24 Post-Pliocene Deposits cj the St. Laurence. 



complicated digestive and muscular apparatus, which place them 

 far in advance of the bydroid polyps, and have induced the majo- 

 rity of modern zoologists to arrange them with the mollusks. 

 They occupy horny or calcareous cells, which usually have wide 

 openings for the extension of the arms or tentacles which procure 

 the food of the inmates. These cells are arranged in branching 

 or flat and circular groups, which form a large proportion of the 

 zoophytes of the older naturalists, and are to be found everywhere 

 on submerged stones, shells, and sea-weeds. 



I place these two tribes, in their structure so dissimilar, to- 

 gether, because they are found together in the drift deposits; and 

 because, owing to this and to their microscopic size, they can be 

 conveniently studied in connection. 



Before proceeding to describe the species found, I may mention 

 that though the minute dimensions of these objects may cause 

 them to escape the notice of many collectors, they are, when 

 studied with the aid of the microscope, not inferior in interest and 

 beauty to any other fossils found in our tertiary plains. The 

 Foraminifera may easily be detected by examining the clays in 

 which fossil shells occur, and particularly those holding Fusus 

 tornatus and the spicula of Tethea Logani* wilh the aid of a 

 pocket lens. When they are thus ascertained to be present, a 

 quantity of the clay should be well dried, broken into small pieces, 

 and stirred in a quantity of w r ater, when the clay will subside and 

 the little shells may be skimmed from the surface. When dry 

 they may be spread on a tray or on dark-colored paper, and 

 examined with the lens to ascertain what forms are present. 

 They may then be picked up with a moist camePs-hair pencil, 

 and placed separately in small boxes for more minute examina- 

 tion. For the microscope, they may be mounted either on a dark 

 ground as opaque objects, or in Canada balsam as transparent 

 objects; and should be studied in both of these ways. With the 

 foraminifera, the collector will usually find valves of Cytheridea, 

 some of the smaller univalves, and detached cells of Lepralia. 



(1.) Position of Foraminifera and Bryozoa in the Post Pliocene 



.Deposits. 



Logan's Farm. — In the last volume of the Naturalist, I de- 



* For notices of these and other fossils referred to in these pages, see 

 my -former paper, Canad. Nat. 'vaL 2. 



