Coal Discoveries in Canada. 73 



next in importance are the Ctenoids. The fish with pectinated scales 

 present four types respectively, represented by the group of the 

 Beryx, the Pseudobenjx, the Pycnosterinx, and Platax. These four 

 types, very distinct at the present day, are found at their first 

 appearance to have some characters in common, which become 

 diminished or effaced in succeeding periods, so that they represent 

 the base of four divergent rays, between which are intercalated all 

 the families which have not existed before the Cretaceous epoch. 

 Other Teleosteans, but much more rare, are also found at Lebanon, 

 such as one or two Sparoides, one or two Gobioides, and a curious 

 genus, Petalopteryx ; and lastly, the Hoplopleurides, characterized by 

 a series of scales arranged in longitudinal rows, form a group which 

 at present are special to the Cretaceous period. Thus the fauna of 

 Lebanon, like other Cretaceous faunas, presents relations to succeed- 

 ing and scarcely any to preceding ones ; the general character being 

 the great diminution of Ganoid, and their replacement by many 

 Teleostean fishes. — J. M. 



IL — Coal Discoveries, and Primokdial Fossils, in Nova Scotia, 

 AND New Brunswick. 



[Extract of a letter from Principal Dawson, F.R.S., etc.] 



WHILE your attention in England is much occupied with 

 questions as to the character of your coal-fields, ours in 

 British America is excited by the constantly recurring discoveries of 

 new and greater deposits, almost beyond our present power to utilise 

 them. The great coal-seam of Pictou, thirty-eight feet in thickness, 

 and accompanied by three other workable beds, having an aggregate 

 thickness of nearly as much more, has long been known ; but, until 

 recently, its horizontal extent had been proved only over a very 

 limited area. Within the past three years, an extension of these 

 great beds, with only slightly diminished thickness, has been proved 

 over five other properties, which must contain an aggregate workable 

 quantity of at least one hundred and fifty millions of tons of good 

 bitumimous coal, and there are the best reasons for believing that a 

 much greater extension of these beds will yet be found. The 

 capabilities of our other coal-fields in Nova Scotia and Cape Breton, 

 are also almost daily receiving new illustrations, by the opening up 

 of additional coal areas. Some of the new mines are being worked 

 by companies in N ova Scotia or in Canada, but the greater part by 

 companies in the United States. It seems strange that these deposits, 

 near the coast, within ten days of England, and in a country where 

 the means of subsistence are cheap, should not attract, to a greater 

 extent, the attention of English capitalists, with the view of making 

 them a means of extending British mining and manufacturing in- 

 dustry. 



Little notice appears to have been taken in England of the very 

 remarkable discovery, by Messrs. Matthew and Hartt, referred to in 

 Prof. Bailey's Keport, on Southern New Brunswick, and also in a 

 paper by Mr. Matthew, in the Journal of the Geological Society, of 



