GRENADA. 233 



shells of fresh and brackish water types in which, as in the case of the woods, the structure is 

 often well preserved. These fossils should prove of value in determining the age of rocks, 

 and it does not appear that up to the present they have received sufficient attention in this 

 connection. 



" It seems highly probable that these rocks are of similar age to the so-called " Scotland 

 Series" of Barbados, and that they are of considerable geological age. As they underlie 

 limestones, which geologists refer to Miocene times, they may well be of early Miocene or even 

 Eocene age. 



" The point now to be considered is that in the southwestern portion of Antigua these sedi- 

 mentary rocks can be seen to pass into the series commonly described as volcanic, and to 

 give rise to metamorphosed rocks connected with the sedimentary on the one hand, and the 

 apparently volcanic on the other, the cause of this alteration being the intense activity which 

 in later geological times, obliterated the traces of the continental sedimentary areas and sub- 

 stituted the volcanic masses of such islands as St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, and Dominica. 



"With the clue afforded by the study of the Antigua rocks it seems possible to detect 

 traces of the old continental sedimentary areas in several of the islands hitherto regarded as 

 purely volcanic. In this manner, rocks which are probably of sedimentary origin may be 

 found in St. Lucia, where it is interesting to note that small quantities of fossil wood, appar- 

 ently similar to some of the fossil wood of Antigua, has been found in association with them. 



"Again in Grenada, an island hitherto described as entirely volcanic, more or less altered 

 rocks of an apparently sedimentary character have been seen, and it is said that small quanti- 

 ties of limestone are associated with these. If this latter fact is verified, it may link up this 

 series with those of Antigua. 



"The geologically unexplored Grenadine islets, lying between Grenada and St. Vincent, 

 may afford evidence of these hitherto unsuspected stratified rocks and may add to the story 

 of the old Antillean continent. The forms assumed by their weathering suggest in places 

 sedimentary rather than volcanic rocks, as do also some of the outlines of parts of Grenada 

 itself. 



"These now nearly obliterated sedimentary rocks occurring as the Scotland Series of 

 Barbados, the so-called tuffs of Antigua and in a few other parts of the West Indies between 

 Trinidad and the Virgin Islands were probably derived from, or may have constituted part of, 

 the old Antillean continent. A careful study of this formation, coupled with the recognition 

 of its wider distribution than has been hitherto recognized, may be useful in determining the 

 age of that continent, which will probably be found to belong to the Eocene period. 



" The object of these notes is to draw attention to the fact that there exists in the West 

 Indies many plainly indicated, but imperfectly studied, geological problems offering attrac- 

 tions to geologists and promising fair harvests of results. Much has been done by various 

 observers to indicate the general lines of research, but now the details require to be filled in. 

 It would seem that Antigua offers, perhaps, the best starting point for studies such as are 

 here indicated ; after working out the problems of Antigua, those of Guadeloupe and St. Croix 

 would probably be readily solved. After this, it would seem possible to unravel the difficul- 

 ties presented by the volcanic islands, and for this purpose a detailed study of Grenada, the 

 Grenadines, St. Vincent and St. Lucia would doubtless indicate the fine of attack. It is 

 thus evident that, to geological students wishing to combine pleasant travel with interesting 

 work, these islands offer many attractions and some opportunities of gaining recognition for 

 discoveries of interest. 



" Such students, should they come, will find in most places plenty to engage their atten- 

 tion, and kindred spirits willing to direct their inquiries into useful channels without loss of 

 time, and one would view with pleasure and appreciation the formation of a small expedition 



