IN EASTERN CANADA. AMI. 165 



which they were derived. Comparisons must be instituted 

 between the various life-zones occurring in the natural succession 

 of strata, and wherever they are exposed they can easily be 

 recognized however fragmentary or isolated they may be, pro- 

 vided they are fossiliferons, and that the evidence thus obtained 

 can be compared with standard sections recognized the world 

 over. The characteristic life-zones of the Carboniferous System, 

 as they have been elaborated the world .over, can be very easily 

 prepared, and in order to be recognized as typical they must be 

 in accord with the concensus of opinion with the rest of the world- 

 They must not contain assemblages of organisms or types 

 which are not in harmony with, but must be organically and 

 chronologically related to, the types that are everj^where held to 

 be of Carboniferous age. Fortunately for the geologist, although 

 there are unconformities or breaks in the succession of strata 

 there is abundant evidence of life of various orders and classes 

 entombed in the various formations. 



THE JOGGINS SECTION. 



One grand and continuous section of strata of the Carbon- 

 iferous system to very near the summit thereof, in which are 

 entombed myriads of organisms, plants and animals in regular 

 succession also, is found along the Joggins shore, in the western 

 portion of Cumberland County, Nova Scotia. This section was 

 described in detail by Sir William Logan, and subsequently by 

 Sir William Dawson and Dr. R. W. Ells. It extends from Min- 

 udie to McCarren's Cove, along the shore of the Cumberland 

 Basin. This forms one standard section. No other such exists 

 in Nova Scotia, and a systematic collection of the fossil organic 

 remains entombed in its strata ought to be made for reference, 

 in order to compare the succession of life-zones here with those 

 of other portions of Nova Scotia and North America. In the 

 United States, Mr. David White informs me that there have been 

 noted not less than seven standard sections of the Carbon- 

 iferous System, in distinct fields : Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio, 

 Missouri and other States. These all have their peculiar charac- 



