450 FOSSILS OF THE HUDSON RIVER GROUP. 



NOTE ON THE MORE CHARACTERISTIC FOSSILS OP 

 THE HUDSON RIVER GROUP OF TORONTO AND ITS 

 ENVIRONS. 



BY J. F. SMITH, JR. 



Read hefore the Canadian Institute, April 2nd, 1859. 



The object of this communication is, principally, to point out to the 

 student of Canadian Palseontology, residing in the neighbourhood of 

 Toronto, the characteristic fossils of the Hudson River Group, as there 

 developed, and the localities from which these fossils may be obtained. 

 The most important localities comprise the valley of the Humber, and 

 more especially the neighbourhood of VS^eston, on the west ; and the 

 Don Mills on the east. Weston is particularly prolific. 



The rocks of the Hudson River Group, lying above the Utica slate 

 and below the Medina sandstone, comprise chiefly a series of greenish 

 and brown arenaceous shales, with some interstratified beds of lime- 

 stone. This formation extends along the shore of Lake Ontario from 

 the Township of Pickering to the Township of Nelson, although it is 

 much covered up and concealed by the overlying drift-clay and sands. 



A list of fossils obtained from an excavation on the esplanade, now 

 closed up, has already appeared in the Journal (Vol. I. New Series.) 

 Since the publication of Professor Chapman's note, however, I have 

 thoroughly explored the surrounding country, and I have been reward- 

 ed by the discovery of many additional species. Thinking that a list 

 of these, as the result of actual personal observation may not be 

 altogether devoid of practical interest, I have ventured to draw up the 

 following classified distribution : 



Commencing with the sub-kingdom, Articulata, we have the 

 great extinct family of the Trilobites. The two species found in the 

 Hudson River Group are : Calymene senaria (Conrad), and Asaphus 

 platycephalus (Stokes). The first named, Calymene senaria, or Blu- 

 menhachii, is very abundant everywhere, and is probably the most 

 common trilobite known. It is found at VTeston in the shale which 

 occurs there. Specimens with the head attached, however, are rarely 

 met with at that locality. It is also found at the Don Mills. Asa- 



