Things to be observed in Canada. 9 



Poe and Mr. Murphy deserve especial mention, as having devoted 

 much time and effort to the improvement and increase of out 

 means of study in this department. 



Geology presents on every side ample harvests to the inhabi- 

 tants of this city. Our noble mountain, — the skeleton of an old 

 silurian volcano, with its multitudinous trap-dykes of various age 

 and composition, is itself a study capable of throwing new light on 

 the phenomena of volcanic agency as manifested in those ancient 

 periods. The stratified rocks at its base, full of fossils, — many of 

 them no doubt undescribed, and, in some of their beds, actually 

 made up of the comminuted fragments of shells and corals, — in- 

 vite the attention of the most unobservant. Every block of build- 

 ing-stone from our quarries is a mass of animal debris, presenting 

 under the microscope hundreds of beautiful forms bearing the 

 impress of creative skill, though belonging to perished races of 

 animals. Our worthy associate, Mr. Billings, now most usefully 

 connected with the Geological Survey, is a brilliant example of 

 reputation, and, what is better, accurate and extensive knowledge, 

 gathered from the study of the Lower Silurian limestones. 

 " I need scarcely remind you of the tertiary clays to which I had 

 the pleasure of directing the attention of this Society at one of 

 its late meetings. They have yielded in the past summer about 

 thirty species of animal remains not previously known to exist in 

 them ; and many of these have been brought to light by the in- 

 dustry of our College students. Some even of the boys of the 

 High School now have collections of these fossils, and have been 

 successful in adding to the number of species. Much yet re- 

 mains to be done in this field ; and I look forward to the time 

 when we shall have nearly complete lists of the shells peculiar to 

 each level of the Peistocene sea, and to the present Gulf of the 

 St. Lawrence, and an accurate knowledge of the position of the 

 shores of each successive salt-water area, as the sea gradually left 

 our noble valley. We shall then be in a position to offer a large 

 contribution to the tertiary geology of America, and of the world. 

 With the present facilities for travelling, the whole geology of 

 Canada lies before us ; and we need not apprehend that Sir ¥m. 

 Logan will grudge us space in this large field. He has done, and 

 is doing, a great work ; but, even with his skill and energy, were 

 he to live far beyond the allotted age of man, he would but find 

 the number of openings for investigation increasing before him. 

 He has well and effectually opened up an immense territory ; but 

 there is room in it for hundreds of geologists to earn reputation? 



