On Fossil Sponges. 429 
On Fosstn SPONGES FROM BEDS OF THE QUEBEC 
Group OF SIR WILLIAM LoGAN, AT LITTLE 
METISs.' 
By Sir J. W. Dawson, LL,D., F.R.S. 
(Abstract. ) 
The discovery of these sponges was made by Dr. B. J. 
Harrington in 1887, and as it was obviously of much 
interest, was followed up by further exploration in the beds 
containing the fossils. 
A preliminary note on the specimens was published in the 
“ Notes on Specimens ” of the Peter Redpath Museum last 
winter, and in the past session more thorough exploration 
of the beds was made by the employment of labourers to 
open up the more fertile layers. In this way a large amount 
of additional material was obtained, which has been ecare- 
fully studied, and the more important specimens submitted 
to Dr. G. J. Hinde, the author of the British Museum Cata- 
logue of Fossil Sponges. 
The present paper gives a detailed account of the contain- 
ing beds, with a map and sections, and describes the species 
found, which are about eleven in number, all siliceous 
sponges, and most of them Hexactinelid. Of these six 
belong to the genus Protospongia, one to the genus Cyatho- 
spongia, and five others belong to new genera which are 
described in the paper. There are remains indicating other 
species, but too imperfect for certain determination. The 
whole of these forms occur in two layers of black and gray 
shale only a few inches in thickness, in beds for the most 
part destitute of fossils. The specimens are all flattened 
and the spicules are in most cases pyritised. 
The beds appear to belong to the Levis division, and con- 
tain with the sponges a brachiopod of the genus Linnarssonia 
and of fucoid, Buthotrephis pergracilis. In beds of sandstone 
associated with shales are the Graptolites of the genus Retio- 
lites, probably Rensiformis of Hall. 
' Read before the Royal Society of Canada, May, 1889. 
