V.—NoTEs oN Dr. Amt’s PAPER ON DicryONEMA SLATES OF 
ANGUS Brook, NEw CANAAN, AND KENTVILLE, N. S.— 
By, Hexry S. Poort, E.G. S., E R.S: C. arc. 
(Read 10th February, 1902.) 
When handed Dr. Ami’s paper to read at this meeting, I was 
requested to make some remarks on it. I comply, but only do 
so with the understanding that I can speak with no authority, 
nor am I able to properly discuss it. 
It may be of interest to some present to know that the fossil 
in question, Dictyonema, is classed with the curious fossil forms, 
Graptolites, and the modern Sertularia among the order of 
Hydrozoa. These beautiful zoophites are like branching plants 
and are found on temperate coasts. They have two rows of cells 
on the horny branches. 
The Dictyonema also reminds one of the coral Fenestella 
which occurs in the limestones at Windsor and Brookfield in 
lower carboniferous rocks ; but the branches of Fenestella which 
frequently biforate are connected by narrow bands, with charac- 
teristic round cellules on a calcareous frond. The skeleton of 
- Dictyonema is striated, serrated and horny. The animals of 
this class are jelly-like, radially symmetrical, living in colonies, 
and building up for the common good these horny structures 
which have been preserved as fossils while all trace of the 
animal has disappeared. The allies of the Dictyonema, the 
Graptolites, reached their maximum in Silurian times, and dis- 
appeared with that age after evolving many varieties of form 
and habit. 
Sir A. Geikie speaks of Dictyonema as a characteristic fossil 
of the primordial zone in Scandinavia, where it is associated 
with allied but doubtful forms. In Canada it also occurs at 
Point Levis and other places, with graptolites. 
(451) 
