PERCE 



A brief sketch of its geology 

 BY JOHN M. CLARKE 



In seeking the solution of some problems pertaining to the dis- 

 tribution of the ancient faunas of New York, and the nature and 

 extent of the old land barriers and sea channels, one follows only a 

 blind lead if respect is had alone to such evidence as is found within 

 our own political boundaries. In the conservation of the factors 

 necessary to the reconstitution of these early stages in our history, 

 nature has been kind to New York and in the quality of fulness her 

 ancient faunas are not often excelled, but within these confines is 

 but a part of the story; now and again a stage has been skipped 

 here w^hich is recorded elsewhere, or a phase is but obscurely pre- 

 sented in the panorama of New York events which in neighboring 

 territories is portrayed with lucid cogency. 



Much of interest lies in the time and mode of introduction into 

 New York of the earliest faunas of the Devonic age. Here they are 

 represented in various degrees of effectiveness and profusion, and 

 for the most part follow with little evidence of interruption on those 

 of the great Siluric age preceding. The pathway of movement of 

 these faunas along the old continental border lies to the northeast 

 and to the southwest, and the labors of our predecessors and col- 

 leagues in the latter region have thrown much light on their distribu- 

 tion and travels through what is now the region of the Appalach- 

 ian mountains but what was then off the coast or along the water 

 ways of the ancient continent termed Appalachia. 



Seeking such clues to the northeast led us a few years ago into 

 the county of Gaspe, province of Quebec, and the region just north 

 of Gaspe bay, and likewise to the exposures about Dalhousie N. B. 

 at the head of the Bay of Chaleurs, places where unequaled oppor- 

 tunity is afforded for the study of some of the New York faunas 



