IN NOVA SCOTIA—FLETCHER. Zot 
The Reports of the Geological Survey for 1885 and 1886 
were sharply assailed by Sir J. W. Dawson for their disregard 
of fossils; they were assumed to cast doubt upon the value and 
accuracy of the work done in Cape Breton. “ As to the rocks 
of the Riversdale section and that at MacKay Head, I have no 
hesitation in saying that it would be contrary to all analogy, 
not only in Nova Scotia but everywhere else, that they should 
be as low as the Horton series. They are unequivocally Mill- 
stone Grit and the flora of these sections is so well-known that 
there can scarcely be any mistake respecting it. The opinion 
advanced by Dr. Ells that the rocks of MacKay Head are like 
those of Riversdale is quite correct, they being the same series ; 
but the comparison of them with the St. John Devonian is 
quite unwarrantable, the fossils being quite distinct.” 
This strong dissent induced Dr. Selwyn in 1892 to visit the 
region and see for himself the position of these strata. His 
view of their relations was emphatically expressed in the Sum- 
mary Report for that year. In the conclusions arrived at by 
Mr. Fletcher he fully agreed. In 1895, Dr. Selwyn was suc- 
ceeded as director of the Geological Survey by Dr. G. M. 
Dawson. Maps of Pictou and Colchester counties were then 
being engraved. The compilation of Sheets 43 to 48 was com- 
pleted and that of Sheets 56 to 65, 76, 83, 100 and 101 well 
advanced. In the same year Dr. Ami was sent to Nova Scotia 
to obtain paleontological evidence of the age of the rocks in 
question ; in the following seasons he was accompanied by the 
director, and in one season by Dr. Ells. 
But in 1898 “certain points connected with the geological 
structure of that region remained still critical,” although it was 
hoped that the special investigations of that year might render 
it possible to complete the information for several of the above 
sheets, which in that event would be promptly issued. At this 
time, Dr. Ami was protesting against the publication of a report 
in which he was represented as advocating the Carboniferous 
age of these rocks. On the contrary, he believed the evidence 
to show “that the strata of Union and Riversdale may be 
