﻿262 T. Davidson — What is a BracliiopocI ? 



a rising area, than by glaciers. (See Geol. Mag., Decade II. 

 Vol. III. Nos. 7, 8, 9, July, August, and September, 1876.) 



Conclusion. — In conclusion I may say tbat it appears that the 

 rocks of Newfoundland are exclusively old ones, a character which 

 might be inferred from their metamorphosed and generally broken 

 up and contorted appearances. Here and there fossils exist, but 

 they are scarce. In all formations up to the Devonian and Carboni- 

 ferous, which are the youngest excepting the general superficial 

 covering of Drift, igneous rocks ai'e abundant. During Silurian 

 times there were probably large volcanos, which gave vent to fields 

 of lava, and deposited large beds of ashes. But even these rocks 

 also have undergone great changes, and are now only to be recog- 

 nized as chloritic and serpentinous masses — a character of metamor- 

 phism which seems to be common to many of the formations. An 

 important point about the serpentinous rocks is that they have been 

 already proved to be the receptacles of mineral wealth. In many 

 joarts of the country there is the strongest evidence to show that the 

 i.-^land has lately emerged from the sea, and during this elevation, for 

 reasons which have in part been previousl}'^ expressed, we believe 

 that Coast-ice was the chief agent in impressing on the country the 

 glaciated character which it now carries — a view which has subse- 

 quently been strengthened by observations on tlie coast of Finland. 

 Besides the metalliferous wealth of the island, which is in the main 

 confined to the serpentines of the Middle 'Quebec Group, much may 

 be expected from the Coal-measures. When the value of these two 

 formations becomes fully recognized, we may expect to see the local 

 government stimulated to giving further aid to geological explo- 

 ration, — explorers will be attracted, the dreary wastes of the almost 

 unknown interior will be penetrated, and something more certain 

 will be learnt about the early history and formation of our long- 

 neglected and oldest colony New^founclanb.' 



III. — What is a Braohiopob?* 

 By Thomas Davidson, F.E.S., F.G.S., V.P.P.S. 



PART III. 



( With a large fulding Table.) 



Affinities of the BeAceiopoDA. 

 For some years past, the serious attention of several eminent 

 malacologists has been directed to the endeavour to determine the 



1 I refrain from more at present, than to make a few general remarks upon 

 j\Ir. Milne's conclusions in regard to glacial action, and the rise of the land, as 

 I shall probably have something to say upon these subjects at a future time. I 

 think, however, there ai-e evidences to show that there must have been enormous 

 glacial action, probably intermittent; and that the rock-basins of many of the great 

 lakes of the interior, and other phenomena at high elevations in the interior and on 

 the coast, can only be accounted for as the result of such an agency. I also think 

 tliat the evidences we have, of the rise of the land in i:ery recent times, do not show 

 an elevation of over a hundred feet at most over the present level of the sea. 



My new Geological Map of Newfoundland will probably aid in illustrating both 

 Mr. Milne's and my own remarks. It may be obtained at Mr. Edward Stanford's, 

 5-5. Chiiririg Cross. — Alex. Murray. 



2 [Concluded from the May Number, p. 208.) 



