2 
was eliminated. In some cases this was all that was needed. If in any case 
the lumps were not disintegrated, they were boiled in nitric acid and then 
washed. In order to remove the fine silt it was found advisable to boil in 
water to which a very small quantity of soap had been added and then to 
allow the solution to settle. The continued washing, shaking of the test 
tube, and in some cases repetition of the process, were successful in many 
instances. It is essential that all vessels and apparatus be perfectly clean 
and that the material be kept free from any possibility of contamination, 
by dust from the air or other matter. In cleaning the samples from the 
New Brunswick deposits, however, no process seems to remove entirely 
a deposit of cement from some of the valves, particularly those of Surirella, 
but as there are many valves that are not so contaminated the determination 
of species is possible. The samples may be cleaned by first boiling in 
pure water, then with the soda solution, and finally with acid as it appears 
necessary. The samples from Earltown, Folly, and Fitzgerald lakes, with 
some others, were passed through the entire process. In boiling in nitric 
acid place about one-third of a thimbleful of material in a 4-ounce casserole, 
add acid until it reaches about an inch in depth, and, when the acid boils, 
add a small piece of bichromate of potash, about the size of half a pea. 
Care should be taken, of course, to avoid the fumes by boiling in the open 
air or in a fume cupboard. It is necessary to wait several hours to allow 
the deposit to settle and the bichromate and acid must be carefully 
washed out by repeated decanting and adding of water until all traces are 
removed. 
The first part of this paper is a synopsis of the diatoms noticed, with 
references to descriptions and figures. It is followed by a table indicating 
the different species identified in the samples received from each Quater- 
nary deposit. The species recognized from the Tertiary deposits are 
mentioned in the section dealing with the various localities from w T hich 
samples were sent. In an examination of this kind it is not possible to 
determine all the species in any given deposit, since the layers of earth are 
not uniform. In preparing the lists two mounts of each sample were made 
and from these the species were determined. There is, however, only a 
small margin left of undiscovered species, as many of the localities have 
similar forms and what may be omitted from one list will probably be 
found in another. There appear to be upwards of one hundred and sixty 
species or varieties of diatoms in the sixty-seven samples submitted, but 
this does not include several variations of Eunotia and Pinnularia and 
a more extended examination of other samples will probably increase the 
list. The classification is that which is now generally accepted, but differs 
considerably from that used in other lists of Canadian diatoms. Some 
synonyms are given, but for the most part it will be necessary to refer to 
modern literature on the subject, particularly to Cleve’s exhaustive mono- 
graph on the Naviculoid forms, in order to understand the generic divisions. 
In many respects the eastern deposits resemble those of Scotland, 
especially that of loch Kinnord as described by the Rev. George Davidson. 1 
The peat deposits of Sweden, Finland, and other parts of northern Europe 
may also be mentioned as holding a strictly post-Glacial diatomaceous 
flora in which are found few of the species present in any of the earlier 
geological strata. 
1 Jour. Quek. Club, vol. 3, ser. 2, 19, p. 149. 
