16 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



It may be said, therefore, that about 1886 the main framework 

 of the classification of the rocks of British Columbia was established. 

 We may pass over the details of the following fifteen years during 

 which much was added to the areal geology of the cordilleran region 

 but little of outstanding importance to the general stratigraphie sub- 

 division. In this connection a tribute should be paid to the continued 

 labours of Dawson and McConnell and to the work of James McEvoy 

 and R. W. Brock. 



Palaeontology 1870-1900 



The great amount of exploration carried on by the Survey in 

 regions of sedimentary rocks naturally resulted in large collections of 

 fossils, the determination of which was of first importance in working 

 out the stratigraphy. With the exception of Sir W^m. Dawson and 

 Dr. Geo. F. Matthew, the distinguished workers whose names have 

 been mentioned were not palaeontologists; in consequence, the work 

 of identification fell on the palaeontologists of the Survey — ^at first 

 Billings and afterwards Dr. W^hiteaves, Dr. H. M. Ami, and Mr. 

 Lawrence M. Lambe. 



Billings' fame rests on his work on the Palaeozoic fossils of eastern 

 Canada which we have already reviewed. His last publication, in 

 1876, reaches but a short time into the period we are considering; 

 nevertheless, the extended scope of the Survey is indicated by some 

 of his later papers, as: "List of Devonian Fossils from the Assiniboine 

 river and Lake Winnipegosis," "Note on Fossils from Ballinac islands, 

 British Columbia," "On Mesozoic Fossils from British Columbia 

 collected by Mr. James Richardson in 1872," "Fossils found in Lower 

 Cache Creek, British Columbia." 



Dr. J. F. Whiteaves succeeded Billings as palaeontologist to the 

 Survey in 1876 and upon him fell chiefly the onerous duty of identi- 

 fying and describing fossils from all horizons and all parts of the 

 country. The volumes of the Survey attest his success. His work 

 ranged from Protozoa to Fishes, from Cambrian to Post-Glacial, from 

 the Atlantic to the Pacific, and into the islands of the far north. Dr. 

 Whiteaves contributed about one hundred and fifty separate papers 

 or reports and lived but a short time into the present century (1909). 

 His work is characterized by great caution and is very dependable: 

 he could never be induced to offer an opinion on material which he 

 considered too fragmentary for certainty. 



Mr. Arthur H. Foord joined the staff of the Survey as artist about 

 1872 and was afterwards made Assistant Palaeontologist; he resigned 



