CONFLICT OF STRATIGRAPHY AND PALEONTOLOGY. oli") 



what might be called representative, forms of those described from New- 

 foundland, and referred by both Sir Willam Logan and Mr. Billings to the 

 Quebec group. But from the fact that of so many of the forms referred to 

 the Quebec, the true horizon of which is doubtful, it seemed best not to con- 

 sider them as of stratigraphical value. 



A few of the species were also similar to forms from the Phillipsburgh sec- 

 tion, which Logan referred to the Quebec and Billings to the Calciferous. 

 After studying these fossils I concluded they were more nearly analogous to 

 those of the lower Trenton than to anything below that horizon, and after 

 examining the Fort Cassin section it appeared as if they could be but little 

 above the Maclurea beds of the Chazy, as the Calaurops layer, which is 

 fifteen feet below the Fort Cassin fossil layer, appears by the Fort Cassin 

 section to come just above the Maclurea beds of Apple-tree point, 63 rods 

 further north ; and no other explanation can be given of this without the 

 supposition of a fault occurring between these two points. 



Taken from a paleontological point of view, based upon the previously 

 known faunas exclusive of those referred to the rather troublesome Quebec 

 group horizon, it would appear impossible to place these beds at any horizon 

 other than that of the base of the Trenton group, namely, the Birdseye lime- 

 stone. But from evidences brought forward by President Brainard and 

 Professor Seely, as shown in their Ticonderoga and Shoreham sections, it 

 appears that they are undoubtedly below the Maclurea beds of the Chazy 

 limestone, and that a fault must exist where none was suspected. 



My object in calling attention to this matter at this time and in this way 

 is chiefly to make a correction of the reference of this group of fossils and to 

 have it placed on record as such. But whether the beds are to be called 

 Calciferous or not will depend entirely upon where the line between the 

 Calciferous and the overlying Chazy shall be draAvn. A visit with Professor 

 Seely, a year later, to Beekmantown, New York, on the opposite side of the 

 lake, a few miles north of Plattsburg, where the true Calciferous, well de- 

 veloped and abundantly characterized by its own fossils, the Ophileta com- 

 planata and accompanying gasteropods, failed to show anything of the Fort 

 Cassin fauna. 



