212 Revieivs — Billings* Fossils of Anticosti. 



The marine strata overlie those of brackish water origin ; they are, 

 however, separated by a well-marked bed of clay ; one foot in thick- 

 ness, containing, in great abundance, specimens of Cingula, closely 

 allied to C. sutura, Franeuf. A sandstone, 60 feet in thickness, of 

 marine origin, covers this bed of clay; it contains no Molluscan 

 remains, but portions of Echinidce are met Avith. — H.B.W. 



iaE'^IE"WS. 



L — Catalogues of the Silurian Fossils of the Island of 

 Anticosti, with descriptions of new genera and species. 

 By E. Billings, F.G.S., Palaeontologist to the Greological Survey 

 of Canada. 8vo., 93 pages. Montreal, Nov, 1866. 



THIS brochure is the continuation of the "Palaeozoic Fossils," of 

 426 pages, by the same author ; of which the last sheets 

 appeared in 1865. It contains descriptions of two new genera and 

 104 new species of mollusca, Crustacea, etc., from the Hudson River, 

 Anticosti, Clinton, and Niagara groups of Canada, in connection with 

 general remarks of a novel character upon the synonymy of the 

 American and English older Paleozoic rocks. Mr. Billings, though 

 very modest and rarely appearing in public, has within the past ten 

 years been greatly instrumental in advancing our knowledge of 

 American Palaeozoic geology. It was almost universally believed 

 that the enormous thickness of strata called locally the "Quebec 

 Group," and extending from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to Alabama, 

 was of Middle Silurian age ; but Mr. Billing's descriptions of fossils, 

 fortified by the opinion of M. Barrande, have convinced the whole 

 world that the series is not Middle Silurian, nor even the e4uivalent 

 of the Lingula flags (Potsdam), but that it forms a new group not 

 before recognized, of about the epoch of the Lower Llandeilo. An 

 idea of Mr. Billing's ability and industry may be gathered from the 

 fact that he has described not less than 43 new genera and 870 

 species of new Paleozoic fossils; and there are many others in his 

 hands awaiting description. It is very creditable to the executive 

 capacity of Sir W. E. Logan that the Survey under his charge has 

 collected so many rare fossils, and arranged them in their proper 

 stratigraphical horizons, or rather intercalated new epochs in the 

 Silurian almanac. We trust these preliminary notices will be 

 speedily followed by such accurate engravings and elaborate de- 

 scriptions of the new forms as their importance demands, and such as 

 will reflect honor upon the liberality of the Canadian Government. 



We will now present a table of the revised nomenclature of the 

 North American older strata, and their synonymy with the English 

 formations, as enunciated in this pamphlet. 



\, Clinton, or divisions three and four of the Anticosti groups ... U. IJandovery 



2. Anticosti, divisions one and two ... ... ... ... L. Llandovery 



3. Oneida conglomerate, and Medina S. 



4. Hudson Kiver and Utica slates ... ... Caradoc 



6. Trenton limestone 



6. Birds-eye and Black River 



