58 PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL society. [June 16, 
chiefly composed of soft red sandstones, little disturbed, and similar 
im mineral character to the new red sandstone of Nova Scotia; but 
they contain in their lower part silicified wood and other vegetable 
fossils, which I have not been able to distinguish from some found 
in the newer coal formation. It is however possible that these red 
sandstones of Prince Edward Island may be post-carboniferous. It 
is not improbable that the new red sandstone of Connecticut, and 
some other parts of the United States, which is believed to be a 
Triassic deposit, may be of the same age with the formation above 
described. At present however, from the want of fossils in the new 
red sandstone of Nova Scotia, it must be regarded as a post-carbo- 
niferous deposit of uncertain age. 
The new red sandstones now described appear to have been depo- 
sited in an arm of the sea, somewhat resembling in its general form 
the southern part of the present Bay of Fundy, but rather longer and 
wider. This ancient bay was bounded by disturbed carboniferous 
and Silurian strata; and the detritus which it received was probably 
chiefly derived from the softer strata of the carboniferous system. 
The arenaceous nature of the new red sandstone, as compared with 
the character of these older deposits, indicates that the ancient bay 
must have been traversed by currents, probably tidal like those of 
the modern bay, which washed away the argillaceous matter so as to 
prevent the accumulation of muddy sediment. When we consider 
the large amount of land in the vicinity of the waters m which the 
new red sandstone was deposited, the deficiency of organic remams in 
its beds is somewhat surprising, though this is perhaps to be attri- 
buted rather to the materials of the deposit and the mode of its 
accumulation, than to any deficiency of vegetable or animal life at 
the period in question. 
The volcanic action which manifested itself im the bed and on the 
margin of the bay of the new red sandstone, is one of the most re- 
markable features of the period. It has brought to the surface 
great quantities of melted rock, without disturbing or altermg the 
soft arenaceous beds through which it has been poured, and whose 
surface it has overflowed. ‘The masses thus accumulated on the 
surface have greatly modified the features of the districts in which 
they occur ; especially the great ridge extending westward from Cape 
Blomidon. It is worthy of note, that this ridge, probably marking 
the site of a line of vents of the new red sandstone period, and oc- 
curring in a depression between two ancient hilly districts, so nearly 
coincides in direction with these older lines of disturbance. The 
trap rocks associated with the new red sandstone do not precisely 
coincide in mineral character with any that I have observed in other 
parts of Nova Scotia, though it is possible that some of the igneous 
rocks which have penetrated and disturbed the carboniferous rocks 
of various parts of this province, may belong to the new red sandstone 
period, or are of a date not long anterior to it. 
The new red sandstone of Nova Scotia contains no valuable mineral 
deposits, unless the agates and jaspers of the associated trap deserve 
that designation. It generally supports fertile soils. 
