Post-Pliocene Deposits of the St. Lawrence. 23 



We can scarcely doubt that by the application of this process a 

 new source of profit may be found iu the fisheries of the Gulf, 

 which will not only render us independent of foreign guano, now 

 brought into the Province to some extent, but will enable us to 

 export large quantities of a most valuable concentrated manure, at 

 prices which will be found remunerative. 



ARTICLE III. — Additional Notes on the Post-Pliocene Deposits 

 of the St, Lawrence Valley. By J. W. Dawson, LL.D., 

 F.G.S., &c. 



{Read before the Natural History Society of Montreal.) 



In a paper on the Newer Pliocene and Po>t Pliocene deposits 

 of the vicinity of Montreal, communicated to the Natural History 

 Society last winter, I promised to follow up the subject, especially 

 in the direction of the more minute organisms of these deposits, 

 and the comparison of the stratigraphical arrangements near 

 Montreal with those in other parts of the Province. In fulfil- 

 ment of this promise, I now proceed to state a number of facts 

 which I have ascertained or which have been communicated to 

 me in the past summer. 



I. FORAMINIFERA AND BrYOZOA. 



The Foraminifera are creatures almost at the extreme limit of 

 simplicity of structure in the animal kingdom. Generally micro- 

 scopic in dimensions and consisting of a soft and apparently 

 homogeneous jelly, they present no appreciable organs, except 

 little thread-like extensions of their bodies, which appear to be 

 their organs of prehension and locomotion. Such creatures might 

 at first sight be supposed incapable of being preserved among the 

 medals of creation. They have, however, the power of secreting 

 for their protection delicate and beautiful calcareous cells, divided 

 into a number of chambers which are added successively in the 

 progress of growth, and communicate with each other and with 

 the outer world by minute orifices ; and as these creature* abound 

 everywhere in the oceau, their shells are constantly accumulating 

 on its bottom, so as in some cases so form thick beds of calca- 

 reous matter. The Bryozoa, equally minute in size, are far more 

 complex in structure ; presenting, with a general polyp form, 



