PREVIOUS RECORDED EVIDENCE 103 



been the subject of much controversy. Dawson (1878, page 82) says of 

 the markings : 



"They are of very doubtful origin, and in my judgment more akin to those 

 trails of aquatic animals which I have named Rhabdichnites." 



Faribault (1887) appears to have regarded the form as inorganic, 

 while Van Hise (1892) considered it a true fossil. In any view of the 

 ease it has no value for determining age. 



In 1891 (page 26) Dawson says of the series : 



"It has unfortunately afforded no well characterized fossils. The markings 

 called Eophyton and certain radiating bodies (Astropolithon) found in it are, 

 however, similar to those occurring elsewhere in Lower Cambrian rocks." 



Bailey mentions (1898, page 55) on the surface of quartzite at Locke- 

 port island, Shelburne county, 



"despite their highly metamorphic character, numerous well marked remains 

 of Asteropolithon, the only evidence, if such they can be considered, of organic 

 remains yet noticed in the Cambrian rocks of southwestern Nova Scotia." 



PROBABLE IN ORGAN JC CHARACTER OF THE FOSSILS 



It is unfortunate that in these cases, as in all others of supposed fossils 

 from the Meguma series with one exception, no illustrations have been 

 published and no technical descriptions except the one noted from Daw- 

 son. Moreover, the authors for the most part are hesitant about accept- 

 ing the forms as organic, even while mentioning them as perhaps 

 important. But, whether the objects referred to under the names Palseo- 

 trochus, Eophyton, and Astropolithon are organic or not, they would 

 appear to have no stratigraphic value, not being index or characteristic 

 species or genera of any knowji horizons elsewhere. 



Our present knowledge of natural fractures in the rocks, purely inor- 

 ganic in origin, discloses a close similarity between some of these and 

 certain of the supposed fossils. The description by Dawson could well be 

 applied to many individuals of the type of fracture called by Professor 

 J. B. Woodworth "discoidal joints." When it is remembered that the 

 coarser strata of the Meguma series abound in cubical pyrite, the pecu- 

 liarities of shape and staining of some of the "fossils" may be explained, 

 as well as their presence. The weathering of pyrite involves an increase 

 in volume and a consequent pressure upon the surrounding rock, which 

 wall account for many discoidal joints, and their shapes and topographic 

 characteristics will depend largely upon the texture, cohesion, and homo- 

 geneity of the rock. 



In passing from this subject it may fairly be considered that at the 

 present time the "fossils" above mentioned have failed to establish their 



