williams] J. w. DAWSON, CHARLES LYELL. 229 



a thickness of some 5,000 feet and forming the "older coal formation." 

 Above it is a coarse Conglomerate, which is in turn followed by the 

 "newer coal formation." This Conglomerate occurs at New Glasgow, 

 where it dips to the north on West River, and at Mengonish Harbor. 

 Above the Conglomerate occurs a gray fossiliferous limestone, followed 

 by a small bed of coal, whose outcrop can be traced parallel with that 

 of the Conglomerate at Mengonish, having a dip of 25°. Red sand- 

 stones are prominent in the lower part and gray sandstones in the 

 upper part of this series. Fossilized wood is abundant, consisting 

 chiefly of Calamites and Lepidodendra. In Rogers's Hill occurs a Con- 

 glomerate apparently identical with the New Glasgow deposit. This is 

 followed by reddish sandstones and shales. 



The author gives a coast section of the newer coal formation from 

 Cape John, consisting of reddish sandstones and shale with gray beds 

 and limestones containing ferns, etc., and associated with conglomer- 

 ates and gypsum. A section is given of French River at Tatmagouche 

 (GJ miles), showing the relation of the newer coal formation to rocks 

 bearing scales of Roloptychius, probably of Devonian age. This se- 

 ries is seamed by Trappean rocks. 



The newer series of the coal formation was formerly considered as 

 part of the " New Red sandstone," and as including also part of the 

 gypsiferous deposits and the nonfossiliferous red sandstone on the 

 shores of the Bay of Fundy. 



The author also adds a section showing the contact of the Carbonif- 

 erous rocks with the Silurian rocks at Maccara's Brook. Their separa- 

 tion is well shown by the unconformable superposition of the Carbon- 

 iferous series. This section is also considerably disturbed by intrusive 

 rocks. 



In the American Journal of Science 1 Charles Lyell gave an account 

 of " The Coal Formation of Nova Scotia, etc." In regard to its posi- 

 tion, he considered it the equivalent of the Carboniferous, but as lying 

 below the productive Coal Measures. The general rocks consist of red 

 sandstone, red marl, with subordinate beds of gypsum and marine 

 limestone, and occa sionally coal grits and shales with thin seams of 

 coal. 



Mr. Lyell 2 in 1845 discussed the Devonian and Carboniferous systems. 



The Hamilton group (7), which the author considered as concluding 

 the Silurian series of North America, ranges chiefly along the eastern 

 and southeastern flanks of the Alleghanies, while the Devonian and 

 Carboniferous series appear farther west. The Devonian rocks of 

 North America the author considered as the equivalent of the Old Red 

 sandstone series of North Britain and Herefordshire. 



The coal fields of the United States, consisting of the Appalachian, 



1 Vol. 45, pp. 356-359. 



2 Seo also Travels in North America in the Years 1841-42; with Geological Observations on the 

 United States, Canada, and Nova Scotia, in which he defends his determination of the age of the 

 gypsiferous strata as the "Lower Carboniferous." By Charles Lyell. Vol. 2, chap. 25. 



