36 
bulletin of the natural history society. 
in brief the conclusion to which the data point as to the mode 
of origin of both Plateau and Highlands. I desire to make this- 
statement now because I find that in my earlier notes I h^ve 
been laying too much stress upon the factor of primary erosion, 
(viz. erosion of the primitive slopes of the country), as a factor 
in modelling this complex central mass. The more striking 
facts to be explained include, — (a) the existence of a great irregu- 
lar highland mass running northeast through the north central 
part of the Province, (b) the presence of an axial plateau, with 
outlying minor plateaus, parallel ridges and groups of isolated 
conical hills, (c) the dissection of the mass by valleys which 
sometimes cut clear across it, sometimes run parallel with it,, 
sometimes radiate from it, (d) the presence of slopes, from central 
plateau to bordering plains, of escarpment-like steepness, and (e) 
a great complication of granites, felsites, schists and even of 
conglomerates, all bearing little relation to details of the actual 
topography. The explanation of the topography of the region, 
is found simply in this, that the Highlands are primarily a series 
of gigantic, parallel, intrusive, abrupt-sided but sloping ended,, 
ridges or dikes, here and there completely interrupted, greatest 
and most regular in the centre, vrhere they are planed to flat 
tops, and lowest and most irregular around the margins; these- 
ridges were anciently forced up among much softer rocks which 
in part they have hardened to schist but in part have permitted 
to be removed by erosion, thus letting the eroding streams settle 
down in the intermediate soft hollows, leaving the hard rocks 
in relief as the highlands. As I shall later show, some of the 
most puzzling details of the topography thus find a satisfactory 
solution. 
112.— On the Psychological Basis of New Brunswick Sea- 
SERPENTS. 
Read December 3, 1907. 
The progress of science finds its greatest obstacle in the 
imperfections of the mind of man. Our innate proneness to- 
belief in mysteries and wonders, our preference for pleasant 
fiction over commonplace fact, our habit of turning everything. 
