262 
T. Davidson — What is a Brachiopod ? 
a rising area, than by glaciers. (See Geol. Mag., Decade II. 
Yol. III. Nos. 7, 8, 9, July, August, and September, 1876.) 
Conclusion. — In conelusion I may say that it appears tliat the 
rocks of Newfoundland are exclusively old ones, a character whicli 
might be inferred from tkeir metamorpbosed and generally broken 
up and contorted appearances. Here and there fossils exist, but 
tliey are scarce. In all formations up to the Devonian and Carboni- 
ferous, which ai - e the youngest excepting tke general superficial 
covering of Drift, igneous rocks are abundant. Düring Silurian 
times there were probably large volcanos, which gave vent to fields 
of lava, and deposited large beds of aslies. But even these rocks 
also kave undergone great changes, and are now only to be recog- 
nized as chloritic and serpentinous masses — a character of metamor- 
pliism which seems to be common to many of the formations. An 
important point about the serpentinous rocks is that they kave been 
already proved to be the receptacles of mineral wealth. In many 
parts of the country there is the strongest evidence to show that the 
Bland has lately emerged from the sea, and during this elevation, for 
reasons which kave in part been previously expressed, we believe 
tliat Coast-ice was the cliief agent in impressing on the country the 
glaciated character which it now carries — a view which has subse- 
quently been strengthened bjr observations on the coast of Finland. 
Besides the metalliferous wealth of the island, which is in the main 
confined to the serpentines of the Middle Quebec Group, muck may 
be expected from the Coal-measures. When the value of these two 
formations becomes fully recognized, we may expect to see the local 
govemment stimulated to giving further aid to geological explo- 
ration, — explorers will be attracted, the dreary wastes of the almost 
unknown inferior will be penetrated, and something more certain 
will be learnt about the early history and formation of our long- 
neglected and oldest colony Newfoundland . 1 
III. — Wiiat is a Brachiopod ? 2 
By Thomas Davidson, F.R.S., F.G.S., Y.P.P.S. 
PART III. 
( With a large folding Table.) 
Affinities of the Brachtopoda. 
For some years past, the serious attention of several eminent 
malacologists has been directed to the endeavour to determine the 
1 I refrain from more at present, than to make a few general remarks upon 
Mr. Milne’s conclusions in regard to glaeial action, and the rise of the land, as 
I shall probably have something to say upon these subjects at a future time. I 
think, however, there are evidences to show that there must have been enormous 
glaeial action, probably intermittent ; and that the rock-basins of many of the great 
lakes of the interior, and other phenomena at high elevations in the interior and on 
the coast, can only be accounted for as the result of such an agency. I also think 
that the evidences we have, of the rise of the land in rery recent times, do not show 
an elevation of over a hundred feet at most over the present level of the sea. 
My new Geological Map of Newfoundland will probably aid in illustrating both 
Mr. Milne’s and my own remarks. It may be obtained at Mr. Edward Stauford's, 
55. Charing Cross. — Alex. Murray. 
2 ( Conclui/ed from the M'y Number, p. 208.) 
