A RE BOH 'LDER CLA YS MA RINE ? 259 



bowlder clay elsewhere recognized in the western part of the 

 plains,' but it is probably the latter. Microzoa were found only 

 in the three samples from the Saskatchewan Valley. ' In giving 

 the results of his examinations Mr. Wright writes as follows : 



"In the clays from Victoria (1,2 and 3) I find foraminifera 

 (and Radiolaria) and I am of opinion that they are contempora- 

 neous with the clay and not derived from Cretaceous strata — I 

 judge by the general resemblance of the foraminifera to those 

 we find in British bowlder clay. The foraminifers in the Creta- 

 ceous rocks of Canada may possibly be different to those which 

 occur in the rocks of this age with us — I have never seen Creta- 

 ceous microzoa from Canada and so can give no opinion on this 

 subject. 



" Our chalk foraminifera are invariably of a dull white chalky 

 appearance, the tests alone being calcareous, the interior being 

 usually siliceous. On the other hand, our bowlder clay foraminif- 

 era differ in no respect from recent specimens, except in being usu- 

 ally smaller in size, the species being such as are now met with 

 in shallow water around our coasts. 



" All the species which I have been able to identify in the 

 clays you sent me, are referable to recent species, and with the 

 exception of Cristellaria Italic a and Rotalia orbiailaris , have been 

 found in British bowlder clay. No7iio7iina deprcssnla is the most 

 abundant form in our bowlder clay, and it is instructive to find 

 the species, so common with us, also occurring in your clay. 



"• Bolivina IcBvigata, Cristellaria Italic a, as also some of the other 

 specimens, have the clear hyaline luster of recent specimens. If 

 Cretaceous, we would expect to find Globigcrina Cretacea and Tex- 

 tularia globidosa plentiful." 



The above references to Cretaceous foraminifera, are explained 

 by the fact that Mr. Wright's attention had been called, when 

 the specimens were sent, to the probable existence of such forms 

 in the bowlder clays. 



In replying to the letter from which I have just quoted, half 

 a dozen specimens of Cretaceous foraminiferal material from the 



• Cf. Bull. G. .S. A., Vol. VII, p. 60. 



