from the Taconic Series at Canaan, JV. Y. 249 



especially when obscured by the dust of a fresh fracture. The 

 difficulty is much increased by the fact that the ledge is in the 

 shade of thick woods. 



In this place I have noticed only one general phase of the 

 rock, that of a massive heavy-bedded limestone, which in many 

 parts has been broken into small fragments and re-cemented by 

 a close network of veins. Although this is a discouraging 

 point for collection, on account of the rough, moss-covered 

 character of the crags, in addition to other difficulties already 

 mentioned, yet it has proved as rich in the smaller organisms 

 as the tunnel locality, if not richer. 



At the western end of the railroad tunnel, the features are 

 somewhat different. There is more open ground, and the col- 

 lecting is far easier. In addition to many of the smaller organ- 

 isms, there are quite a number of large conspicuous fossils. 

 There is also more variety in the texture of the rock than in 

 the first mentioned locality. The narrow fossiliferous belt which 

 crosses the western roof of the tunnel, presents two varieties; 

 for the width of a few feet along the extreme western edge, the 

 rocks are generally light-colored, quite calcareous, schistose, 

 and inclined to produce in weathering, quite smooth, whitish 

 surfaces. These portions contain the larger and more promi- 

 nent fossils. The strata lying more above and to the east, are 

 darker, and though highly calcareous, yet much interspersed 

 with delicate shaly or arenaceous layers. In these portions, 

 more particularly where the textuie is somewhat shaly, there 

 are films crowded with crinoidal fragments, and delicate gas- 

 teropods. The lighter-colored strata do not, however, appear 

 to be quite destitute of such fossils as abound in the others, and 

 I find no good reason for supposing that there is any distinction 

 here of stratigraphical value. 



Without extensive application of the processes of polishing 

 and making transparent sections of the specimens here collected, 

 it would have been impossible to have arrived at any satisfac- 

 tory knowledge of the fauna present. 



My paleontological observations at these localities have been 

 brief and entirely preliminary. Having visited the place only 

 on three separate days, I have spent, in all, not more than eight 

 or nine hours at these fossiliferous localities. That so large 

 and interesting a collection should have been made in so brief 

 a time shows how numerous must be the remains still pre- 

 served in this crystallized rock. 



In view of the difficult and fragmentary character of the ma- 

 terial, even after I had most thoroughly developed it, it has 

 been a great gratification to me that Mr. S. W. Ford has con- 

 sented to participate in the final examinations, and in making 

 a joint report. 



