THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 83 
ada west, near London, which may be still in one of the upper 
side cases in which I placed it. No injury was perceptible in 
either instances, so perhaps we may conclude they represented 
merely accidental varieties of the Brachiopod in question. 
The Niagara fossils, which first attracted the attention of 
some of the leading geologists in the States to Hamilton, were 
the ‘‘Graptolites’’ and ‘‘Sponges’’ discovered here. Barrande, 
the chief authority on the former in Europe, deseribed, I think, 
thirty forms of the family found there. This is about the number 
of new ones described and _ figured by Dr. J. Spencer, F.GS., 
many years ago as occurring at Hamilton, Ont. Since then great 
numbers have been obtained, in remarkable preservation, which 
are calculated to east hght upon and increase our knowledge of 
Silurian Zoophytes. A gentlemen the writer met at the new city 
quarry informed me he had visited it several times and got 
nothing. I explained to him the absence of glacial clay there was 
not favorable to the preservation of organic remains. Despite 
that, four new forms were discovered subsequently by Mr. Nichol 
and the writer (very unexpectedly on my part, I may add). 
Dr. Head, of Chicago, stated that Professor Lapworth, 
Birmingham, a leading authority on Hydrozoons, was anxious to 
obtain any specimens we could spare. At the time in question 
the small collection in my own possession had been promised to 
the Smithsonian Institute for description, by Dr. Gurley. His 
sight failed, I have heard. unfortunately. Probably the ones 
forwarded to the British Museum since then, if new to science, 
will receive attention from this well-known paleontologist. 
SPONGES. 
A large number of chert sponges, sections and Niagara com- 
mon Brachiopods, were presented to young lads who evidently 
are taking an increasing interest in such things here of late. One 
of these remarked, when I pointed out where he was likely to find 
others, ‘‘The fields there have been searched already so often 
there may not be many left.’’ Now, such is not exactly correct. 
The plough and frost, ete., every year are bringing fresh material 
to the surface. 
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