4 
MUSEUM BULLETIN NO. 14. 
Dr. Robert Chalmers, who visited the Magdalens about 
1890, in search primarily of evidence touching the glacial history 
of the islands, was more positive in his statements. * *‘The Mag- 
dalen islands,” he says,^ “were discovered to be imglaciated” ; 
and further, “no evidences of Pleistocene ice action or of the 
occurrence of boulder clay were observed ; on the contrary, the 
rock surfaces are everywhere masked with a covering of their 
own debris.”^ After describing the complex structural relation of 
the intrusive diabases and the sandstones, Chalmers says: 
“Upon the surface of the whole lie thick beds of rotted rock in situ 
without any boulder clay or glaciated material. On the northeast 
sides of Amherst and Grindstone islands a few pebbles and boul- 
ders were observed which may be foreign to them, but even 
these were not glaciated. The residuary materials were modified 
on the surface below the 110 to 115-foot contour lines by the 
action of the sea during submergence, while above that level 
no trace of marine or glacial action could be observed. Indeed, 
the whole examination of the surface of the four largest islands, 
Amherst, Entry, Grindstone, and Alright failed to show any 
evidence of glaciation whatever. Rotted rock alone, with 
stratified marine beds up to the highest marks of the Pleistocene 
submergence, are everywhere the prevailing superficial deposits; 
above the shoreline referred to some stratified lenticular sheets, 
due to atmospheric action, occupy the surface and overlie the 
residuary material ; but the pebbles and debris are mostly angular 
and unworn.” Continuing, he says: “It is possible, however, 
that more detailed investigation might result in showing evidences 
of at least the impingement of floating ice against the slopes or 
coast borders of these islands.”® Again, he reports: “A few 
small crystalline boulders were observed on the northwest sides 
of Amherst and Grindstone islands; but whether transported 
or derived from the central crystalline hills of each could not be 
determined in the limited time at my disposal. It is not improb- 
1 Robert Chalmers. Report on the surface geology of eastern New 
Brunswick, northwestern Nova Scotia, and a portion of Prince Edward 
Island. Geol. Surv. of Canada, Annual Report, Vol. VII, 1895, Part M, p. 94. 
*Op. cit. p. 108. 
* Op. cit., p. 49. 
