460 Proceedings of Learned Societies. 



examined the laminated material, and he found it to consist of 

 the remains of an organism which grew in large sessile patches, in- 

 creasing at the surface by the addition of successive layers of 

 chambers separated by calcareous lamina?. Slices examined micro- 

 scopically showed large irregular chambers with numerous rounded 

 extensions, and bounded by walls of variable thickness, which are 

 skidded with septal orifices irregularly disposed ; the thicker parts 

 of the walls revealed the existence of bundles of fine branching 

 tubuli. Dr. Dawson, therefore, concludes that this ancient organ- 

 ism, to which he gave the name of Eozoon Canadense, was a Fora- 

 minifer allied to Ccvrpenteria by its habits of growth, but of more 

 complex structure, as indicated by the complicated systems of 

 tubuli ; it attained an enormous size, and by the aggregation of in- 

 dividuals, assumed the aspect of a coral reef. Dr. Carpenter cor- 

 roborated Dr. Dawson's observations on the structure and affinities 

 of Mozooti, but stated also that, as he considered the characters fur- 

 nished by the intimate structure of the shell to be of primary im- 

 portance, and the plan of growth to have a very subordinate value, 

 he did not hesitate to express his belief in its affinities to Num- 

 viulina. Mr. Sterry Hunt stated that the mineral silicates, occur- 

 ring in the chambers, cells, and canals left vacant by the disappear- 

 ance of the animal matter of the Eozooji ; and in many cases even in 

 the tubuli, filling up their smallest ramifications, are a white 

 pyroxene, a pale green serpentine and pyrallolite, and a dark-green 

 alumino-masrnesian mineral which he referred to Lo°;anite. The 

 calcareous septa in the last case are dolomitic, but in the other in- 

 stances are composed of nearly pure carbonate of lime. Mr. S. 

 Hunt then gave the results of a chemical analysis of specimens from 

 the different localities, and deduced therefrom the composition and 

 affinities of Loganite ; this mineral he considered to be allied to 

 chlorite and to pyrosclerite in composition, but to be distinguished 

 from them by its structure. In conclusion, he showed that the 

 various silicates already mentioned were directly deposited in 

 waters in the midst of which the Eozoon was still growing or had 

 only recently perished, and that they penetrated, enclosed, and pre- 

 served the structure of the organisms precisely as carbonate of 

 lime might have done; and he cites these and other facts in sup- 

 port of his opinion that these silicated minerals were formed, not by 

 subsequent metamorphism in deeply buried sediments, but by reac- 

 tions going on at the earth's surface. 



December 7. 



On the Geology op Otago, New Zealand. — Dr. Hector de- 

 scribed the south-western part of the province of Otago as com- 

 posed of crystalline rocks forming lofty and rugged mountains, 

 intersected by deeply cut valleys, occupied by arms of the sea on 

 the west, and by the great lakes on the east. These crystalline 

 rocks comprise an ancient contorted gneiss, and a newer (probably 

 not very old) series of hornblende-slate, gneiss, quartzite, etc. East- 

 wards they are succeeded by well bedded sandstones, shales, and 

 porphyritic conglomerates, with greenstone-slates, etc., in patches, 

 all probably of Lower Mesozoic age. Then follow the great auri- 



