JUNE 28, 1901. ] 
The Human Machine, the Most Marvelous (as 
set forth by Dr. Lardner in his Animal Physics, 
40 yeurs ago) : Mr. C. BAILLARGE, C.E., M.A. 
On the Occurrence of Free Ammonia in Saline 
Waters: Frank T. Suurr, M.A., F.I.C.,. 
"F.C.S. 
The New Gas from Radium: Professor H. 
RurHerrorp B.A. (Cantab.), of McGill 
University, and Miss H. T. Brooks. 
Discharge of Electricity from Glowing Bodies : 
Professor E. Rururrrorp, of McGill Uni- 
versity. 
SECTION IV.—GEOLOGICAL AND BIOLOGICAL 
SCIENCES. 
Observations on Phenological Records: Presi- 
dential Address before the Section by Dr. 
A. H. MacKay, Superintendent of Educa- 
tion in Nova Scotia. 
In this paper Dr. MacKay referred to 
the different stations established in Nova 
Scotia and other portions of Canada where 
phenological observations were being re- 
corded. The records of the average pheeno- 
cron of certain well-known species of 
flowering plants were also discussed, and 
the best methods of eliminating errors in 
records. 
Sir John W. Dawson—In Memoriam: Pro- 
fessor Frank D. ApAms, M.E., Ph.D., 
(by request of the Royal Society at its 
meeting in 1900). 
This memorial of the first president of 
the Royal Society of Canada was read by 
title and ordered to be printed in extenso 
together with Dr. Ami’s completed ‘ List 
of Writings of Sir William Dawson.’ 
The Carboniferous Basinin New Brunswick: 
R. W. Ets, LL.D., of the Geological Sur- 
vey of Canada. 
The Carboniferous rocks in New Bruns- 
wick embrace an area of not far from 12,000 
square miles. ‘They occur in a roughly tri- 
angular-shaped basin, which extends from 
the Gulf of St. Lawrence qu the east as a 
SCIENCE. 
1017 
base, nearly to the southwest boundary of 
the province. Ata number of points beds of- 
coal are found, but these, in so faras yet ex- 
amined, are thin, ranging fromavery few 
inches to about two feet in thickness. Bor- 
ings have been made from time to time for 
over sixty years to ascertain the presence of 
thicker or more workable beds, but owing 
to various causes such attempts have not 
yet been successful. The greater portion of 
the area, however, has not yet been proved. 
The paper will briefly state some of the 
principal conclusions arrived at regarding 
the structure of this basin during the last 
thirty years, and will indicate the rela- 
tions of the Carboniferous sediments to the 
rocks of the underlying formations. In 
the discussion which followed, Dr. Bailey 
pointed out that the Legislature of New 
Brunswick had granted a subsidy for 
the purpose of developing the coal-bearing 
areas of the Grand Lake. District. Dr. 
Matthew maintained that there was con- 
siderable chance of discovering suitable coal 
seams in New Brunswick, and argued that 
something should be done to ascertain their 
possible existence. Dr. Ami stated that 
within the Carboniferous Basin of New 
Brunswick he would include the strata 
ealled ‘ fern-ledges,’ Lancaster formation 
or ‘ Little River Group,’ which held a flora 
and fauna of Carboniferous age. 
Notes on Some of the Silurian and Devonian 
Formations of Eastern Canada,and their Faunas 
and Floras: H.M. Amt, M.A., D.Sc., F.G.S. 
From recent studies carried on by the 
author, the succession of the sedimentary 
formations of both the Silurian and the De- 
vonian Systems in Hastern Canada needs 
revision and elucidation. There are several 
distinct geological horizons which consti- 
tute as many distinct formations that are 
as yet unplaced and unnamed in the Cana- 
dian succession, and a discussion of the re- 
lations which exist between the different 
