84 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [-^priV 



the dip being as above, about five degrees to the southeast. The 

 gypsum is both compact and fibrous, and could be very readily 

 removed for local use or transportation. 



About two miles above this river, the red sandstone strata are 

 again exposed, associated with gypsum, in what are known as the 

 "Plaster Cliffs," attaining an elevation of 135 feet. The beds 

 are nearly horizontal, and are apparently divided by frequent joints. 

 The cliffs are very precipitous, in some parts overhanging the 

 stream, and are in a very crumbling and dangerous condition. 

 They are succeeded by other sandstones higher up the stream, 

 with much less gypsum, and having a strike nearly north and 

 south. They here form the bed of the river ; and it seemed as we 

 passed over them as if our canoes were gliding along a pavement 

 of massive freestone slabs, polished by the action of the water, and 

 here and there worn into holes by the eddies and p< bbles. It is a 

 little singular that, at the Plaster Cliffs and elsewhere, although 

 the gypsiferous sandstones attain on the left bank of the stream aa 

 elevation of more than a hundred feet, and rise precipitously from 

 the water, they do not appear at all upon the right, or only in beds 

 a few feet above the level of the river. 



In the geological reports of Dr. Gesner allusion is made to the 

 existence of limestone beds about one mile above Plaster Island, 

 and to the cavernous nature of the shore. I was unable to detect 

 the locality referred to. We passed a spot where land travelling 

 certainly appeared difficult and dangerous, but I satv nothing indi- 

 cating the existence of former caves. Neither did I observe the 

 stalactites, referred to by Dr. Gesner, as abundant upon the shore ; 

 but, at a spot about ten or twelve miles above the Wapske, and in 

 the neighborhood of the Little Agulquac, I had the pleasure of 

 finding great numbers of limestone geodes, in loose beds, overlying 

 horizontal strata of reddish sandstones. These sandstones are 

 divided by parallel joints, having a strike N. 62^ E. (the same as 

 that at the Wapskabagan), and form the bed of the river. The 

 geodes are of about four inches diameter, and are lined upon their 

 interior with fine lari^e crystals of dog-tooth spar. This locality will 

 afford excellent cabinet specimens. 



From the Agulquac to the immediate vicinity of the Blue Moun- 

 tain range, the soil continues reidish, sandstone boulders lie in the 

 bed of the river, and immense beds are occasionally exposed. The 

 sandstones in situ, are distinctly seen at the Horse Island, a little- 



