162 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. viii. 



The predominance of rainfall during last winter is a natural 

 result of the mildness of the season, and there is apparently also 

 a close connection between the excessive precipitation and in- 

 creased temperature. 



The two seasons contrast very strongly in other respects beyond 

 a divergence in temperature and rain or snowfall. For while 

 the winter of 1874-75 was characterized by unusual meteoric 

 uniformity last winter was remarkable for its extreme ; the 

 barometer having ranged from 28.766 to 30.989 in the latter 

 season, against from 29.303 to 30.753 in the former ; and the 

 wind's velocity having attained a maximum of 60 miles per hour, 

 or ten miles greater than any previous record. The thermome- 

 ter, too, showed an excessive range, although the minimum is 

 slightly above that recorded in 1874-75, when it reach 24 below 

 zero, while the maximum recorded was 43.5, giving a range of 

 only 67.5 degrees against 77.5 with a maximum of 54 degrees 

 last winter. 



NOTE ON THE PHOSPHATES OF THE LAURENTIAN 

 AND CAMBRIAN ROCKS OF CANADA. 



By J. W. Dawson, LL.D., F.K.S., F.G.S. 



The extent and distribution of the deposits of apatite contained 

 in the Laurentian of Canada and in the succeeding Palaeozoic 

 formations, have not escaped the notice of our Geological Survey, 

 and have been referred to in some detail in Reports of Mr. 

 Vennor, Mr. Richardson, and others, as well as in the General 

 Report prepared by Sir W. E. Logan in 1863. Some attention 

 has also been given, more especially by Dr. Sterry Hunt, to the 

 question of the probable origin of these deposits.* My own at- 

 tention has been directed to the subject by its close connexion 

 with the discussions concerning Eozoon ; and I have therefore 

 embraced such opportunities as offered to visit the localities in 

 which phosphates occur, and to examine their relations and struc- 

 ture. I would now present some facts and conclusions respecting 

 these minerals, more especially in their relation to the life of the 



Geology of Canada, 1863 ; Chemical and Geological Essays, 1875. 



