i6 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS. 



ranged under the following general heads : Lithology, Stratigraphy, 

 Palaeontology and Historical Geology. First, Lithology is the 

 study of the rocks as mineral aggregates and as material composing 

 the earth's crust. Second, Stratigraphy is the consideration of the 

 arrangements of the rocky masses of the earth on a large scale. 

 Third, Palaeontology is the study of fossil remains of plants and 

 animals imbedded in the earth's crust, in connection with the suc- 

 cession of deposits ascertained by Stratigraphical investigation. 

 Fourth, Historical Geology is the application of all the above to the 

 geological history of the earth, and connects the elements of prac- 

 tical geology with the theory and application of the subject. 



For the greater convenience of the study of Geology the scien- 

 tists have divided and sub-divided the rocky structure of the earth 

 into as many divisions as the differences in composition will warrant. 

 In Canada the rocky crust has been divided by the geologist into 

 twelve systems, these again are divided into many formations or 

 groups, representing a particular epoch in geologic time. Those 

 formations in which we in and around the City of Hamilton are 

 more directly interested are called the Medina, Clinton and Nia. 

 gara formation forming part of the silurian system. In order to 

 be able to distinguish fragments of one from the other we note the 

 well marked deposits composed of clay, sand and lime in such 

 proportions and having imbedded in them certain fossils peculiarly 

 characteristic to them as to be almost certain of their place in the 

 geological chain. They are in some, and particularly in Niagara 

 formation, clearly marked. The bed dividing the above forma- 

 tion from the Clinton is composed of light grey magnesian 

 limestone, weathering yellowish, holding the fossil known as 

 Pentamuous Oblongus in great abundance, to the uniniti- 

 ated they are mistaken for hickory nuts fossilized. The divi- 

 sion between the Clinton and Medina formation is also clearly 

 defined by the deep band of grey sandstone, no doubt well 

 known to many of you. To become a geologist in the proper 

 sense of the word entails much study as well as physical labor. He 

 must be able to pronounce with certainty upon any specimen sub 

 mitted for his investigation, because of his familiarity with the com- 

 position of the different strata in the different formations. I do not 

 think that it would be drawing too largely upon the imagination to 



