258 
system), he considered the specimens shown consisted of a 
mineralized or metamorphic condition of rock structure and that 
they were not organic. Reviewing the controversy which had 
been carried on for the last sixteen years, he remarked that 
certain facts which he had since worked out had caused him to 
alter his opinion. Having decalcified some portions of the rock 
he had found in it a clear siliceous-looking fibrous growth of 
various colours, black, green, and olive, but so like modern fibre 
that he suspected they must have got on the slide by accident and 
threw away many such specimens. Persevering, however, in his 
researches, he continued to find other traces which he likened to 
the finest possible bits of polished golden wire. Examining the 
structure of Nummulites levigatus, to which Dr. Carpenter and 
others considered Eozoon to be allied, he found the same 
transparent alga-like fibre abundant in the decalcified specimens ; 
also deep yellow, emerald green, and olive-coloured fibre, 
absolutely undistinguishable from those obtained from the Eozoon, 
From this evidence he was forced to adopt the conclusion of the 
organic nature of Eozoon Canadense, and suggested that in the 
vast thickness of rocks between it and the Cambrians connecting 
links of organic life might still reward the geological investigator. 
His last appearance was at York in the following year, 1881, 
when he again brings forward the result of his microscopic 
examination of the Irish Laurentian and other Palzozoic lime- 
stones after being triturated and dissolved in acid; stating the 
care he had taken to eliminate all sources of error, he still found 
hair-like structures and feather-like barbs which he considered 
belonged to the rocks. Notwithstanding Dr. Duncan’s reply 
and his playful allusion to Charles Moore’s discovery of the 
traces of the last visit of the angels to this earth in the 
fibre of one of the feathers of their wings left behind, and 
the general opposition this theory met with, Moore, however, 
was not the man to give up easily an idea that had once 
taken firm possession of him, and several letters from the 
