[pENHALLOw] THE PLEISTOCENE FLORA OF CANADA 63 



UNDETERMINABLE MATERIAL. 



While the body of the peat consists of the two species of mosses 

 described, and chiefly of Hypnum, much fragmentary matter was sep- 

 arated out in boiling. Upon close examination this proved to consist 

 principally of fragments of the leaves of mosses, together with much 

 organic residue of an altogether indeterminate character. Short frag- 

 ments of sedge leaves were also met with now and then, but they do not 

 constitute any very prominent element. A very careful examination of 

 the washings was made, in the hope of discovering spores or some other 

 evidence of fructification, but the results were wholly negative in charac- 

 ter. We are thus brought to the conclusion that the peat, as represented 

 by the specimens examined, consists almost wholly of a deposit of Hï/jmum, 

 with which a small quantity oï Distichium is mingled. 



In this connection the question naturally arises as to whether these 

 plant remains represent material deposited in the place where it origin- 

 ally grew, or if it was displaced by the action of water and gradually 

 accumulated where now found. With respect to the lignite, no satisfac- 

 tory answer can be given. The peat, on the other hand, attords conclu- 

 sive evidence on this point. It has already been shown that the peat 

 occurs in the form of consolidated flakes. These masses show upon 

 examination that the component vegetation has been felted together in 

 such a way as would be possible only through the action of water. In 

 addition to this, there is much mingled sand and clay, which is also 

 deposited between the flakes, while it has already been shown that the 

 bits of wood inclosed in the peat are drift material. If further evidence 

 were needed, it could be obtained from the known habits of growth of 

 the plants represented. Thus we find that Distichhim capillaceum grows 

 in the fissures of rocks and similar situations, from which it must have 

 been dislodged through the action of water. Hypnum recurvans is very 

 common in mountainous districts, where it is found growing u^îon deca\'- 

 ing trees and logs, and its accumulation in such quantity as is repre- 

 sented in this peat can only be exjîlained upon the ground that it was 

 gradually carried down to lower levels by the continued washings of 

 spring freshets. It is thus evident that all of this material must have 

 been derived from localities much nearer the head-waters of the Mis- 

 sinaibi than represented by its present position, and thus it had its orio-in 

 in somewhat more southern localities. Both of the mosses found, how- 

 ever, are of a northern type, and at the present time are distributed 

 within the same general area, so that they aftbrd no special evidence of 

 climate beyond that already derived from the other forms of plants 

 observed. 



