U4 The American Geologist. February, 1894 
the Don valley near Toronto. These, chiefly in the form of 
lignite, have thrown much light upon the vegetation of that 
time, and show that in the arborescent forms at least, the 
species were such as may now be found in the same region. 
On the 7th of November, 1893, Prof. A. P. Coleman, of Toronto, 
sent me three excellent specimens of interglacial lignite for 
determination. They represented fragments of branches 
which must have been several inches in diameter when grow- 
ing. Outwardly the material appeared well preserved, and 
after boiling in carbonate of potash for about two hours was 
found to be sufficiently soft and free from siliceous matter to 
section freely. It was therefore imbedded in paraffine and 
sectioned on a microtome. 
Upon examination of the sections it was found that the struc- 
ture had been greatly altered by decay and compression, so 
that, with the exception of number two, reference to species 
could not be made with certainty. 
As, however, previous experience has shown the close iden- 
tity between the interglacial vegetation and that of our own 
time in the same locality, it is probably admissible to refer 
doubtful species to those modern species which they most 
nearly approach, and it may be that future material, more 
perfectly preserved, will enable us to decide more definitely 
as to the specific value of such provisional reference. There 
is, at any rate, the great advantage of avoiding the introduc- 
tion of new names which may hereafter require to be 
abolished. 
No. 1. FrAXINUS QUADRANGULATA Michx. 
The specimen marked No. 1, was much altered by compression and 
decay, so that the transverse section was much disturbed, while the 
longitudinal sections exhibited but poorly a very few of the characters 
upon which specific distinction is to be based. From the former, how- 
ever, it was at once clear that the plant was a Fraximus, and as, of ex- 
isting species, it seems to approach most nearly to F. quadrangulata, I 
consider it proper to refer it, provisionally, to that sj>ecies. So far as 1 
am aware this is the first record we have of this genus in the intergla- 
cial of Canada. Fraxinus quadrangulata is at present found in Canada 
along the shores of lake Erie, and particularly about point Peter. {Ma- 
coun.) 
No. 2. Taxus baccata L., var. canadensis Gray. 
Specimen No. 2 showed the characteristic structure in cross section 
very clearly. In longitudinal section the usual markings of the tracheid 
walls were found to be largely obliterated, even to the bordered pits, 
