414 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. X. 



though rarely unite, and are sometimes not continuous when 

 seen in section ; this appearance being perhaps produced by 

 large openings or spaces. In each layer the ends of the opposing 

 spicules are sometimes in contact, sometimes separated by a space, 

 empty or filled with calcite. The intervals between the layers 

 are occupied by organic limestone, consisting of small shells and 

 fragments of shells and corals. As many as twelv^e or thirteen 

 layers are sometimes superimposed, and their horizontal extent 

 seems to amount to a foot or more. The layers have a deep 

 browQ color, while the enclosing limestone is of a light gray tint. 

 This remarkable body was found in the fossiliferous limestone 

 of Brookfield, in patches parallel with the stratification, and at 

 first sight resembled a coarse ^tromatopora. When sliced and 

 examined under the microscope, it presents the appearance above 

 described The membranes referred to, from their deep brown 

 color would seem to have been of a horny or chitinous character. 

 They are sometimes bent and folded, as if by pressure, and 

 appears to have been of a flexible and tough consistency. 

 The spicules connected with it, if really organic, would seem to 

 have been set in the membrane, and to have been corneous rather 

 than silicious, I have, however, no absolute certainty that these 

 apparent spicules may not be rather the eff'ect of prismatic crystals 

 of calcareous spar penetrating a soft animal matter and impress- 

 ing on it their own structure. If the spicules are really organic, 

 the structure must bo of the nature of a sponge. If otherwise, it 

 must have consisted of double membranous layers enclosing be- 

 tween them a softer organic matter, and sufiiciently firm to retain 

 their form till filled in with calcareous fraonients. Unless the 

 structure was of vegetable origin, which I do not think likely, 

 it was probably a Protozoan of some kind. In either case it is 

 different from any fossil hitherto found in the Lower Carbonifer- 

 ous limestones of Nova Scotia. 



II.—XEWFOUXDLAND. 



The following species are contained in limestone from Port- 

 au-Port and other places in St. George's Bay. Newfoundland, 

 collected by Dr. Robert Bell and Mr. P. Patterson, and now in 

 the Peter Redpath Museum. The limestone is similar lithologi- 

 cally to that of Brookfield, Windsor, and other places in Nova 

 Scotia, and the greater part of the fossils are common to New- 

 foundland and Nova Scotia. 



