368 The American Geologist. June, i904. 
to classify geological horizons or subdivisions in the strata of 
the earth's crust, as developed in Canada, according to the 
latest and most approved methods and in keeping with the clas- 
sification of other geological formations in the same systems 
in other parts of the world, without formational names. There 
are horizons and formations in Canada which are known only 
in terms descriptive of their lithological or palseontological 
characters, combined in some cases with their economic rela- 
tions, and these are not as a rule acceptable as geological terms 
of value in nomenclature" (p. i88). 
Proposed nomenclature. — Having met with the same diffi- 
culty of ambiguity and indefiniteness for some years in working 
upon the gold-bearing series, I have ventured to propose defi- 
nite names for the three units — the series, and its two form- 
ations. It was thought best to seek for Indian names, as not li- 
able to duplication, rather than to use geographical terms taken 
from the province. It is difficult to find appropriate names 
from the latter, not already in use or likely to be given in the 
future to newly discovered horizons elsewhere on the continent. 
But after long consideration with the two other chief workers 
in the field. Dr. Bailey and Mr. Faribault, it has been found 
necessary to employ both classes of names ; and those offered 
here are brought forward with their approval. 
It is here proposed to give to the gold-bearing metamorphic 
series of Nova Scotia the name "Meguma series" ; to the upper 
or slate member, the name "Halifax formation" ; and to the 
lower or quartzyte member, the name "Goldenville formation." 
The terms in Dr. Ami's paper were used tentatively there, and 
have not been employed in any more recent references to the 
rocks. The name Guysborough seems not quite suitable, be- 
cause it is not the name of a definite place which is especially 
typical of the lower formation. On the other hand, Golden- 
ville is the name of a gold district on a dome of especially well- 
defined and thoroughly typical structure, and has been studied 
perhaps more closely than any other in the series. The name 
Halifax is not all that might be wished, referring as it does to 
a county as well as a city. But the latter is the locality in which 
the upper formation attains a thickness about twice as great as 
anywhere to the east, and is comparatively uninfluenced by the 
proximity of the great western granite massif, which may have 
