 
 ance I)}' their t)hli(|uity of a diagonal netwoi-li of rhomliic openings. This 
 may possihly he the effect of flattening. Numerous small cruciform flesh 
 spicules, Eoot spicules strong, short or hroken off. 2 to 4. Osculum 
 
 Fig. 15. 
 
 -Protoaporiffia coronata. 
 internal cavity. 
 
 Showing 
 
 large, terminal, covered witli a conical hood made u]i of curved s]iicules 
 converging to a point, and 1 cm. in height, in the smaller specimens, in 
 which alone I have seen tliem, the larger sjieeimens heing usually imper- 
 fect. Short protective spicules visihle at the sides. 
 
 5 = 
 
[DAWSON] FOSSIL SPONGES AND OTHER ORGANIC REMAINS 
 ♦i. — Protohpdncha cyatiukobmis, I)aw.son. 
 (Figs. 15 and 16. PI. II., Figs. 7 and S.) 
 
 107 
 
 ¥\Q. \b.—Protoapongia cyaihi- Fig. IQ.—Protoapongin ci/nfhifoniiis. Primary, 
 formia. Restored. secondary and tertiary cruciform spicules, x 5. 
 
 General form inverted conical. Wlion mature aitout 3 cm. wide at 
 top and 5 em. long, without the anehoring-spicules, which arc sometimes 
 very long. Top truncate as it' with a wide osculum, with defensive 
 spicules on its margin. Primary spicules cruciform, with long rays, in 
 some 2 to 3 mm. in length, placed diagonally. l()Osely attached or free, 
 hut forming large rhorahic meshes ; secondary and tertiary spicules 
 numerous and delicate, with slender arms. Root spicules simple, some- 
 times very long, five or more visible in the most perfect specimens, and 
 passing uj) to the middle of the body. Indicati<tns of many interior 
 minute flesh spicules, often constituting a pyritized mass, obscuring tiie 
 meshes. 
 
 The oblique character of the transvei-se spicules deserves notice, but 
 this may be the result of compression, though I think it more likely tliat 
 it is an original feature. 
 
 This species is well characterized by its form, and by its multitudes 
 of very minute ci'uciform spicules. These and the fact of the sponge 
 being often represented l)y a dense, pyritous mass, indicate a thicker and 
 more fleshy body-wall than in some other species. 
 
108 
 
 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
 
 Genus HYAL0ST?:LIA, Ilinde. 
 
 7. — IIyalostki-ia Metissica, Dawson. 
 
 (Fi^t?. 17. IM. III., Fig. 10.) 
 
 Fio. ll.—Hyaloatdia Metissica. Spicules x 6. 
 
 General form broad, with a lai-ge osculum and a number of stout 
 anchoring-i'ods. Body-wall I'ornied of single long slender rods, woven into 
 a very loose mesh and supporting cruciform and other spicules of varied 
 form, attached only by the soft membranes, so that they are almost always 
 found loose and disarranged. Up to 1889 I had seen the species only in 
 this condition ; but was so fortunate in 1895 as to find a small specimen 
 retaining its form, which 1 have figured ir Plate III., Fig. 10. The spiral 
 anchoring-rods figured with this species in 1889 really belong to Palseo- 
 saceus, which at one time I was disposed to connect with Hyalostelia, but 
 am now convinced that they are altogether distinct, though Hyalostelia 
 may form a connecting link between the Protospongidro and the Dictyo- 
 spongidie, Us body-wall being formed not of cruciform spicules, but of 
 long slender and single rods woven together into square or rhombic 
 meshes. 
 
 As to the use of the generic name Hyalostelia for this species, I am, 
 by no means certain, since the sponges included previously in that genus 
 are very imperfectly known to me. 
 
[DAWSON] FOSSIL SPONGES AND OTHER ORGANIC REMAINS 
 
 109 
 
 Family DicTYOspoNOiDyK, Ilall. 
 
 Genus CYATIIOPIIYCUS, Wakolt. 
 
 8. — Cyathopiivcus Quebecense, Dawson. 
 
 (Figs. 18 and 19.) 
 
 Fig. l8.—Cyathophycus Quebecenne. Fio. 19.— Cyathophyetis Quebecense. 
 
 Restored. Base enlarged. 
 
 Form elongated conical, composed apparently of numerouB long, 
 vertical spicules, crossed l>y horizontal or annular hars, and with a few 
 cruciform spicules in the meshes. The vertical and transvei-se spicules 
 may be ci'uciform spicule^j arranged vertically. The form terminates 
 downward in a blunt point, with indications of a few short anchoring- . 
 spicules. This species closely resembles Ci/nthophynis reticulafum of 
 Walcott from the Utica shale, but ditlers in detail, especially in (he sim- 
 plicity of the vertical rods and development of the transverse or circular 
 bai"s. The largest specimens are 8 cm. long l»y 3 wide at top. There are 
 signs of minute lateral defensive spicules. The general form and struc- 
 ture resemble those of the modern sponges of the genus Ifolnsrus. 
 
 I changed the generic name to Ci/dtliospoiK/id in my paper of 188!), 
 as the termination 8eeme<l incon^ict; but this name seems to have been 
 preoccupied by Prof. Hall. I therefore leave it in the original form 
 until amended by the author. 
 
 The si)onge8 of the genus <'i/othophyrus are not abundant in t!ie 
 
 Sec. IV., 1896. 7. 
 
no 
 
 UOYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
 
 beds cxploi-cd at Metis, and iiKtst of them have Ik-cii luudi lii'dken ii|». 
 Only one speciinon was obtained in a toicniMe state of completeneHs. 
 
 For further rernai'ks on the strueture and affinili«'s of this sponge liv 
 Dr. llitide, see tlie paper of 1S81>. 
 
 (Jenub ACANTHODICTYA. Himlr. 
 
 Kponj^es approximately siiheylindrieal in forni.jeoiisiHtinsj: of a skeletal 
 mesh-work of loni^itudinal and transveiNe spieular strands or fibres. The 
 lon<;iludinal strands are composed of somewhat loosely ari'anncfl fascieles 
 of elongated overlappinff s])ieules. and I la; sj»i(ules (d' the slender trans- 
 voi"so fibres are as a rule disposed in a siuifle series. From the outer 
 surfaee of the sponge, numerous spicular rays ])rojoet outwards at I'iii'hl 
 an«;les. The spony-e a]»pears to have been anchored by a basal prolony- 
 ation of the longitudinal strands. Owin^ to the present c^)mpressed 
 ecmdition of the s]>e(imens it is dittieult to determine the original form 
 of the constituent spicules. Some of the elon<;ated Icmgitudinal spicules 
 may be merely simj)le i-oddike forms, others are clearly cruciform and 
 their transveree rays form the cro.ssfibres. The spicuiai- rays of the 
 ])rojectinfr bristles of the surface may be the free distal rays of normal 
 hexaetinellid spicules, but only these projecting rays can now be clparly 
 distinguished ; the (jthers are merged in the longitudinal fascicles. 
 
 The general structure of the skeleton resembles that of Cijathophyous. 
 Waleott, but it is characterized by the })resence of the projecting surface 
 rays. The mesh is also of a looser character than in Cyathophycus and 
 its arrangement in quadrate areas is only faintly i-ecognisable. 
 
 !». — AcANTHOniCTYA HISl'IDA, HiluJc. 
 
 (Figs. 20 and 21. PI. III., Fig. 11.) 
 
 21.—Acanthodictyn /u'sjatrffr.— Portions enlarged x 
 showing frninework and cruciform and 
 protective spicules. 
 
 o, 
 
 Fig. ^.—Acanthodictya 
 hispida. Restored. 
 
[DAWSON] FOSSIL STONGES AND OTHER ORGANIC REMAINS 
 
 111 
 
 The ('X!imi»lc's of lliis H|»ucit'8 wore pi-oluildy m-arlv i-yliiidrifiil tulios 
 from :{(» to fjM mm. in loriiflli, iinil alioul 12 mm. in width. Tlu' longi- 
 tudinal fascicles a !•(• alxtut 1 mm. iipart and tlu' transvcrsi' tiln-os from 1 
 to 2 mm, distant from <'a(di otlior. Tin- projectin<;- spiculai- rays (d' the 
 surfaci'H are only seen in these t'ompre.st;'_,l jpon^^es at the lateral mari;ins 
 a.s a sort (d' frinife. The five rays are somewliat thickly set ; they vary 
 from 5 mm. to 3 mm. in lenifth ; the lon<j:er I'orms in some instances occur 
 at re^'ular intervals, proiuihly at the angles of the mesh, and hetwi'en 
 these are the shorter rays. The extrenuties of many t)f the larifer foi-ms 
 jivo slif^htly swollen or cluh-Hhaped. Itut it is uncertain whetlior this is 
 an oriu;inal featui'e or is due to an irreifidai- di'position of the pvrltos 
 whi(di has now in all cases replaced the silica. 
 
 This species appears as i-ihhand-liUe hands composcil of vertical and 
 parallel bundles of delicate spicules, with slender nansverse spicules 
 crosBin;j; them at intervals like the rounds of a lad<ler. It was |)rohal)ly 
 oi'i^inally cylindi'ical, hut the e.\t remit ii>s have not heeii seen, thouy;h 
 frannicn's nearly three inches in length have ]»cen found. One of its 
 most con.sj)ieuous eharactei-s is the possession of dense fringes of long 
 protective sjjicules at the sides, and these seem to he hased on a cortical 
 structure of crut(di-sha|)e(l or ci'uciform spicules, from which the defen- 
 sive spicules spri g. Scattered cruciform spicules of snudl size upoear 
 also in the middle of the i)an(ls. The fascicles of longitudinal spicules 
 ui-e sometimes loosely twisted in a spiral numner. Ilinde suggests that 
 in some of our sponges this appearance may he caused hy the accessory 
 threads, indicated hy Schulze as Comitalia} 
 
 Sponges of the ahove species are sometimes associated with the 
 larger masses of Protospongia in such manner as to suggest a parasitic 
 or commen.sal relation ; hut this may he accidental, and may arise from 
 the cortical s])icules of Aciint/iodicfi/it hecoming entangled with the sur- 
 face of neiglihouring sponges. In one specimen 1 have the anchoring- 
 rods of ProtdSpotK/id tctranniui. with a patch of pj'rite inclosing some 
 of the spicules at the top and apparently attached to this, and rising 
 from it a specimen of Acauthodictya. This siiecimen certainly appears 
 to suggest a commensal relation. Another specimen is attached laterally 
 to the side of a fragment of Protospontjia, and another is very long and 
 much curved. 
 
 It is possihle that some of the spirally twisted anchoring-rods men- 
 tioned helow may have helonged to this species, hut these have not V)een 
 seen attached, and there are only faint indications of simple or loosely 
 spiral roots. 
 
 The genus, no doulit, approaches to Cyathophycus, but is separated 
 by its cylindrical form, tlie fascicled character of its longitudii al rods, 
 and its cortical spicidar arrangements. 
 
 ' Challenger Report, vol. xxi., page 17. 
 
 
112 
 
 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
 
 riENUS PAL.EOSACCUS Hindc. 
 (London Geologicul Magazine, February. 1803.) 
 
 Cylintlrifal glolmlar or aac-like sponges, with thin walls of rhombic 
 moslR's. The strands of the mesh-work consist of fascicles of slender rods, 
 cruciform, and. perhaps, tivc-rayed spicules ; the interspaces are either 
 open or covered with a thin layer of irregularly di8i)osed rods and cruci- 
 foiT.i spicules. No anchoring spicules have been found in immediate 
 connection with the sponge, but there are with it on the same surfaces 
 elongated anchoring-spicules with ornamented spiral ridges which may 
 belong to it.' 
 
 From Ci/dthojjhi/cns, Walcott. which appears to be nearest allied, this 
 genus is distinguished by tho rhombic character and large size of the 
 mesh-work ; the generally similar .structure both of the longitudinal and 
 transverse strands of the mesh. an(i the greater development of rod-like 
 spicules. The same features likewise differentiate it from Pkctodenna^ 
 Hinde, and Phormoaella, Hinde, 
 
 10. — Pal^osaccus Dawsoni, Ilinde. 
 (Figs. 22 and 23. PI. III., Fig. 9, PI. IV.) 
 
 Fig. 22.— Spiral anchorinK-rods, 
 distal ends enlarged. 
 
 Fig. 23.— Portion of anchoring- 
 rods, enlarged 
 
 Sponge of large size, apparently cylindrical in its complete form ; 
 the part ])reserved consists of a flattened portion of the wall-surface more 
 than a foot in diameter ; both the upper and the basal poi'tions of the 
 sponge are wanting. The rhomliic meshes of the wall vary from 14 to 
 20 mm. in width, the average width is nearly 17 mm. The strands of 
 the inesb mostly consist of very slender rod-like threads apparently 
 simple, which are loosely an-anged. in strands of five or more, generally 
 jtai-allel with each other. At the angles of the mesh there are. very 
 frc(|uenlly. if not in all cases, stouter cruciform, or pcrlaips tive-rayed 
 
 ' namwc^ ancient ; namntr, coarse cloth, sack, strainer. 
 
[DAWSON] FOSSIL SPONGES AND OTHER ORGANIC REMAINS 
 
 113 
 
 
 spicules, and Hleiidor criUMlorm spicules are likewise intenninified witli the 
 rods in the strands. In the iulerstiees of the mesli-work. and ap])areiitly 
 exterior to it, there is, iu some portions of the sponge, a thin open layer, 
 conipo.sed of slender rods and erucifonu and other spicules, overlappin<^ 
 each other without definite arranifenient. It is ])rol)al)le that tiiis layer 
 formed the outer surface of tiie sponge, for the spicules are of the .same 
 character as those of the strands of the mesh. 
 
 The manner in which the small spicules seem to have drifted to one 
 side, shows that they proliahly formed the cortical layer covering the 
 whole surface, but became disengaged on decay of the soft parts. 
 
 Some uncertainty arises respecting the anchoring appendages of 
 the sponge, sinee the basal portion is wanting, and no anchoring- 
 spicules are found in immediate ctmtact with the specimen, but on the 
 surface of the same rock-beds in which it occurs there are many pecu- 
 liarly ornamented spiral roils which may belong to this sj)ecie8. They 
 appear as if they consisted of several very minute filaments spirally 
 twisted together, like the strands of a rope. Each filament has a row of 
 projecting tubercles, which in the rod are definitely arranged in quin- 
 cunx, so that the general ornamentation is very striking. At the distal 
 end the rods are slightly curved, and the raised lines are more straight, 
 and assume more the aspect of distinct filu-es. As with the other spicu es, 
 these anchoring-rods are now of pyrites. 
 
 Later observatiims tend to connect these anchoring-rods almost cer- 
 tainly with the present species. The rods are found almost exclusively 
 on the same surfaces with this sponge. They do not appear to belong to 
 any other form in these beds. Fragments of the base of the sponge 
 show thai the strands of the framework have there an imperfect spiral 
 arrangement, though slender, and if several of them coalesced at the 
 base they would assume the form of the spii-al rods. 
 
 So far as can be at present determined this sponge appears to have 
 consisted simply of a delicate thin sack or cylinder of spicular strands 
 forming a rhombic mesh, with a thin outer spicular layer. There is no 
 evidence that the sack inclosed an inner spicular tissue, and probably 
 this thin wall repi'csents its entire skeleton. A similar condition seems 
 to have been present in Protosjwiujia, Cyathyphyrus, and probably also 
 in Dictyosponyia and the genera allied to it, but in none of these do we 
 find the structure on such a large scale as in the present form. 
 
114 
 
 KOYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
 
 Suborder ^foNACTiNELLrDA, or of (louhtf'ul affinity. 
 Genus J.ASIOTHRIX, Iliiide.' 
 
 Sponyos small, depressed oval in outline, the outer surface covered 
 by a layer of loniritudinally ari-anifod, apparently simple, aecratc spicules ; 
 beneath this is another layer of spicules disposed transversely. From 
 the hasc of the sponnv several simple elono-ated spicules extend. 
 
 The pecidiar ari'anu;ement of the surface s])icules in this form indi- 
 cates a probably nt'W i;enus, but in its present condition one cannot tell 
 with certainty whether it is monactinellid or hexactinellid. The outer 
 surface seems to have been invested with a sheathini;- of rcii-ularls ar- 
 ranu'ed acerate spicules, and beneath these other spicules, disposed trans- 
 versely, can be tlistin«fuished. but whether these are really acerate or 
 modified hexactinellid spicules there is no decisive cvideiu-e to show. 
 In one or two instances the s])icules appear to be crucifoi-m, and the 
 presence of the lonir, simple anchorinii;-siticules extendinii; from the base 
 of tlu' sponuje, ])recisely as in normal hexactinellids. is a further point in 
 favour of its belonii'inii' to this division. 
 
 11. — Lasiothkix cukvicostata, Jlindc. 
 
 (Fig. 24.) 
 
 The type form is t ransvei'sely oval. S mm. in height by 12 mm. in 
 width, the anchoring-spicules can be traced to a length of 15 mm. from 
 the body. The summit is rounded. There are some nodular elevations 
 of pyi'ites in tlu' body portion, but it is doubtful whether they represent 
 
 Fid. '24.~ LasiothrU' ciirricosfiitd. Natural 
 fsize and i)ortioii eiiJarKt'tl. 
 
 jiggregations of spicules oi- are merely due to the chemical deposition of 
 the mineral, in connection with the presence of organic niattei'. 
 
 This curious little sponge, of whi(di few sj)ecimens were found, is 
 remai'kable for the strong curved spicules which support its sidcis. giving 
 
 I British Fossil Sponges. Pal. Soc, 18.S8, PI. i., lig. a. 
 
[DAWSON] FOSSIL SPONCiES AND OTHER ORGANIC REMAINS 
 
 115 
 
 the appearaiite ot" a rounded haskct with strong vertical ribs and very 
 slendor horizontal bars, within whitli and at top were quantities of slender 
 straiii'lit spiculehi. 
 
 12. — Lasiothkix klabellata, s. n. 
 (Fig. 25.) 
 
 Fi<i. •2h.—L<tfiio(li ri.r jUihellata. Restored, 
 and .spieulo.s x 5. 
 
 I have some doubt as to the rin-ht of this species to be placed in Dr. 
 Ilinde's new genus; but the specimens much resemble the former species, 
 and may accompany it provisionally. The surtace appears to be covered 
 with small ovoid bundles of stout biacerate s])icules, diverging from the 
 centre and sometimes in fan-shaped tufts. Tlie specimens show indications 
 of an external meml)rane, and they had somewhat strong root spicules, 
 much larger than those of the body. It seems uncertain whether the fan- 
 shaped bundles are really such or flattened groups of radiating sj)icules 
 surrounding small oscula. In some specimens the spicules arc confusedly 
 scattered in tilms of pyritous matter with little indicati(m ot radiating 
 arrangement. Di-. llinde remarks as to this form that •' the spicules do 
 not stand out detinitely. as in the case of the hexactinellid sponge spicules, 
 but appeal- to be imbedded in some membrane. In two instances, aiudior- 
 ingspicules, like those of Trotospimgia, project from the base of the 
 mass. I do not know of any monactinellid sponge lurnished, as these 
 appear to have been, with long anchoring-spicules." 
 
 The sponges of this genus are very rare in the Metis collections, and 
 are obscure and ditticult to make out as to their details. 
 
116 
 
 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
 
 Genus nALlCHONDRlTKS. Dn. 
 
 13. — Ualichondritks confusus, DawsDii. 
 
 (Fig. 2(J.) 
 
 Fig. 26.—Halichondrifes confuatis. 
 Spicules enlarged. 
 
 Oval or irveo-uliiv masses of small simple spicules, imbedded in patches 
 of pyrite, and without any definite arnin<);ement of ivot spicules, may 
 indicate tlie presence of a halichondroid sjionge. In the best preserved 
 specimens the spicules appear to be biacerate and more slender and 
 pointed than in the last, and they seem to be in two series, inclined at a 
 very oblique angle to each other. In some specimens elongated spaces, 
 with well-defined margins, are covered with thin films of pyrites, which 
 may have i-esulted from tlie rei)lacement or incrustation of a mass of 
 minute spicules, of which traces remain in some places. 
 
 It is to be «)bservcd in this connection that sponges having originally 
 much keratose or other dense animal matter would naturally aggregate 
 in and around themselves a greater quantity of pyrite than those of a 
 more purely siliceous character. 
 
 Genus STEPHANELLA, Hinde. 
 Established by Dr. Hinde, London Geological Magazine, 1891, p. 22, 
 to contain some sponge remains discovered by Dr. Ami in the Utica shale 
 at Ottawa, and consisting ai)parently of groups of very fine radiating 
 spicules. *S'. sancta, Ilinde, is the type species. Dr. Hinde regards them 
 as basal spicules of a sponge to which other outer structures which have 
 perished may have been attached. 
 
 14. — StEPHANELLA HINDU, s. n. 
 
 (Figs. 27, 28 and 29.) 
 
 Fig. in.—Stephanella IlindU. Slightly eiiliirgcd. 
 
[DAWSON] FOSSIL SPONGES AND OTHER ORGANIC REMAINS 
 
 117 
 
 Many tViiifineiits t»l' this species have l)oen ibund from time to time, 
 bliowiiii;' ionjf stout taporiiii; anchorinjij-rods with masses of long slender 
 simple spicuk's near them ; hut in 18!t5 for the first time nearly perfect 
 specimens were ohscrvcd. They consist of discs somewhat lari^er than 
 tho!J« of S. satirt((. made up of fine straight spicules radiating from a intint 
 near one side and i-ather coai-ser tluin those of S. sancta, and showing 
 here and there a tendency to he aggregated more densely as if in hundles, 
 Itut this is not very marked. At and toward the circumference there are 
 occasionally a few very snndl cruciform spicules which, as they are not 
 confined to one specimen, I regard as prohahly the remains of an outer 
 or cortical layer. If they are accidental tliey must he the smaller spicules 
 of disintegrated Protospongia^ entangled in the spicular surface of Ste- 
 phanella. It seems more likely, however, that they are a i)art of its 
 structure, in which case it furnishes an example of a sponge with a dense 
 internal skeleton of radiating spicules. Fig. 27 represents a nearly 
 
 iSlk^' 
 
 Fi(». 2S.—StephaneUa Hindii. Fragment Fi(i. '29.—StephaneUa ? Anchoring- 
 with anchoring-rods. rods and part of the spicules, enlarged. 
 
 complete specimen, and Figs. 28 and 29 disintegrated fragments with the 
 anchoring-roots, whi(d\ in some specimens are longer and more tapering 
 than in others, though always very stout at the hase. 
 
 In Dr. Ami's specimens from Ottawa, a few stout anehoring-rods 
 and cruciform spicules are found in the same dahs with Stei^hanella, hut 
 none of them are seen to he attached. I think it not improhable, how- 
 over, that the former, at least, belong to Stephanella. 
 
118 
 
 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
 
 IN('P:ilTiE SEDIS. 
 
 15. NoN-8i'i('i;i,ATK si'ONUEs. — Pyritoiisspots of iiidctcriniiiiile form, 
 iiiicl showiiii; iiiulcr tlio Ions only an oliscnre <i,Tannhir and Hoctuleiit ap- 
 ]»earanc'o arr not infreciuont on the. surfaces of the Metis shales. In addition 
 to these, howevei'. tiiero are two types of these oltjeets of more detinite 
 sliape. either triaiiii'nlar with a (hirk space in the centro or oval. The 
 former seem to lio flattened liollow cones, the latter possihiy flattened 
 sacs. Someof the former show suiticieiit traces of spicules to connect them 
 with Protospo/K/id riiathiformix. while others may he entirely pyritized 
 individuals of P. (It'lhufuhi. In aihlition to these, however, there are 
 others which, under the lens and when moistened, show indications of 
 simple linear spicules, and more numerous examples which seem to be 
 composed of indeterminate and interlaced fihres remindincj one of the 
 tissue of a c()i-neo\is spono-e. None of them have any indications of 
 aiudiorini; rods. For the present I merely mention them as possihiy 
 indicatinj^ types of sponi>-es distinct from any of those ahove described. 
 
 lli. Spiculate sacs. — Imbeddcil in the debris of the larg-er specimens 
 of Hyalostelia, there are oval flattened patches made uj) of a dense mass 
 ot' very snudl and apparently sim])le spicules, but presenting mi a])erture 
 or anchorini>--rods. lliivinii- found them only in connection with Hyalo- 
 stelia, I at tirst inuii;;ined they might be -some form of ovarian body ; 
 but Dr. T'^'v\<le doubts this, and is inclined to regard them as distinct 
 organisu. One of them is represented in Fig. 30 of about the natural 
 
 .>f: 
 
 Fk;. 'M.—Spirul(ife sac, found 
 with tiyalostelin. 
 
 si/c. If distinct .sponges, there uuiy have been some commensal relation 
 iietwcon them and Hyalostelia. They are quite distinct from the little 
 masses of broken spicules referred to above in Section IV. 
 
 17. Minute Globular or Circular Bodies. 
 
 Surfaces of an inch or more in diameter are occjisionally sli])pled 
 with mimite pyritous spots ; when magnified these appear perfectly round 
 and of approximately uniform dimensions. The}' may either be inor- 
 
[DAWSON] FOSSIL SPONGES AND OTHER ORGANIC REMAINS 
 
 119 
 
 <;;imi(' discs oi' pyrite. or may ropi-esent flattened »)ru;anic bodies. In the 
 liitloi- rase, they may l)e ii;eiMns or ova. or s])()res, or portions of some 
 foniplox \'Oif«'tabie or animal ori^-anism Tlioy recall the little spherules 
 described by Matthew as occurrimr in the Cambrian of Xew Brunswick, 
 and named by him Monddifrs (//i)l)u/(iris. I have not been able, liowever, 
 to detect any indications of coiniectinii- rods or stalks like those figured 
 bv Matthew.' 
 
 Vr. OTHER ANIMAL EEMA1N8. 
 
 The most important of these are the little brachiopods referred to 
 above : 
 
 Obolella (Linnakssonia) pketiosa, Billinifs. 
 
 "b c 
 
 Fi(i. '.i\.—TAiinarssonia prei iosa, Billings, a, natural size of medium specimens, 
 
 6, ventral, c, dorsal valvf. 
 
 These are very alnmdant on tlie same surfaces which hold the sponges, 
 and are usually replaced by pyrite. though sometimes appearing as mere 
 casts. They often show their interior structures as represented in Fig. 
 31. They afford for the present the best evidence in relation to the geo- 
 logical age of the deposit, since the species is characteristic of the Sillerv,and 
 the genus is a Cambi-ian rather than Ordovician one in Europe. For this 
 reason I ([Uote here Dr. Hall's description, based on Metis specimens 
 submitted to him some years ago. I may add that Mr. Whiteaves. our 
 best Canadian authority, concurs in referring these shells to Billings's 
 species 0. pretinm : 
 
 ■• Shell smail.subcircularorelongate transversely. Valves subeqmdiy 
 convex, the ventral beak ei-ect. slightly projecting and perforated at its 
 apex. Externa) surface covered with fine concentric lines, faint radia- 
 ting .stria^ being visiiile on the interstitial lamelhe. Tiie interior of the 
 ventral valve bears a subtriangular or U-'^l'^'P^'l ridge, the branches of 
 which diverge anteriorly. The thickest portion of this ridge at the union 
 of the branches is penetrated by the foraminal lube. In front of the 
 foramen, and just within the cardinal line, on either side the axis of the 
 shell is a conspicuous tubercle or boss. In the dorsal valve is a median 
 ridge, extending half the length of the valve, and from this two short 
 lateral ridges diverge, taking their origin at one-third the length of the 
 median ridge from the posterior margin." 
 
 Transactions Royal Society, 1889. 
 
120 
 
 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
 
 ANNELIDS. 
 
 Trails and caKtiiii^s of woi-ms arc not infrequent in tlie shales holding 
 the sponges. Some surfaces are covered with what seem to he very minute 
 eylindrical smooth trails of worms, aii<l larger worm-like Ixxlies in pyrite 
 seem to represent casts of harrows or of the hodies of worms. Some of 
 these are a quarter of an inch in diameter and rudely annulated in an 
 irregular manner. There are also a few casts in pyrite of spiral forms 
 like the Aroiiccolitcs sj>inUit<. already mentioned. These hurrows and 
 trails are similar to those found in various places at and near Little Metis 
 in the heds of the Quehec Grouj). 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS FKAGMENTS. 
 
 Minute fragn>ents, possihiy referable to Trilohites, Cystideans and 
 (rraptolites, ai'O occasional!}- seen, though very rarely, and are quite 
 indeterminable. 
 
 AUiJE. 
 
 BUTHOTREPHIS PERORACtLIS, DaWSOU. 
 
 (Fig. 32.) 
 
 Fig. 'S2.—Bufhofrephis pergracilis. 
 
 I have nothing to add to the description of this species in the paper 
 of 1889, except that some ot the specimens appear to be connected below 
 with a network of slender filaments spread out on the shale, that some of 
 the specimens show indications of a structure of elongated cells or fibresi 
 and that at the extremities of some of the branches there are tufts of 
 rounded masses of granular pyritous matter ; but whether these are 
 
 \li 
 
[dawbon] fossil SPONdES AND OTHER ORGANIC REMAINS 
 
 121 
 
 roiriiiins of ortciviis <»t' tViictificiitioii or attached animal structures, or 
 merely inorganic ai^iircifations, 1 luive not been al)lc to determine. 
 
 ClIONDORITES MeTISSICUS. 8. n. 
 
 Flattened fronds, two to four millimetres broad and the largest eight 
 to ten centimetres long. They are riband-like and smooth, with even 
 edges and fork dichotomously at angles of 40° or more. They show 
 traces of carbonaceous matter but no structure. 
 
 In concluding this paper I think it proper to remark on the exuberance 
 of sponge life, both in abundance of individuals and of generic and specific 
 forms on a limited ai^ea of muddy sea-bottom of the lower Ordovician or 
 later Cambrian age, evidenced by the collections made at Little Metis, the 
 account of which in this paper is presented as merely the result of recre- 
 ative excursions in the summer vacation, in a field ditferont from that 
 in which the author is usually engaged. 
 
 In a formation usually little productive of fossils, and in muddy 
 depo.- ts, which must have been laid down in water at a low temperature 
 and in the intervals of conditions producing beds of a coarse mechanical 
 character, this abundance of delicate organisms is very unexpected and 
 surjirising. We have to observe also that if the sponges in question 
 were, like their modern allies, inhabitants of deep water, there must have 
 been considerable oscillations of'level at the time when they lived, as well 
 as much deposition of earthy mattei-s in circumstances unfavorable to 
 marine life, as evidenced in the great thicknesses of barren material inter- 
 vening between the sponge-bearing layers. 
 
 Dr. Hinde has already mentioned the close alliance of many of these 
 Palu'ozoic «])onges with their successors in later formations and in the 
 modern seas, evidencing the great permanence of the siliceous sponges 
 throughout geological time, and the fixation of the mechanical and vital 
 laws of their structure and growth at a very remote period. More 
 especially is this remarkable if we include with them the spicular forms 
 which have been recognized in the Laurentian, Hui'onian and Early 
 Cambrian rocks. The graptolites belonging to the oceanic waters of the 
 Cambrian and Ordovician have already indicated the paramount im- 
 portance of giving attention to the general oceanic fauna of these periods, 
 as well as to that of the continental plateaus, and it is possible that in 
 future the sponges may also ]»rove of more value than heretolore in 
 regard to questions of relative geological age. 
 
 The results of these observations at Little Metis, in connection with 
 the obscure and unobtrusive character of the fossils, also show how much 
 is in the power of local collectors, having time and opportunity to follow 
 up any discovery by excavation and continued collection. In this way 
 beds for the most part unfossiliferous and presenting few attractions to a 
 passing collector, may be made to yield unexpected scientific treasures. 
 
 •1 
 
[imwson] 
 
 FOSSIL SI'ON(JES 
 
 Tras.s. 18!MI. Skc. IV.— Pi atk I. 
 
 I'k;. I. 
 
 Fk;. 4. 
 
 Fig. X.—l'foliinpoiKjia fitriiiit'iiKi. 
 
 Fig. 2.— P. inononi'tnn. 
 
 Fig. 3.— Do Showing ()S('»/i'))(, partly broken away. 
 
 Fig. 4.— P. (etranenia. Seen in section with root. (Ail natural .size.) 
 
 123 
 
[DAWSON ] 
 
 FOSSIL SPON(iES Trass. 1896. Sec. IV.— Platb II- 
 
 Fk;. 5. 
 
 Fui. 0. 
 
 Fk;. 
 
 Fiu. «. 
 
 Fig. f). — Cru.shed specimen of Protosjjtini/iu corunntu, fiicnisliMl with pyrite. 
 (Natural size.) 
 
 Fig. 0.— ymiiiltT perfect specimen of tlie same. (Natural size.) 
 Fig. 7.-7'. cy((fliifurniis. (Nulural size.) 
 Fig. 8.— Tlie same. Youug specimen enlarged. 
 
 12B 
 
[dawsox] 
 
 FOSSIL SPONGES T.jans. ISlKJ. Sec IV.— Plate. III. 
 
 I'll:. 11. 
 
 Imc. il. 
 
 Fill. 10. 
 
 1" 
 
 h 
 
 l"'in'. !t. I'orl.ioii ()(■ /'ii/ii iifiiiiciis Diiirsiini. 
 
 Fi.u;. Id. Siiih with sniali spei'iiiu'ii of llynlosliiiit Mflissicii iit (u). /'nifos/iinKjid cjiatlii 
 f'untiis iii (Iji iiiul fraKiiii'iil nl ('jiiithiipliyvas a\. (c). 
 
 Fig. ll. — Actiut/iixlicti/d liisiiiiln. Frajimt'iit of small speciiuen. partly encrusted with pyrite. 
 Fig. 12.— Debris of Prutuspuiiyia. (All luituriil size.) 
 
 127 
 
 ^ 
 
fl^i 
 
[pawson] 
 
 FOSSIL SPONGES Trans. 18<JG. !jkc. IV.— Plate IV. 
 
 Fi(i. i:{. 
 Fig. 13. —Spiral anchoriug-rods of Ptduosaceuti, enlaiged. 
 
 ISO