66 Canadian Record of Science. 



of fossil remains ; in fact the limestone strata are entirely 

 of organic origin. Each of the several formations presents 

 its special fauna, composed of creatures all of which have 

 been long extinct, and which are therefore, for the most 

 part verv different from the forms of life now inhabiting 

 our globe. Before a thorough knowledge of each of these 

 several faunas can be obtained and their relations to one 

 another satisfactorily established, large collections of fos- 

 nsils must be made from the several formations, so that we. 

 may have as nearly as possible all the forms which are 

 present in these successive oceanic deposits. For these 

 purposes complete collections should be made of all the 

 fossils to be found in the various quarries about the city, 

 as, for instance, the Mile End quarries, and those at Pointe 

 Claire and St. Martin's Junction. In this connection the 

 small occurrences of limestone at the water edge on the 

 south side of St. Helen's Island are of especial interest, as 

 being very much more recent than any of the other lime- 

 stones in this part of the Province, and a thorough know- 

 ledge of these fossils is for this and for many other reasons 

 of the greatest interest. 



The principal fossils occurring in the quarries about the 

 city are figured and described in the Geology of Canada, 

 published by the Geological Survey of Canada in 1863, a 

 copy of which is to be found in the library of the Society, 

 while lists of the fossils found up to the present time in 

 St. Helen's Island rocks are given by Mr. Donald and Dr. 

 Deeks in two papers which ha'S'e already appeared in the 

 Canadian PtECoriD of Science. 



For those members of the Society particularly interested 

 , in tlie ancient volcanic phenomena displayed in the 

 vicinity of Montreal, Alount Eoyal affords abundant 

 upportunity for work and study. The " Mountain," as is 

 well known, is the root or remnant of an old volcano, 

 wasted and worn down through successive long geological 

 ages, bv the continuous action of rain, frost and the other 



