THE DEVONIAN FOSSILS OF CANADA WEST. 253 
the one above attempted to be described, it most certainly appears 
to be identical in character. 
These observations lead us to the reflection that the agencies of 
nature have been as they are now, ever active in changing and re- 
modelling the earth’s surface. We find entombed in these gravel 
heaps at least a trace of the history of bitter winters, perhaps long 
anterior to the first appearance of even the Red Men in the valley 
of the St. Lawrence: a rude indication of the direction of winds, 
and of the force of storms which spent their fury at a period equally 
early, and a long history (written by their own agency) of waves 
which rolled many fathoms over the spot where we are now as- 
sembled, recorded in characters which cannot easily be effaced, and 
which when carefully read cannot well be mistaken. - 
ON THE DEVONIAN FOSSILS OF CANADA WEST. 
BY E. BILLINGS, F.G.S.. 
(Oontinued from Vol. VI. page 282.—No. XXVIII. May, 1860.) 
Genus Spirifera.—Sowerby. 
SprriFER.—Of the generality of Authors. 
‘ Generic characters.—Hinge-line straight and either greatly elonga- 
ted, or equal to, or less than the width of the shell ; the general form, 
triangular, quadrate, oval, or sub-circular. The ventral valve the 
largest, with a flat or concave area varying greatly in its dimensions ; 
a triangular foramen beneath the beak, usually open but sometimes 
partially closed by an arched plate called a deltidium or pseudo-delti- 
dium. Area of dorsal valve smaller than that of the ventral valve. 
Surface either ornamented with radiating ribs, or finely striated, or 
smooth. In the interior the spiral cones have their apices turned 
outwards as in Spirigera, but they are destitute of the complicated 
appendages of this last-named genus. The muscular impressions are 
somewhat similar in their general form and relative position to those 
of Athyris, but subject to great variation according to the species. 
Shell structure not punctated. 
Vot. VI. 8 
