GEOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY OF CANADA. 



CONTRIBUTIONS TO CANADIAN PALEONTOLOGY. 



VOLUME I. 



BY J. P. WHITBAVES. 



3. On some Fossils from the Triassic Rocks of British Columbia. 



In 18'75, numerous well-preserved Bpecimens of a fossil shell which 

 was identified by the writer with the Monotis subcircularis of Gabb, a 

 characteristic species of the Upper Trias of California, were collected 

 by Dr. Selwyn on the Peace Eiver, in latitude 56° 10' and longitude 

 122° 10'. 



In 1871, specimens of the same species were obtained by Mr. 

 J. Hunter on the Upper Pine Eiver, in latitude 65° 30' and longi- 

 tude 122°; while an obscure fossil, which was doubtfully referred 

 also to Monotis suhcircularis, was collected by Dr. G. M. Dawson on 

 the Whipsaw Creek, at the head-waters of the Similkameen Eiver. 

 During the same year, limestones supposed to be of Triassic origin, on 

 account of the occurrence in them of a Terebratula like T. Humholdt- 

 ensis, Gabb, and of a few scattered joints of a species of Pentacrinites 

 similar to those of the Nevada Trias which Professors Hall and Whit- 

 field doubtfully referred to the P. asteriscus of Meek, were observed Ijy 

 Dr. Dawson at McDonald's Eiver on Nicola Lake. These limestones 

 form part of a group of rocks mostly of volcanic origin, for which the 

 name of the " Nicola Series " was suggested. 



In 18*78, rocks holding fossils which are believed to be Triassic, 

 were discovered by Dr. Dawson at several localities in the central and 

 southern portions of the Queen Charlotte Islands, viz., at Crescent 

 Inlet on Moresby Island, on the south shores of Skidegate and Houston 

 Stewart Channels, on the north coast of Kun-ga Island, and at Section 

 Cove at the north end of Burnaby Island ; also on the north-west coast 

 of Vancouver Island, at Browning Creek in Forward Inlet, Quatsino 

 Sound, and in Forward Inlet near Observatory Eock. In the same 

 year Mr. J. W. McKay gave to Dr. Dawson some pieces of shale from 

 Glenora on the Stikine Eiver, which hold imperfect valves of a species 

 of HaloUa. These specimens are of interest as coming from the most 

 northerly locality in the province, and indeed on the continent of 

 North America, from which Triassic fossils have yet been obtained. 

 "While engaged in a special geological exploration of the northern 



