S4 The A mi ricu n Geologist. Angust,i8M 
were many higher peaks in the region explored, but probably 
none rising above 13,500 feet. 
Observations were made on the geological features of the 
region, and a small collection of fossils was obtained. These 
were submitted to Mr. B. E. Walker, of Toronto, for determi- 
nation, and my heartiest thanks are due to him for the care- 
ful work bestowed upon them. A few fossils which Mr. 
Walker was in doubt about were referred to Sir Wm. Dawson 
and some others to Mr. J. F. Whiteaves, palaeontologist to the 
Canadian Geological Survey. 1 wish to express my thanks 
to these gentlemen for their kindness in examining and report- 
ing upon the specimens sent. 
The region examined lies between latitude 52° and 53°. and 
between longitude 116° 15' and 118° 30'. The mountain 
ranges have the usual northwest-southeast trend. Minor val- 
leys lie generally between the ranges, but the more important 
ones are apt to be transverse. The most important river val- 
ley between the Saskatchewan and the headwaters of 
the Athabasca is that of the Brazeau, a tributary of the 
former river. This fine valley, thirty miles northwest of 
the Saskatchewan, forms an excellent natural section from 
the prairies southwest nearly to the Pacific watershed. 
The Saskatchewan emerges from the main range at hit. 52° 15', 
long. 116° 18'. Between this point and the Brazeau the foot- 
hills consist of grey Laramie shales and sandstones with some 
conglomerates, largely made up of chert pebbles derived from 
the Palaeozoic rocks. No fossils were obtained from these 
rocks, but seams of coal were observed at the crossing of a 
small tributary of the Saskatchewan, the Atiko-sipi. the 
largest about three feet in thickness. Shaly impure coal was 
observed near a still smaller stream a little southeast of the 
Brazeau gap. 
A few T miles to the northeast of the Rockies proper there is 
a discontinuous range of isolated mountains with the usual 
trend. They rise to 7,000 or 8.000 feet, and are of tilted and 
folded rocks, probably Palaeozoic. The Cretaceous foothills 
have in general the same northwest and southeast trend and 
dijt of 15° or less to the southwest or the south-southwest that 
are observed in the mountains, with a steep escarpment to- 
-ward the northeast. Usually, however, the dip is much gen- 
