1870.] HIND—GNEISSOID SERIES OF NOVA SCOTIA. 469 
I. Lyrropuction. 
Tue descriptions contained in this paper, so far as they relate to 
Nova Scotia, are in the main the results of observations during the 
summers of 1868 and 1869, while making geological surveys for 
the Nova-Scotian Government, in the gold-districts of Waverley and 
Sherbrooke. The comparisons with New Brunswick are based on my 
official Report on the Geology of that Province*, published in 1865 ; 
and the references to Cape Breton, when not otherwise stated, are 
from MS. notes of explorations in that island during 1866. 
The accompanying maps (Pl. XXX.) embrace part of Halifax, 
Hants, and Guysborough Counties in Nova Scotia, and in New Bruns- 
wick a broad belt extending from the Bay of Chaleurs to the 
boundary line between New Brunswick and Mainey. 
Geological maps of Nova Scotia were published by Dr. Abraham 
Gesner in 1836+, by Dr. Dawson in 1865§ and in 1868], and by 
Sir William E. Logan in 18654 and in 1869**. 
- Sir William Logan states, in the introduction to his ‘Atlas of 
Maps and Sections,’ that for the geology of Nova Scotia “a manu- 
script map by Dr. J. W. Dawson, compiled from his own researches 
and those of Messrs. R. Brown and H. Poole, has been the source 
of information.” Hence, in making the necessary comparisons be- 
tween the subject of this paper and the published descriptions and 
maps of Nova Scotia, I shall have to refer almost exclusively to 
Dr. Dawson’s maps of 1868, accompanying the 2nd edition of his 
beautiful work on Acadian Geology. 
In a Preliminary Reporttf on the supposed Laurentian of Nova 
Scotia, I have quoted some passages from Dr. Dawson’s work, espe- 
cially the explanation to the geological map, in which the uncer- 
tainty of the boundaries of formations, and the doubtful age of some 
strata are adverted to. The recognition of very large gneissoid areas 
in Nova Scotia, supposed to represent two series not hitherto de- 
scribed as occurring in the Province, will enable some of the changes 
in part anticipated by Dr. Dawson to be foreshadowed with some 
degree of accuracy; and it is proper to repeat here Dr. Dawson’s 
first paragraph of the ‘ Explanations to the Geological Map : ’—‘‘ The 
map in this edition, though greatly improved, is still to be regarded 
* Preliminary Report on the Geology of New Brunswick: Fredericton, 1865. 
t In southern New Brunswick Professor Bailey and Mr. Matthew have dis- 
covered Laurentian and Huronian rocks. They are described in their ‘Observa- 
tions on the Geology of Southern New Brunswick’ (Fredericton, 1865) ; also in 
an able paper by Mr. Matthew, published in the Society’s Journal for November 
1865, ‘On the Azoic and Paleozoic Rocks of Southern New Brunswick.” 
; Remarks on the Geology and Mineralogy of Nova Scotia, by Abraham 
Gesner: Halifax, Nova Scotia, 1836. 
§ Acadian Geology, 1st edition. 
| Op. cit. 2nd edition: Macmillan and Co., London, 1868. 
q Atlas of Maps and Sections: Montreal, Dawson Brothers, 1865, 
** Geological Map of Canada and the adjacent Regions, 1869: London, 
Edward Stanford. 
tt Preliminary Report on a Gneissoid Series underlying the Gold-bearing 
Rocks of Nova Scotia, and supposed to be the Equivalent of the Laurentian 
System: Halifax, Nova Scotia, January 5, 1870. 
