2 PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [NoV. 2, 



series of carboniferous rocks, and as being especially remarkable for 

 the number of trees and other plants preserved in situ in an erect 

 position*. In a coast-line of about seven miles in length, there is pre- 

 sented a vertical thickness of 14,000 feet of beds, extending from the 

 marine limestones of the Lower Carboniferous series to the top of 

 the Coal-formation ; and, in the greater part of this distance, the beds 

 are exposed in a vertical cliff, from 30 to 80 feet in height, and in 

 the reefs which at low-tide are dry to the distance of 200 yards from 

 its base. In the cliff, and on the beach, more than seventy seams of 

 coal, with their underclays and roof-shales, can be distinctly seen, 

 and erect plants occur at about as many distinct levels, while the 

 action of the waves and of the tide, which rises to the height of 40 

 feet, prevents the collection of debris at the foot of the cliff, and 

 continually exposes new and fresh surfaces of rock. 



The section to be described in this paper refers to a vertical thick- 

 ness of 2800 feet, in the central part of the Coal-formation, examined 

 with especial reference to the conditions of accumulation of coal, the 

 nature and mode of preservation of erect trees, evidences of contem- 

 porary land animals, and other points of present interest in geology. 

 The most novel results of this exainination have already been com- 

 municated to this Society, in a paper on the remains of a reptile and 

 a land shell, found in one of the beds. All the new facts relating to 

 the rocks themselves, and to the Flora of the Coal-period and its 

 aquatic Fauna, are embraced in the present paper, and have been 

 arranged as follows : 



I. Sectional list of the beds. 



II. Remarks on the mineral character and arrangement of the 



rocks occurring in the section. 



III. Chronological sketch of the series of events which the section 



indicates. 



IV. Notices of new facts relating to the fossils of the Coal- 



formation. 



I. Section of part of the Coal-measures of the South Joggins, Nova 

 Scotia; in descending order. Strike S. 65° E. INIagnetic ; Dip 

 S. 25°W. 19°. 



(The asterisks denote the ancient soil beds, with roots.) 



[Appended to this paper is an abstract of Mr. Logan's general section of the 

 Joggins measures, showing the relation of these beds to the other members of 

 the Cai'boniferous system.] 



Group XXIX. 



On the western side of M'Caii-ii's Brook, which is about three-fourths of a 

 mile S.W. fi-om the Coal Pier, the coast-section shows a great thick- 

 ness of grey sandstones, with grey and chocolate shales ; iu which were 



* For reference to previous descriptions see note to paper on " Remains of a 

 Reptile," &c.. Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. Hay 1853, vol. ix. p. 58. See also the 

 list of papers, in the Society's Journal, relating to the Coal-fields of Nova Scotia 

 and New Brunswick, appended to this memoir. 



