ee 
bs 
Notes from the Chemical Laboratory. 347 
The powdered mineral dissolved to a small extent only in 
hydrochloric acid; but it was evident that there was some 
appreciable quantity of iron compounds soluble in that 
substance. This iron doubtless belongs to the black matrix. 
The 37:45 parts of iron would require 42°80 parts of sul- 
phur for Fe S,. This would seem to indicate a lower state 
of combination for the nickel. But if the nickel is cal- 
culated as Ni S,, the remaining sulphur requires 34°12 of 
iron for Fe 8,. It is not unreasonable to suppose that the 
iron in excess of this (3:33 p. c.) was derived from the horn- 
blendic matrix, and from particles of magnetite and pyr- 
rhotite. } 
The analysis was made by Prof. W. Nicol, Mr. T. 
LL. Walker, and the writer. Mr. Walker, formerly 
chemist at the Murray Mine, Sudbury, has made repeated 
assays of this nickel ore, and the analysis here given is 
concordant with his assays. The nickel and cobalt were 
not separated, but the indications were that the latter is 
present in small proportion if not altogether absent. 
Carruthers Hall, Queen’s University, March 29th, 1893. 
Is THE FAUNA CALLED ‘ PRIMORDEAL” THE Most 
ANCIENT FAUNA 2 
By G. F. Marrnew, M.A,, F.R.S.C. 
Under the above title Dr. J. Bergeron discusses the 
claim of the Primordeal Fauna of Barrande to be considered 
the oldest assemblage of animals that has existed on the 
earth. This is the fauna which characterises the Cambrian 
rocks (as now understood), and which for a long time was 
claimed to be the oldest that has existed on the earth. 
Dr. Bergeron thinks differently and cites abundant inter- 
nal evidence from the fauna itself in favour of his view that 
there has been an older fauna. 
After speaking of the influence which the opinions of 
Darwin and other evolutionists have had on the interpreta- 
tion of late discoveries in the Cambrian rocks (especially 
