IN THE NORTH WEST OF CANADA. / V) 



On the whole, however, the results of the Geological Surveys 

 of the N.W. are very disappointing to the paleontologist. 

 Formations, which one thinks ought to contain most interesting 

 and valuable forms, prove to be absolutely barren of fossils, 

 contrasting painfully with the richness of the corresponding 

 districts in the United States. The Cambrian strata, in the 

 Rockies, have been searched for fossils, but without success ; the 

 Laramie is also barren ; the Carboniferous rocks contain only 

 invertebrate deep sea-forms ; the Lower Cretaceous, with the 

 exception of the Kootanie beds, is poor in organic remains ; the 

 Miocene contains but few remains of vertebrates, and these are in 

 a very fragmentary condition. The lowest Cretaceous series, the 

 Kootanie, has a rich and most interesting fossil flora. The plants 

 " consist of ferns, cycads, and conifers, some of them identical 

 with, or closely related to, those of the Jurassic of the Amur country, 

 in Siberia, and others similarly related to the Lower Cretaceous of 

 Greenland." No sudden break occurs here, but the Jurassic 

 flora mingles insensibly with the Lowest Cretaceous, which here is 

 partly, at least, a fresh-water formation. " Marine conditions," 

 says Dr. Dawson, " appear in connection with parts of the 

 Kootanie group, but it is evident that, while a great subsidence was 

 in progress, sedimentation in general more than kept pace with it, 

 leading to the frequent occurrence of tracts of land on which 

 vegetation could flourish. This continued till the volcanic 

 eruption occurred which produced the ash and agglomerate beds, 

 after which, the sea held a prolonged sway over the region." 



The following table will best show the position of the dift'erent 

 Cretaceous beds in the Rockies : — 



Laramie, St. Mary River Beds estuarine. 



Cretaceous Fox Hill and Pierre salt water. 



Belly River Series, 



Benton and Niobrara, dark shales. 1,400 ft. 



Volcanic Rocks, 

 greatest thickness 2,200 ft. 



Dakota and upper part of 



Kootanie 2,750 ft. 



Lower part of Kootanie coal-bearing series, 



7,000 ft. 



