British Association. 225 
ments before the latter or primordial set were formed. Then again, 
the older half of the Laurentian series is unconformable to the newer 
portion of the same. It is in this lowest and most ancient system 
of crystalline strata that a limestone, about a thousand feet thick, 
has been observed, containing organic remains. These fossils have 
been examined by Dr. Dawson, of Montreal, and he has detected in 
them, by aid of the microscope, the distinct structure of alarge species 
of Rhizopod. Fine specimens of this fossil, called Eozoén Cana- 
dense, have been brought to Bath by Sir William Logan, to be ex- 
hibited to the Members of the Association. We have every reason 
to suppose that the rocks in which these animal remains are included 
are of as old a date as any of the formations named “azoic” in 
Kurope, if not older : so that they preceded in date rocks once supposed 
to have been formed before any organic beings had been created. 
‘But I will not venture on speculations respecting “the signs of 
a beginning,” or “the prospects of an end,” of our terrestrial sys- 
tem,—that wide ocean of scientific conjecture on which so many 
theorists before my time have suffered shipwreck. Without tres- 
passing longer on your time, I will conclude by expressing to you 
my thanks for the honour you have done me in asking me to pre- 
side over this meeting. I have every reason to hope, from the 
many members and distinguished strangers whom I already see 
assembled here, that it will not be inferior in interest to any of the 
gatherings which have preceded it.’ 
Notices oF GEOLOGICAL PAPERS READ BEFORE THE BRITISH 
ASSOCIATION. 
On THE OccURRENCE OF ORGANIC REMAINS IN THE LAURENTIAN Rocks oF CANADA. 
By Sir W. E. Logan, F.R.S., F.G.S.; with communications by J. W. Dawson, 
LL.D., F.R.S., ON THE Structure, and by T. Sterry Hunt, F.R.S., ON Tun 
MINERALOGY OF THE SAME ReMAINs. 
HE Laurentide Mountains in Canada, and the Adirondachs in 
New York State, are composed of the oldest known rocks in 
North America ; and these have been recognized by the Geological 
Survey of Canada as a great metamorphosed mass of crystalline 
strata, quartzose, aluminous, calcareous, and magnesian, divisible 
into two groups, the Lower and the Upper Laurentian rocks, 
probably more than 380,000 feet thick. These also, though not 
recognized separately, occur also in North Britain, as well as in 
Norway. In both the Upper and Lower Laurentian groups are 
limestones, of great thickness, as well as bands of graphite and iron- 
oxide,—all of which have been referred by the Canadian Geologists, 
on hypothetical grounds, to an organic origin. Something like fossil 
Corals had been observed years since in the Laurentian limestone of 
the Grand Calumet and of Burgess; but no definite organic structure 
was found in them. Lately, a marble from the Lower series in 
Canada has yielded to the microscope evidence of organic structure, 
which Dr. Dawson identifies as being represented among known 
organisms—Istly, by small, cellular, sessile shell-growth, like that of 
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