J. W. DAWSON — FOSSIL SPONGES. 109 



Another paper by the same author: 



NOTES ON THE OCCURRENCE OF PETROLEUM IN GASPE, QUEBEC 



BY II. P. II. BEUMELL 



These two papers are printed as pages 225-244 of this volume. 



On account of the absence of the author the following paper was pre- 

 sented by title : 



SOME FEATURES OF THE PHOSPHATE-BEARING ROCKS OF OTTAWA COUNTY, 



PROVINCE OF QUEBEC % 



BY ELFRIC DREW IXGALL 



In the absence of the author the next paper was read by F. P. Adams: 



NOTE ON FOSSIL SCONCES FROM THE QUEBEC CROUP (LOWER CAMBRO- 

 SILURIAN) AT LITTLE METIS, CANADA 



BY J. WILLIAM DAWSON 



[Abstract] 



The object of this note was to introduce to the Society some specimens and a 

 photograph in illustration of a very remarkable and interesting discovery of 

 Lower Paleozoic sponges, made accidentally in 1887 by Dr B. G. Harrington, 

 F. G. S., and followed up by the writer. 



In two or three thin bands, in black shales belonging to a markedly unfruitful 

 portion of the Quebec group, there occur a number of fossil sponges perfectly 

 flattened and with their originally silicious skeletons replaced with pyrite. They 

 thus form very delicate tracery on the surfaces of the shale. By careful quarrying 

 in these beds there were discovered up to 1889 thirteen species, which were de- 

 scribed and figured by the author and Dr Hinde, of London, in the Transactions 

 of the Royal Society of Canada for that year. Six of these belong to the primi- 

 tive genus Protospongia of Salter, and of most of these we have the entire forms, 

 showing their oscula, protecting spicules and anchoring rods, details which were 

 previously unknown. One species belongs to the genus Cyathospongia of Walcott, 

 previously known in the Utica shale. Another, cylindrical and curiously hispid, 

 has been placed by Hinde in a new genus Acanthodktya. Another appeals to be- 

 long to genus Hyalostelia of the same author. Three others, which seem to have 

 simple and not hexactinellid spicules, have been placed in the genera Sasiothrix 

 and HalichondrUes. The thirteenth lias not yet been named, being imperfectly 

 preserve 1. 



Since 1889 the excavations have been continued, but until the present year with 

 the result only of finding additional specimens of the species already known. Last 

 summer, however, the author was so fortunate as to discover a very large and re- 

 markable form, of which a photograph was exhibited, the original slab, now in 



