244 CAVES AND POTHOLES AT UOCKWOOD. 



THE CAVES AND POTHOLES AT ROCKVVOOD, 

 ONTARIO. 



BY PROF. J. HOYES PANTON, M. A., F. G. S. 



Some time ago while on h trip to Rockwood, with students of 

 Geology from the Agricultural (.Jollege, for the purpose of showing 

 them some examples of how water acts upon limestone I was forcibly 

 impressed by a most interesting sei-ies of Potholes found in that 

 district, not far from where the somewhat well known caves are seen. 



So impressive were these phenomena, that for three consecutive 

 holidays, the students made their way to Rockwood, and on two of 

 the occasions, were accompanied by mysi'lf. 



A thorough examination of the locality was made, and data collect- 

 ed, which I purpose placing before you this evening, and which should 

 be interesting to a Society that has been established for the purpose 

 of developing the history of our Province whether it be written upon 

 the rocks or pages of a more perishable character. 



In treating the subject, the following divisions are naturally i)re- 

 sented : — 1. The location of the Caves and Potholes ; 2. A description 

 of them ; 3. An explanation of their formation ; 4. Theories concern- 

 ing the origin of the phenomena, that caused their formation. 



1. — Location. 



Rockwood is a small village on the line of the Grand Trunk Rail- 

 way, situated about 8 miles east of Guelph, and 42 west of Toronto. 

 Leaving the station and proceeding in the direction of the village, 

 you very soon observe that you are in a place well named — Rockwood, 

 from the amount of I'ock in the vicinity. Along the river, which 

 passes through the village are striking exposures of rock, at some 

 places escarpments 50 to 70 feet high made up largely of massive 

 layers of Magnesian limestone, belonging to the Niagara formation of 

 the Silurian system. Fossils are not numerous, Crinoid^ stems are by 



