Geological Survey of Canada. 91 



were seen on several occasions. Of the silver-grey fox, the skin of 

 which frequently sells for from twenty-five to thirty pounds currency, 

 from four to twelve have been obtained by the hunters every winter. 

 Mr. Corbet the lessee of the island employs several men during that 

 season to hunt these animals for their fur, and I understand he makes 

 3ome profit by the trade. 



I heard of no animals of any other description, with the exception 

 of wild fowl, and I saw no frogs nor reptiles of any description, and I 

 was informed by the hunters that there were none." 



The portion of the Report specially due to Mr. Billings contains 

 the notices of Anticosti fossils to which we have already referred, 

 and also descriptions of a number of new species found in other 

 parts of Canada. In the Crinoids and Cystideans, in particular, 

 large additions are made to our knowledge, and these will be 

 rendered si ill more valuable when the engravings of fossils, now 

 we believe in progress in Great Britain, are published. To the 

 Cephalopoda also Mr. Billings has directed much attention, and 

 has described many new forms. 



Mr. Hunt's portion of the Report embraces so much matter, 

 both of scientific and practical interest, that we must confine our- 

 selves to notices of a few subjects. Analyses of mineral waters 

 are given in considerable numbers; but we prefer considering 

 those of the two greatest drains of the Canadian territory, the 

 St. Lawrence and the Ottawa : — 



" The plan proposed for supplying the city with water from one of these 

 rivers, having made a knowledge of their chemical composition a mat- 

 ter of considerable interest, I proceeded, agreeably to your desire, to 

 make a careful analysis of their waters. The results, independent of 

 their local value, are important, as showing the composition of two im- 

 mense rivers which drain so large a portion of the continent. 



The time chosen for collecting the waters was in the month of March, 

 before the melting of the snows had commenced. The river waters were 

 then unaffected by the rains and the drainings of the surface, which 

 tend to make their composition variable during the summer season. 



The water of the Ottawa was collected on the 9th of last March at 

 the head of the lock at Ste. Anne, where the position and the rapid cur- 

 rent assured me the water of the river free from all local impurities. 

 The river was here unfrozen, owing to the rapidity of the current, and 

 its temperature was found to be 33° F., that of the air being the same. 



The water, which was free from all sediment or suspended matter, had 

 a pale amber-yellow color, very distinct in masses of six inches. When 

 heated this color deepens, and by boiling there separates a bright brown 

 precipitate, which, when the' volume of the water is reduced to one-tenth, 

 is seen to consist of small brilliant iridescent scales. These are not 



