1S6 On Canadian Caverns. 



The majority of those in the first class are on a level with the 

 water, whilst the remainder are elevated above, varying from a 

 few to upwards of sixty feet. 



In the second class the level varies, but nearly all are above 

 that of the sea, as will presently be described ; none penetrate the 

 earth to a considerable depth, but this may be found to be other- 

 wise as the explorations are continued. In none have animal re- 

 mains been found, excepting in one instance, and they were dis- 

 covered loose and not imbedded in stalagmite ; and so far as I am 

 aware, not a single object, such as a flint arrow-head or spear, used 

 by the ancient inhabitants of the country, has been observed. 

 This circumstance may in some measure detract from the value of 

 the present communication ; that part of the enquiry has still to 

 be worked out, as many of the caverns have been but very partially 

 explored, indeed some have scarcely been examined ; and as 

 several of them branch off by means of fissures and galleries, run- 

 ning from distinct chambers (most of the latter containing stalag. 

 mite), we may yet hope for interesting discoveries, particularly in 

 that district of country in which exist the huge caverns of 

 Mono and Eramosa in the Niagara limestone rocks of the Upper 

 Silurian formation. The researches of Mr. Sterry Hunt, 

 of the Canadian Geological SuiTey, have shown that these 

 limestones are essentially dolomitic, and thus perhaps favourably 

 constituted for the development of caverns. 



(As examples of the caverns noticed by Dr. Gibb we take the 

 following : — Eds.) 



Caverns on the Shores of the Magdalen Islands. 



On passing the interesting group of islands in the Gulf of St 

 Lawrence, known as the Magdalens, the obsei^ver is struck with 

 their beautiful and picturesque appearance, which is suddenly 

 presented to his view. The cliffs, which vary in height, present 

 equally various colours of red in which the shades predominate ; 

 these contrasted with the yellow of the sand-bars, and the green 

 pastures of the hill-sides, the darker green of the spruce trees, and 

 the blue of sea and sky, produce an eflect, as Captain Bayfield des- 

 cribes, extremely beautiful, and one which distinguishes these 

 islands from anything else in the Gulf. Such an agreeable picture it 

 has been my own good fortune to witness and admire. The strik- 

 ing feature in their formation is the dome-shaped hills rising in 

 the centre of the group, and attaining a height of from two hun- 

 dred to five hundred and eighty feet. They are composed of the 



