114 The Ottawa Naturalist, [July 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



To the Acting-Editor of The Ottawa Naturalist : 



Having^ been asked by several members of the Ottawa Field- 

 Naturalists' Club why I did not reply to the bitter attack made 

 upon my " Synopsis of the Geology of Canada,"' published with 

 the sanction of the Editor, and without any opportunity on my 

 part of replying- thereto in the same May number of The Ottawa 

 Naturalist, I desire to state that whilst I did feel strongly in- 

 clined to reply to it in the same strain, and point out the errors 

 and mistakes it contains as well as the evident motives for the 

 words of the writer, who signs himselt " H. F." [who, by-the- 

 bye, from his initials, is evidently not even a member of the Club, 

 yet, was allowed to use our official organ as a medium] and at- 

 tacks one who, in the course of his geological researches in the 

 field and studies in the department has been compelled to state 

 what he believes to be the truth regarding the geological age of 

 certain strata in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick about which a 

 great deal has been written by a certain writer whose initials are 

 also "'H. F." and presumably refer to the same person. These 

 writings, as well as that of " R. W. E." in the January issue of 

 The Ottawa Naturalist for 1900, and an unsigned article in a 

 local journal, all bearing ow the same subject and evidently in- 

 spired from the same quarter, may be placed along with that 

 " very large mass of geological writing of the present time which 

 is utterly worthless for any of the higher purposes of science, 

 which might quite safely and profitably, both as regards time and 

 temper, be left unread." I do not wish to enter into any personal 

 controversy as that bitter attack would seem to lead. I merely 

 desire to point out facts and natural conclusions that we can draw 

 from them. I had much rather not had to write this letter in- 

 tended for the members of the Club, who are certainly entitled to 

 consideration in the matter. 



After over twenty years' experience in chronological geology 

 in Canada, I have brought out my "synopsis" in the interests of 

 geology in Canada and in accordance with the facts which I have 

 examined for myself during nearly two decades in the Geological 

 Survey Department — not with any preconceived notions or ideas 

 to bolster up, nor yet with any vain theories of mine to uphold. 



I do not hesitate to stand by the position I have taken in my 

 " Synopsis " as regards points in nomenclature. As regards nicety 

 of diction and literary skill, I do not claim any. 



Sincerely yours, 



(Sgd.) H. M. Aml 

 Ottawa, June '22nd, 1901. 



