On the Geology of the Northwestern Regions of America. 317 
an inspection of the Map, and would appear to point out this vast 
mass of crystalline rocks as the probable axis of elevation of the 
great movement by which the Hudson’s Bay Territories, as well 
as Labrador and the lands and islands along the west coast of 
fin’s Bay, were first upheaved from the primeval ocean under 
which they once reposed. The grand chain of the Rocky Moun- 
tains may be considered also as forming a new axis of elevation, 
at nearly an equal distance farther west, upheaving in a similar 
manner the wide-spread strata which repose on its flanks. 
The existence of lines of division, pursuing a parallel course, 
ina general meridional dircction, like those just mentioned, is 
one of the most prominent general circumstances hitherto ascer- 
tained respecting the geology of this part of America. The 
course of the Rocky Mountain chain, from the Sierra of Mexico 
in lat. 30° to its termination on the coast of the Arctic Sea in lat. 
69°, is about N by W, with very little deviation anywhere. This 
isalso the general direction of the rugged and lofty coast range 
of Labrador and Baffin’s Bay, as well as of the west coast of 
Greenland. 
€ possess little reliable information respecting the structure 
of the mountain ranges of Labrador (on the east) or of the Rocky 
Mountains (on the west) north of the forty-seventh parallel, 
Where they were crossed by Lewis and Clarke, in 1805, and no 
organic remains (so far as I am aware) from either locality. Sir 
John Richardson who is in possession of all the information re- 
(as will be bsequently noticed) to be referable to certain mem- 
bers of Per He meen corresponding probably to the 
