THE SEPTAEIA. 123 



dlally tlie larger ones, and fall to pieces when 

 exposed to the atmosphere. 



Of this shale, in which the septaria are 

 found. Dr. Orton speaks as of great possible 

 future value, since it is rich in carbon material. 

 In the present condition of increasing scarcity 

 and expense of fuel there should be a measure 

 of interest attached to this stratum: a combi- 

 nation of vegetable product, or, possibly, the 

 waste of cities with it, being one method by 

 which its utility in that direction might be 

 solved. 



The blue clay, valuable in pottery, is also 

 one of the shale products. 



Notwithstanding many plain references to 

 these concretions of the Huron shale, the sep- 

 taria, there was still one point upon which no 

 light was shed. Were the septaria a growth of 

 ancient times? 



There they were upon the exposed walls of 

 Fern Canyon, from the base to the top of the 

 hill, as if the mere production of yesterday. 

 From hoary, old, crumbled patriarchs to mere 

 infants of a few inches in diameter, they insist- 

 ently propounded the query. 



On this point I found no source of informa- 

 tion in any book. Years passed and the ques- 

 tion was unanswered but not forgotten. The 

 science of geology is still in its youth, the nine- 

 teenth century having seen the greater part of 



