210 Mineral Localities in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, &c. 
average cross section of the growing front cannot be less than 
250 to 800 miles, or at the minimum a horizontal formation of 
250 times the growing zone can be assumed. Taking the rate as 
before at 24 years to the foot, we shall have for the total time 
24250900, on the data as stated; or, we find the total 
period of 5,400,000 years, as that required for the growth of the 
entire coral limestone formation of Florida. The rate of coral 
growth is nearly a rigid one, scarcely subject to fluctuation in 
any supposable period of time, and the limitation of growth to 
an outer reef of narrow section is also a necessity of organi¢ 
habits. If then it be a fact that all the limestone mass now con- 
sidered is of coral origin, the time of coral growth cannot be 
reduced below the result given above. It is likely to be much 
greater, as all the elements have been assumed on the side of @ 
minimum chronology, and no allowance is made for growth by 
the west end instead of by the front. 
The derivation of the substructure of the bank from coral 
rowth makes the seemingly formidable chronology deduced by 
rof. Agassiz shrink into insignificance. But is this vastness of 
time really incredible? Does its shock to our ideas militate 
against its reality? It is not the method of true philosophy t? 
belittle nature to our ideal standards, but it is rather our duty to 
seek facts without bias or preconception. Looking thus squarely 
at the facts of the reef, in the aspect I have regarded them, the ag 
gregate of time given seems really and truly insufficient. There - 
are vast possibilities of error in such estimates, but are we nob 
quite as likely to err through our preconceptions of limited 
chronology as by boldly submitting to the guidance of estima 
tion from actual bases ! 
—— 
“Art. XXIII.—Catalogue of Mineral Localities in New Brunswick, 
Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland; by O. C. Marsu, B.A., of the 
Sheffield Scientific School, Yale College. 
u ; 
tioned in the Catalogue, especially those in the trap district 
the Bay of Fundy, are copied from the writer’s notes, which wet? 
* Many of the notices of localities referred to in this Province are given 8 the 
authority of Mr. which i cient guarantee for their general accuracy: 
