XOTES AND QUERIES. 
371 
bottoms, perpendicular sides, and as sinootli as glass. Here too their position, 
regularity, and mamier of formation, point them out not as the operations of 
nat ure, but as the works of our forefathers, who deliglited to worship the " God 
of the storm, the thunder, and the tempest ;" who knew not the God of love, 
and who chose then temples accordingly. — Francis E. Drake, Hill Field 
House, Leicester. 
The Discoverer of the Oldhamia. — Dear Sir, — In the last number 
of your most useful periodical. The Geologist, wlrieh has reached me here — 
namely that for May 1859, I find what appears to be an erroneous statement. 
In a note at page 184 you say, " The OldhamiiE found in 1847 by Dr. Kinahan 
in the Cambrian-rocks of Bray Head were the first relics found in the Cambrian- 
rocks." And again, at page 189, speaking of Bray Head, you remark, " It was 
tliere, however, nine years before Mr. Salter's discoveries in Shropshire, that 
the first relics of a primordial organized life were found by Dr. Kinahan." I 
see also in another journal, the " Athenteum," of April 23rd, 1859, in a brief 
notice of my zealous colleague and collector in Ireland, Mr. Flanagan, that he 
is stated to have been the " discoverer of the Oldhamia." 
I think it desnable to place on record the facts of the case, not because I 
suppose that there is any credit attached to such a discovery, but simply be- 
cause it is always well to fix accurately the date of such circumstances. 
In vol. iii. of the " Journal of the Geological Society of Dublin," pages 57 and 
CO you will find a notice of a paper on Bray Head read by me to the Society, 
in which you will see these fossils noticed. I stated that I had not, up to that 
time, been successfid in finding " organic remains in the slate rocks of Bray 
Head, with the exception of some small zoophytic markings, which did not ap- 
pear referable to known genera." This was first laid before the Society on the 
8th of May, 1844, and finally read on the 12th June, 1844. The paper was 
accompanied by a large collection of these zoophytes. This series was subse- 
quently submitted to my dear friend Edward Forbes, who carefully examined 
them, and on the 15th November, 1848, described their characters to the 
Geological Society of Dublm, giving to them the generic name of Oldhamia, 
wdiich had been suggested two years before by Sir H. de la Beclie. 
Mr. Flanagan subsequently, under my own directions — I being at that time 
in charge of the Geological Survey in Ireland — visited Bray Head, and carefully 
examined it for fossils. I personally pointed out to liim the places where I had 
found these Oldhamia, and to the then known localities Mr. Flanagan added 
several others ; but so far from being the discoverer of these fossils, he was 
sent there specially by me to eoUect them. 
You will see from the above that the Oldhamiae were not discovered by Dr. 
Kinalian in 1847, but were publicly exhibited and referred to in 1844. They 
were in reality known to me in 1840, and I have sketches of them of that date ; 
but they were not made public till 1844. 
To Dr. Kuiahan, geologists are indebted for very valuable contributions to 
our knowledge of these curious remains — additions made since I left Ireland, 
and 1 trust he may long continue to investigate the natui-al history of his 
native land with equal success. — I am, dear Sir, yours faitlifully, Thomas 
Oldham, Calcutta, 2nd July, 1859. — Mr. Mackie sincerely regrets the in- 
advertance referred to in Professor Oldham's letter, which he prmts in full, 
believing there are others who have been accidentally misled in like manner 
\iith himself, and that it is proper the real discoverer should have his just 
merit fairly acknowledged. 
Anciekt Canoes. — Sir, — Is there any reason, antiquarian or geological, 
whv some of the rude canoes of very early date wMch have been foiuid in peat 
and estuary deposits in this and other countries should not belong to that 
early age of tlie primitive men who were possibly associated on our planet with 
