1 PROCEEDINGS. 



JAMES BARNES, ESQ., B. A., Dalhousie College, read a paper " On. 

 the Depression of the Freezing-point by Mixtures of Electrolytes." (See 

 Transactions, p. 139 ) 



The paper was discussed by DRS. MACGREGOR and MACKAY, and a 

 vote of thanks was presented to the author. 



DR. A. H. MACKAY, exhibited, with comments, material taken from 

 the bottom of the Atlantic at four different points, by the Cable S. S. 

 Minia in charge of Captain Be Carteret, by whom the specimens were 

 presented. 



1. From lat. 40 47 ' N., long. 38 45' W., at a depth of 2544 

 fathoms, in June, 1899 : 



a. A fragment of a dark igneous rock about 13x8x5 cm , not very 

 unlike some massive, dark green traps of Nova Scotia. The Cable was 

 hooked at the same time, but broke and slipped over the stone which 

 was abraded in two separate places. The exact determination of the 

 rock, as well as the other specimens, had to be postponed to a future 

 opportunity after which the results of their special examinations would 

 be communicated. 



b. A fragment of gneiss or granite with dark, fine-grained mica, 

 about a centimeter cube, in 



c. Mud, which on an average of three samples gave 72 per cent 

 insoluble in nitric acid, leaving 28 per cent for carbonate of lime in 

 foraminiferal shells, and any other soluble matter which might be 

 present. The species of forarninifera present were left for future 

 enumeration. The mud was, therefore, about three-quarters derived 

 from decomposed rock, and contained specks of mica flakes among the 

 minute sand grains also found in it. 



2. From lat. 49 30' K, Ion. 49 36' W., at a depth of 2594 

 fathoms, were taken on the 3rd July, 1894: 



a. A fragment of rock about 8x4x3 cm . It was a very compact, 

 fine-grained, dark (with a band of light grey) chocolate quartzose felsite 

 in appearance, breaking with a conchoidal fracture, a portion of one 

 side looking as even as if it were ground plane. The light grey band on 

 the opposite side suggested discoloration by weathering, and the con- 

 choidal fracture in this portion was much rougher in its surface texture. 



b. A fragment of a water-worn, whitish, cryptocrystalline quartzite 

 pebble about 3 cm in its three dimensions. 



c. Mud with small pebbles, containing what suggested the remains 

 of a coelenterate animal with slender stem, cylindrical body a few 



