REVIEWS—GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 269 



and geography of the Province ; and a more varied character is im- 

 parted to it, by the introduction of numerous details connected with 

 our Natural History, properly so-called. It is to be regretted that 

 the means at the disposal of the Greological Commission will scarcely 

 allow of a more extended elaboration of this latter feature : otherwise, 

 we might hope to see, in future Reports, an exposition of the Botany 

 and general Fauna of the various districts visited by the Survey. Our 

 knowledge of the natural history of the remoter regions of both Upper 

 and Lower Canada, is at present of the most meagre character ; and 

 it is obviously impossible to do much towards the amendment of this 

 by any effort of private enterprise. Whilst urging the consideration 

 of this question, therefore, upon the attention of the Legislature, we 

 welcome the commencement of the good work, slight though it be, 

 laid before us by the Director of the Survey in the Eeport now under 

 review. 



In addition to a general statement of working details by Sir Wil- 

 liam Logan, this Report contains no less than five distinct communi- 

 cations by the Officers of the Survey, together with a Report on Ca- 

 nadian Graptolites by Professor Hall of Albany, and one on the re- 

 spective longitudes of some of the principal places in Canada by Lieut. 

 Ashe, R, N. The details of Sir William's more special explorations 

 in connexion with the Laurentian limestones of Grrenville, &c., are to 

 appear in the Report for 1858. 



The Report of Mr. Murray comprises an elaborate survey of the 

 mouths of the Prench River, with the adjacent coasts and islands ; a 

 description and survey of Echo Lake and the surrounding country ; 

 and an examination of the Huronian limestone of the Bruce Mines' 

 district. Apart from the purely geological information afforded bj 

 Mr. Murray's researches, the thanks of our geographers are again due 

 to him for his carefully conducted topographical measurements 

 along the northern coast-line of Greorgian Bay — a district of much 

 intricacy. Por the accurate delineation, indeed, of the geographical 

 features of this part of Canada, we are chiefly indebted to Mr. Mur- 

 ray's skill as an instrumental surveyor. Passing to the geological 

 portion of the Report, we find that Laurentian rocks, of no special 

 interest, prevail exclusively on the coast and islands in the neighbour- 

 hood of Prench River; whilst around Echo Lake the rocks are 

 chiefly of Huronian age. A slight outcrop of over-lying unconform- 

 able strata, suggested as Lower Silurian, skirts the shores of Great 



VOL. IV. V 



