[MATTHEW] PALÆOZOIC ROCKS OF SOUTHERN NEW BRUNSWICK 95 
Elsewhere the writer has called attention to the parallelism of the 
strata in the basins containing these plant remains to the Mascareen 
phase of the Silurian strata on one hand and the section at Arisaig on 
the other, and the comparison might even be extended to the Palæozoic 
deposits of Anticosti, so far as the Silurian is represented in that island. 
A section of the rocks at the base of the Silurian terrane in the basin 
of Beaver harbour which contains the plant remains described in this 
paper is given on a preceding page and in this and the adjoining basins 
east and west we are to look for the links of evidence which show the 
passage from the terrigenous to the marine deposits of the Silurian 
strata in this district. The unconformable relation of these beds to an 
older series as previously remarked is well exhibited along the eastern 
shore of Beaver harbour. The anticlinal ridge here consists of heavy 
beds of massive gray quartzite, which is overlain on either side by dull 
red feldspathic grits and felsites. Numerous fragments of these rocks 
but especially of the quartzites are imbedded in the Silurian strata as 
well defined pebbles and stones. Only a portion of the southern slope 
of the anticline of the older rocks is shown in this section. The section 
shows a blank space in the middle where along a gravel beach the under- 
lying strata are concealed; the strata here are probably dark gray 
shales such as are found at this horizon in a syncline of Silurian strata 
on the north side of the anticline of older strata above referred to; and 
which also show on the shore north of the village of Beaver harbour. 
Thus it will be seen that the plant beds of Beaver harbour from which 
these fossils were taken, are not at the bottom of the Bloomsbury 
group but towards its upper part. 
Conjectures as to the ecological significance of certain plants of the Silurian 
floras. 
In conclusion of this article the writer proposes to offer some con- 
jectures as to the ecological significance of some of the plants of the 
Silurian floras of southern New Brunswick, including the species de- 
scribed above. I think one may assume that there are several of such 
groupings in these floras, and the association of the species as well as 
their structure helps to indicate them. 
The oldest group is that which forms the subject of this article. 
The most abundant species as we have said is the Himantophyton; 
this in its succulent, inflated leaves, recalls characteristics which are of 
common occurrence in modern plants living at the seaside on rocky 
slopes, in salt marshes and in the sands of the seashore. In many of 
these seaside plants the structure of the fruiting organs is of a high type, 
but they have in common inflation of the leaves, which thus becomes a 
