Section IV., 1899. [ 3 ] Teanl. R. S. C. 



I. — Presidential Address : Canadian Geological Nomenclature. 

 By E. W. Ells, LL.D. 



(Read May 24th, 1899.) 



In attempting a brief review of Canadian Geological Nomenclature, 

 it may be stated first of all, that no attempt will be made at a thorough 

 exposition of the subject, in all its details, since this would be a manifest 

 impossibility, and could only be done by extending the limits of this 

 paper to undue lengths. The literature of the present day, relating to 

 the geology of Canada, has now become so extensive that the considera- 

 tion of the principal points alone would require an amount of time not 

 at our disposal. I have thought, therefore, that it would be unwise to 

 attempt anything beyond the merest outline of some of the leading fea- 

 tures connected with the history of its development, and will give merely 

 a cursory glance at some of the interesting problems which are every- 

 where presented for our consideration in all parts of the Dominion. The 

 discussion of many of these questions' will moreover be found in the 

 various scientific journals of Europe and America. 



The developments in the nomenclatuire of the science of geology 

 have progressed so rapidly in this country that but few, and of thes,e, 

 only those most deeply interested in the question, have made themselves 

 familiar with the many changes which have been made in this branch 

 during recent years. New names have been added to the geological scale 

 as the study of the rock formations has progressed, some of which merely 

 serve to indicate peculiarities of local development, while others deal vrith 

 whole groups of formations, and, as a consequence, many of the rock 

 divisions which, under their old names, were supposed to be quite readily 

 understood, have, as a result of this multiplication of terms, become 

 almost unrecognizable. 



It will be admitted by every one familiar with geological investiga- 

 tion, that a thorough system of nomenclature is essential to the proper 

 understanding of geological problems, quite as much as in any other 

 branch of science. This fact is also very clearly established, that, as the 

 study of our rock formations extends, and our knowledge of the rela- 

 tions of the various groups increases, the tendency to multiply names, 

 by which the several divisions may be readily recognized, must also in- 

 crease. With this increase in our knowledge also erroneous views of 

 structure will be removed, and portions of one formation or even system 

 will be transferred to some other position in the geological scale; so that. 



