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FROM THE TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA'^ /

SECOND SERIES— 1896-97

VOLUME II

SECTION IV

GEOLOGICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES.

ADDITIONAL NOTES ON V

FOSSIL SPONGES

AND ;

OTHER ORGANIC REMAINS

FROM THE

Quebec Group at Little Metis

ON THE LOWER ST. LAWRENCE

By SIR J. WILLIAM DAWSON, LL.D., F.R.S.

With Notes on Some of the Specimens

By DR. G. J. HINDE, F.R.S.

r— ,-,--:'-'—--. -■-:' FOR SALE BY

JOHN DURIE & SON, OTi'AWA; THE COPP-CLARK CO., TORONTO
BERNARD QUARITCH, LONDON, ENGLAND

1896

Section IV., 1890. • [91] Tbans. R. S. C.

VI. — Additional Notes on Fossil Spomjes and other Onjanic Remains from ■
Jie Quebec Group at Jjitfle Metis, on the Lower St. Latcrence.

By Sir J. William Dawson, LL. I)., F.RS.

With Notes on Some of the Specimens by Dr. (I. ,1. ITinde, F.,J?.S.

(Read May 20, l»t6.)

[I. Introductory ; II, Subdivisions of the (Quebec Group ; III, Little

Metis Bay; IV. General Remarks on the Fossil Sponges ; V, Notices
of the Several Species ; VI. Other Animal Remains ; Conclusion.]

I. — Introductory.

The present paper is a continuation of that on the same subject
contributed to the Royal Society of Canada in 1889, and published in its
Transactions for that year. It is intended to bring the subject u]» to
date with reference to discoveries of new species and additional facts as
to those previously known, and also to fix more definitely the age of the
beds containing tlie fossils, more especially in connection with the more
recent observations of the officers of the Geological Survey of Canada.

The Quebec Group was instituted by SirW. E. Logan, and described
by him, in 1863, as a peculiar coastal and Atlantic development of the
formations known in the interior of North America as the Calciferous and
Chazy membei-s of what was then known as the Lower Silurian system."
Logan undei-stood that on the submerged continental plateaus and ocean
depths of any given geological period there must be local as well as
chronological difl'erencos in the deposits, and that the terms applicable to
the formations in the inland seas, which in times of continental depression
covered what are now interior continental plains, cannot rightly designate
those laid down contemporaneously on the borders of the open and per-
manent ocean. We now know that these last are the most general and
continuous records of the history of the earth, though the continental
deposits, depending on subsidences alternating with elevations, give the
most decidedly graduated scales of geological time in their successive and
apparently distinct dynasties of marine life. Hence the plateau deposits

1 Geology of Canada, p. 205 et seq, ; Appendix to Murray's Report on Newfound-
land, 1865, quoted by me in Journal of London Geological Society, 1888, p. 810, and in
Canadian Record of Science, 1800, p. 13.5.

9B ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

are the most easily uvailablo as geological chronoineters, and have been
80 used both in Europe and America ; but they do not accurately repre-
sent the series of changes going on in the great oceanic areas and their
margins.

Viewed in this way, Logan's name, Quebec Group, designates the
oceanic deposits formed on the Atlantic border of North America at a
time when very different conditions prevailed in those now inland areas
which atforded the classification of the Xew York Survey. The fact of
this great difference remains, and the term designating it will continue to
be of value to geologists, so long as they are desirous rationally to corre-
late the sequence of formations in America and in Europe, and to connect
with their science those great facts of paUeogeography which enable us
to realize the diverse conditions of the depressed and elevated portions of
the earth's surface in different geological times. The name is farther
justiffed by the fact that the lower portions of our great St. Lawrence
river follow a course in the Province of Quebec which enables them bet-
ter than any other section in America to illustrate the difference between
the deposits of the Atlantic and continental areas in the early Pahcozoic
period.

I regard these considerations as of great importance in relation to
the fossils described in this paper, becau.se they are members of a fauna
of almost universal oceanic distribution ; in its time extending continu-
ously over vast spaces and periods, and serving to bridge over the gaps
in the broken series of the continental i^lateaus. It is likely to gain in
significance and in relative value as science advances; and, when more
fully known and appreciated, to do much toward remedying that imper-
fection of our geological record, which depends, to some extent, on our
basing it on localities where physical distui-bances have interfered with
the continuity and orderly succession of life. It is only by the patient
and long-continued study of the formations deposited on those parts of
the permanent oceanic areas available to us, that we shall ultimately be
able to trace back the marine life discovered by the dredgings of the
•' Challenger," to early geological times. ' v '

When Logan commenced his survey of Canada in 1842, little of this
was understood, and he had before him the task of solving the enigma of
original differences of deposits and superadded mechanical disturbances in
Eastern Canada, with the wholly inadequate key afforded by the inland
aeries of formations worked out by the survey of New York, which itself,
when it came into contact with the marginal series, became involved
in that Tacouic controversy, which hils scarcely yet subsided, and which
must remain in some degree unsettled as long as geologists fail to see that
they cannot force into one system the dissimilar formations of the ocean
and of the continental plateaus. I have no wish here to dwell on these
controversies ; but may refer for some statement of my views on the great

[DAwsos] FOSSIL SPONGES AND OTHER OHGANIC REMAINS 93

natural facts wliicli uiKlorlit! llii'tn. to (lie |>ul»liiati<)ns iiauuMl in tlio foot-
note to tliiw section.'

II. — SUBDrVIHKtNS OK THE (^I'KHEC GhOUP.

Confinin'i; ourselves to the sections on the south shore of the Lower
St. Lawrence, the suhdivisions, as worked out hy Loijan and ({ichardson
and more recently hy Iv with the aid of Whiteaves in reu;ard to the
Trilohites, Braehiopods, etc.. and of Lapwortli ■ and Ami in the jrrapto-
litie fauna, may bo stated as follows in ascending order : "

1. The Siller !i Sm'rs, seen at the ('haudici-e liiver, near Quebec, and
also at Matane and Cai)e Rosier, as well as at Little M(5tis. Among its
characteristic fossils are the little brachio])(>d OboUila (Jjinnarssonia)
pretiosa. Billings, and Dictyonrnui sitcia/c of Salter {D. Jinhcllnrc of Eich-
wald), also s|)ecies of Bryoi/rit/ifKs and (loi>n(ir(i}>tii)^. Tiie preva'ent
rocks are grayish sandstones and conglomerates with shales of red, gray
and black colours, and more rarely bands of limestone and dohmiite. It
may be regarded as the base of the (Quebec Group jjroper, and as the
equivalert of the Calciferous of more western districlsjind of the Tremadoc
of Wales, and perha])s as the highest member of the Cambrian system.

2. Tac Levin Series ; to which belong the shales, limestones and
conglomerates exposed at Levis, opj^osite the city of Quebec, and which
has been recognized as far cast as Ste. Anne des Monts. Its most iduxrac-
teristic fossils are graptolites of the ^-enera Fliylhxjrtiptus, Tetrui/raptus,
etc., most of which are described by Hall in his classical monograph on
this fauna ; while its Trilobites, etc.. have been studied by Billings, and
catalogued by Ami. who separates the fossils found in boulders in the
conglomerate from those ])roperly belonging to the formation.'' This
series is in the hoi'izon of the Upper Calciferous and Chazy, and may be
regarded as equivalent to the English Arenig and Skiddaw.

3. The Marsoiiin Series ; found at that place a)id at Gritftn Cove,
Wliite |{iver, and elsewhere, and holding grai)tolites of the genera Diplo-
graptus, Ca'uocjraptus, etc. It is apparently of Chazy -Trenton age and
equivalent to the English Bala.

4. Still higher beds holding Dlplograptus pristis and other forms
characteristic of Ihe Utica shale, and therefore newer than the Quebec
Grou}) proper, occur west of Marsouin River, near Tartigo Eiver and
elsewhere. At this period, owing to the subsidence of northern land, the

' Appendix to Harrington's Life of Sir William Logan, p. 403 et seq. ; On the
Eozoi'^ and Pahieozolc Recks of Eastern Canada, .lournal London Geol. Society, 1888 ;
The Quebec Group of Logan, Canadian Record of Science, 1890 ; Salient Points in the
Science of the Earth, 1894.

- Transactions Royal Society of Canada, 1886.

•' For notices of previous work and recent discoveries, see Report by Ells, Geolo-
giciil Survey of Canada, 1887-88.

* Report Geol. Survey of Canada, 1887-88.

Sec. IV., 1896. 0.

94 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

Quebt'(i Group conditions of col<l water and iniKidy dcpositH overHpread
tlie whole interior of (ho continent. tliiiH blendint;; the oceanic and plateau
conditions for a time, and forming (he mitural close of the Quebct-
(Iroup, because temporarily obliteratiiig the geographical dis(inc(ion on
which it is based.

III. — LiTTi^K Mktis Bay.

The author of this jjap/cr has had occasion for many years to spend
a portion of the summer at one or other of the health-resorts on tie
Lower St. Lawrence, and has latterly preferred Little Metis, as one of the
most pleasant in its atmosphere and surroundings. He has there natur-
ally endeavoured to familiarize himself with the rocks and fossils ac(!es-
sible in walks or short drives and boating excursions, and to devote some
time and labour to any locality which seemed unusually ])romising.

At Little Metis, and indeed along the whole coast between the city of
Quebec and Cape Rosier, a stretch of about 350 miles, the shore on the
whole follows the strike of the great mass of "sandstones, shales and
conglomerates of the (Quebec Group and which are everywhere thrown
into sharp anti(dinal and synclinal folds, and often repeated by longi-
tudinal faults, while they are also much disturbed by transveree faults
and flexures.

These older rocks are covered in places with the sands and clays of
the Pleistocene })criod, locally containing marine shells, and accomjjanied
with vast numbers of gneiss boulders from the Laurentian Mountains of
the north shore, here about forty miles tiistant, and with occasional, but
often very large, blocks of Silurian limestone from the hills to the south-
ward. Though masked on the low^er grounds by these superticial deposits,
the older rocks ajipear everywhere in the hilly ridges and in the coast
clitfs and reefs.

Little Metis Bay faces the northeast, and its outer boundary consists
of a strong gray sandstone forming the Lighthouse Point and extending
to the eastward in a long and dangerous I'eef, which it is hoped may, at
some future period, form the basis of a harbour of refuge for shipping.
Lnmediately to the southwest of the point, the shore recedes rapidly (see
ma])), the sea having cut back along the outcrops of dark shaly bands
which overlie the atandstone, the whole dipping to the southward. These
occupy the northern division of the bay, about half a mile in width.
South of this a second reef of sandstone divides the bay, rising into a high
bluff, known as Mount Misery. This is divided by a shallow cove, and at
its southern extreniity there projects a low point of sandstone and con-
glomerate, which seem to extend eastward on a little outlying island
and a submerged bank, on which the sea breaks at very low tides, and
which connects it with another and higher vAet about two miles distant,
culled the Boule Rock. This consists of sandstone and conglomerate

[DAWCON] FOSSIL SrONGES AND OTHER ORGANIC REMAINS

98

(lip))ini; southwiird at a hi^h an^le. South of Ihe point above mentioned,
the sliore a^ain liends rapi<lly westward ah)n^ a l)elt of darl< shaiy l»eds,
and fornis the southern and narrowf • division of tho bay. almost dry at
low tide, and into the southwest corner of which the Little Metis Itiver
flows. From this southwest ani^le of the bay annt'ipv bed of very hiiid
8andf>toiie eapi)ed by conglomerate extends alon^jj the coast to the north-
eastward, and after a oreak reappears beyond Turrilf's Hotel, in the
cliil'of the Crov/'s Nest, from which at a lower level it continues for some
distance toward Sandy Bay.

;ch-map of Little Metis Bay and vicinity, showing locality of Fossil Sponges. (Scale about two
inches to a mile.) Geographical lines from a map by Dr. Ells.

,-.f^f,.iiij'r>y y/mnt **^

Sectional view on the beach north of the church, represented in the sketch-map.

(Length about 550 feet.)
(A) Conglomerate. (B) Sandstone or quartzite. (C7) Olive arenaceous shale.
(D) Black shales, with some olive bands and thin layers of hard, arenaceous dolo-
mite ; remains of sponges in a few layers. (E) Muddy shore : indications in places
of soft, dark shale. {F) Hard, gray and olive shales, with bands of dolomite and
sandstone. (6r) Pleistocene sand and boulder clay.

The whole of these beds have southerly and southwest dips, though
in places they become vertical and contorted. These disturbances, how-

96 KOYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

cvor, HO fur us cuii l>o uscfftuiiu'd. urc locul, uiid do not atf'oci llu' i^ciiorul ur-
ruiigi'im'iit,oxcoi>tin soiuras Hlijts purullol to tlit'striUoinuy ropcut tliebedH.

Thi' luyora holding foHflil H|)ongi!H, to bo doHcribed in the Hoquol, are
Hoon in low vecfk or ledgt'H ot black un<l oiivt? sbulo, extending along the
Houth side of the buy from near the mouth of fjittlc Metis Kivcr for about
a furlong to the eastward, and are (|uite regular and undisturbed, tlumgii
iiudined nt an angle of about 50°. Tho sandstone und eongloinerate im-
mediately overlying conformubly this band of bIuiIch is capped with
boulder-elay and sand, and forms the rising ground on which stands the
Wcslevun cliurch, indicated on the nuip. The section given on p. it^shows
;ho attitude and relation of these beds, and is drawn from the ehurcli to
the northwestward.

liefore ])roceeding to describe the sponge-beds and their fossils, it
may be well to notice the overlying sandstone und eonglomerute, and
similar beds in the vicinity, with the fossils thoy contain, and tho rela-
tions of these to other beds on tho Lower St. Lawrence.

The up|>er saiulstone (/? in the section) is so hard that '• might be
regarded as a quurtzite, differing in this respect from some of the other
bods in the vicinity, as, for instance, those of Mount Misery and tlie
Lighthouse Point. It dips S. 20° W. magnetic, at an ungle of ubout 50°,
and is ubout sixty feet in thickness, though apparently thinning to the
eastward. I*s lower side is remurkubly Hut and even, and has been
undercut by the sea, owing to the softness of the shule below. On
its strata planes aro many fantastic, radiating forms indented on the
weathered surfaces, and akin to those which in tho Cambi-ian quartzitos
of Nova Scotia I have named Astropolirhon.^ No other fossilu liave bjon
observed in it. In tracing this bed to the eastward, it is seen to be o' er-
laid by, and to pass into, a very coarse conghjmerate, with an arenaceous
paste and partly angular or rounded boulders, some of them more than
two feet in diameter. Some are of a light gray limestone, others are
quartzite, sandstone and iiidurated slate. Some of the limestone boulders
hold fossils, and from one of thes*^ I obtained the following forms, kindly
identified for mo by Mr. Matthew :

Olniellun 7'hompaoni, FAwmonH. Pleurotomaria ? • '

Pfychoparia Mefisfiica, Waktott.^ Iphidea bclla, Billings.

P. (specie.s). Hyolithes (species).

Profypus senectus. Branching organism (possibly a sponge).

Solenopleura (species). Fragments of various small Trilobites.

Stenotheca rugosa, Walcott.

These fossils s»re all, so far as determinable, of Lower Cambrian age,

and must have been derived from limestones already undergoing waste

• Acadian Geology, Supplement, 1878, p. 82.

- First found some years ago in a similar boulder from the Boule Rock. Along
with it was found a small sponge, Trachyuni ve.tustum, described and figured by
Walcott in his memoir on the Lower Cambrian.

fiMw.soN] FOBSIL SPONGES AND OTHEK ORGANIC REMAINS 07

ut tho time of tho Quebec Group. Thus, though the con^lomoriite over-
lies and is newer than the shales holding sponi^oa, the limestone boulders
ccntaiiu'd in it are of much jrreater ai^e. It has loui"' been well known
that similar appearancoH occur in nearly all the limestone coniflomerates
of the '^lichee (rroup, and ut tii-sl they led to serious diHiculties as to the
a^re of the fornuition. Sometimes they are very deceptive. I have seen
in the coni,domera<<i at St. Simon a slab of limestone, eiij^ht feet in length,
which min'lil readily, in a limited exposure, be niislakcn for a bed in
place, but which is really a Lower Cambrian boulder contairiin<>' nume'-
ous fra,u;mentH of Olenellus and other aiu'ient Trilobites, and several
species of Ilyoiithes. , ,

These ifrcat and irrei^ular beds of coniflomerate would appear to indi-
cate ice-action in the Lower Paiu-ozoic sea, and it would seem that the
boulders must have been denuded from reets of older Cambrian rocks
now mostly covered uj) or removed by denuflation, while, unlike the
condition of tbinys at th(! time of the Pleistocene drift, no Laurentian
nuiteriai seems to have been accessible.

Up to 1887 the beds in Little Metis Bay had been very unproductive
of fossils. They had attorded to the late Mr. Richardson the little Lin-
iiorfiHtnid iircfin.'iii, iind I had found in the sand.stonos of Mount Misery
and the Lij^htb Point a few fruf-ments of a lictiolitoi, apparently

E. emiformis o. ' .ind in the shales near the .Lighthouse Point abun-

dance of worm trulls, porae of the type of that described by the Swedish
,ifeolo,u;i8ts as Amiicolitcs sjiirafis. In so far as these fossils alforded
inlormation, they tended to refer the whole series to tho lower part of
the Quebec Group, and, as it seemed to be an ascendino- one to the south-
west, the impression conveyed to me was that tb 3 black shales near the
upper part uiigbt belon<j; to the base of the Le^is series. As already
stated, however, the new facts ascertained respectim.- the position and
fossils of the Sillery series now tend to the conclusion that the whole
belongs to this lower membei-.

For detailed sections of the productive sponge-beds I may refer to
my paper of 1889, merely remarking here that in a i)and of shale, with a
few thin layers of dolomite, the whole more than 100 feet in thickness,
only three or four layers, each from one to three inches in thickness,
have been productive of fossils.

IV. — General Remarks on the Fossil Sponges.

The discovery of fossil sponges at Little Metis Bay was made by
Dr. B. J. Harrington, F.G.S., in 1887, hi examining loose pieces of black
shale washed ui> on the beach. On searching for the.se shales in situ,
they were Ibund in low rcofs on the shore at about half-tide level, and
diligent search disclosed the fact that in a few thin bands of shale sponge
remains were abundant, though from the extreme delicacy of their spicu-

98 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

lar skeletons they were not easily recognized, except in a bright light
and on the moistened surfaces of the shale. In that and subsequent years
I undertook detailed collecting in these beds. The thin productive lay-
ers being inclosed in ledges of compact shale, much material had to be
quarried away in order to obtain access to them, and the work could be
carried on only at low tide. The best method of proceeding was found to
be to trace the fossiliferous layei"s along the ledges, and having quarried
out as large slabs as possible, to convey these to where they could be
split up and examined at leisure. By pursuing this method sufficient
quantities of matei-ial could be obtained to enable satisfactory compari-
sonj^ to be made. The method, in short, was the same which 1 have pur-
sued in collecting delicate fossil plants and the smaller animal remains
from the Devonian and Coal formation, and which has enabled so many
species of delicate vegetable organisms from Gasp^ and Nova Scotia to
be restored in their external forms.

The facts obseiwed up to 1889 were detailed in the paper of that
date, in preparing which I was indebted to Dr, G. J. Hinde, F.R.S., the
author of the Bi-itish Museum Catalogue of fossil sponges, and of so many
valuable papers on these organisms, for most important information as to
the structure and probable affinities of the speci.es. In addition to the
notes of Dr. Hinde given in the previous paper, I am indebted to him for
further important suggestions contained in these pages, and for the
description of an additional species.

Since 1889 excavations have been continued from time to time, with
the view more particularly of discovering new species and of obtaining
more perfect examples of those pi*eviously known. In noticing the results
obtained, I shall fii-st refer to certain points relating to mode of occurrence
which have been more definitely settled, and shall then present a catalogue
of the species, with short descriptions and figures.

In regard to the figures, I may explain that those in the text are of
two kinds: (1) Camera tracings, slightly enlarged, of the spicules, as
seen under the microscope ; (2) Restorations, mostly based on combining
several more or less complete specimens. Those in the plates are produced
from enlarged photographs taken usually from moistened surfaces under
a bright light. These were printed and carefully retouched to render
them more distinct, then reproduced in negatives of or near to the natural
size, and copied from these for printing. Those which were sufficiently
distinct for this, wei"e reproduced without being touched.

In the former paper, of 1889, Dr. Hinde ably discussed at some
length the state of jjreser-'ation of the specimens. He remarks that the
skeletons of the greater number of the s[)ecie8 were made up of delicate
spicules, often cruciform, and arranged in such a manner as to form a
thin lattice-like framework inclosing a hollow 8])ace or sack, and support-
ing the soft animal membranes. In the meshes of this framework, and

[dawbon] fossil sponges AND OTHER ORGANIC REMAINS 99

sometimes forming an externul dermal coating, were minute spicules and
(leiicate protective spines. The spicules, originally composed of amor-
phous or colloidal silica, are now for the most part entirely replaced by
pyrite, and not infrequently they are also encrusted with a delicate
coating of minute crystals of the same mineral, so as greatly to inciease
theii- apparent magnitude, though in most cases it is possible under the
lens to distinguish the original spicule from its coating. The sponge thus
a])peai"S as a delicate bronze-coloured frameAVork or mass of spicules on
the surfaces of the shale. In a few instances the spicules have retained
their primitive siliceous material, and more rarely the material of the
spicules has been entirely removed, leaving their impressions merely on
the matrix. It sometimes happens, especially in the case of species with
somewhat dense spicular walls, that the meshes included in the spicular
framework are filled in with pyrite, so as to show merely the general
form and faint indications of the spicular structure.

Originally rooted in the soft ooze of the sea bottom, the specimens
seem sometimes to have been buried in situ, so that when the shale is
split they appear in transverse section or as round flattened discs ; Init in
most cases they seem to have drifted from their anchorage, either with
or without their anchoring-i-ods, and to have been flattened later-
ally. When entire, they sometimes present, when the shale is split
02)en, a surface of dermal spines, masking the skeleton proper. In other
cases the dermal spines come away with the matrix, leaving the skeleton
spicules exposed. Thus the same species may present very different
appearances under different circumstances. In most cases the body of
the sjionge has been more or less disintegrated or reduced to patches of
loose spicules, and some large surfaces are covered with a confused coiit-
ing of spicules and anchoring-rods belonging to several species. In some
cases also the loose spicules, or fragments of them, seem to have been
gathered in little oval or cylindrical piles and inclosed in pyrite. At
first I was disposed to regard these as coprolitic ; l)ut Dr. liinde doubts
this, and regards them as merely loose spicules drifted together into
hollows or worm-burrows.

All these differences of preservation and exposure pi-esent consider-
able difficulties in discriminating the species ; and these are sometimes
increased l»y the association of specimens of different ages. It thus
requires experience and abun'hmt material to obtain <lefinite results.
Nevertheless Dr. Hinde, who has had very extensive acquaintance with
fossil sponges in various conditions of preservation, makes the following
remarks in reference to the specimens submitted to him :

•'The Metis specimens are specially interesting, since they throw
much fresh light on the character of the earliest known forms of these
organisms, and their discovery is the more opportune from the fact that
our knowledge of the existing hexactinellid sponges — the group to which

100 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

all, or nearly all. tiieso tbssilfs lioloni-- — has boon vastly increased \ty tho
work of Prof. F. K. Sehulze, of Berlin, on tho he.xaetinelled spoiiires
dre(lfi:e(l up l)y the Ciiall'.'na;er Expedition, and thus we are now hotter
enalded than hitherto to eonipari' the fossil and the reeent forms.'

Tho conditions of aeeunuilation of the Metis shales seem to have
been very favoui-ahle to the i)vritization of ori^anie remains. The shells
of Linnurssonia. snuvll fraujments of Trilohitosand fronds of Alga*, seem, all
alike, to have been anienahle to this ehani>-e. and eyiinders and spirals of
solid erystalline ])yrite oeeu])y the hurrows of worms, while nodules of
the mineral destitute of any oru;anie form also oeeur. On tho other hand,
in some layers containini!; fossils, there i's no trace of pyrito, but in these
it is veiy difficult to see the spicules, owini;- to their similarity in colour
and lustre to the slate.

v.— Notices of the Skveral Species.

The arrangement of Pahvozoic fossil sponges is still to some extent
provisional. That adopted below is the one most current at present, and
necessarily depends entirely on the material and structure of the skeleton.

Viewed in this way, the whole of our Metis sponges, if we except a
few uncertain forms to be mentioned in the sequel, belong to the order
Silicea, including those which form their skeleton of siliceous needles or
spicules. Under this are sponges with sim])le spicules (Monactinellids),
and these seem to be the oldest of all, since tho needles found in the
H'lroniau cherts and those recognized by Mr. Matthew in the Laurentian
appear to be mostly of this type. Others (Hexactinellids) present cruci-
form spicules, or s|)ieules with six rays, placed at right angles to e.ich
other. These are arrai\god so that the vays arc joined by their points,
forming very comjilex and beautiful fra'neworks. the variety of which
is increased by the fact that the ditterent rays may be unequally de-
veloped, or some of them may be abortive, giving forms available for
a great many beautiful constructive uses. We shall tind that the com-
plexity and diversity attainable b.y spicular forms, all l)ased upon one
general law, hut admitting of countless difl^'erences and modifications, had
already nearly TOached its nuiximum in a very early geological period.

Tho Hoxactiiiellids may again be divided into two groups, according
to the united or loose condition of the spicules. When those are firmlj^
cemented together by siliceous matter, we have the group Dictyonina^
and when they are united merely by aidmal matter, and consequently
fall asunder on decay, they belong to the group Lyssakina. Under those
we have families, genera and species.

The following list is a revision, with important additions, of that
given in 1889.

[DAWSON] FOSSIL SPONGES AND OTHER ORGANIC REMAINS

lOl

Order SILICEA.

Suborder Hexactinellida.

Group Lysmkina.

Family Protospongid^e, Hinde.

Genus PEOTOSPONGIA, Salter.

This genus was estahlislied by the late Mr. Salter from some remains
of lattice-like spieular bodie.^ found in the ]\[iddle Camln-ian of Wales, and
which, though fragmentary and obscure, that eminent naturalist was
able to refer to the group of Siliceous sponges. The genus includes sevei-al
of the Metis species, which have enabled us to complete the characters of

Salter's genus.

1. — PROTOSPONOrA TETRANEJIA. DawsOH.'

(Figs. 1 to 5. PI. 1., Figs. 1 and 4.)

^i"""itjt.

Fic l.—Proloaponffiti tefrancmn.
A small .specimen restored.

Fi(i. 2.—Profospon!/ia fetrnnenia. Anchor-
ing-spicules slightly enlarged.

In the specimens in which the outline of the sponge has been pi-e-
served, the body appeai-s to have been rounded or broadly oval. There
was an aperture or osculum at the summit, though it can be distin-
guished only in a few sjjecimens. The wall of the sponge appears to have
consisted— us in the other species of this genus— (tf a single laj-er of
cruciform spicules of various dimensions, disposed so as to form a frame-
work of quai':.itc or oblong interspaces. The i-ays of the larger spicules
constitute the boundaries of the larger squares ; but owing to decay

• The characters of this and several of the following species were given in " Notes
on Specimens in the Peter Redpath Museum, " and in the Transactions of the Royal
Society, 1889.

102

ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

and flattening the spicules are usually much displaced. Within these,
secondary' and smaller squares are marked out by smaller spicules.
Judging by the length of the rays of the larger spicules, the larger squares
would bo about 4 mm. in diametei-, Avhilst the smallest do not exceed

I /

Fio. 3. — Protospongia tetranemn. Primary, secondary and
tertiary cruciform spicules, x 5,

1 mm. The rays of the individual spicules seem to have been united
raei-ely by the animal matter, and not by a silicious cement. The osculum
is protected by defensive spines (Fig. 4), and in young specimens these
are often very numerous. The rays of the larger spicules are conical,
gradually tapering from the central node to the pointed extremity ;
whilst the rays of the smaller spicules appear to be nearly cylindrical.

From the base of the sponge, four slendei-, elongated, filiform rods
project. They ai'e approximately cylindrical, pointed at both ends, very
slender, and from 50 to 70 mm, in length. Their proximal ends are
inserted apparently in the basal part only of the sponge. In perfect
specimens they are seen to approach and cross each other in the middle,
and then to diverge, fina' again approaching and forming a loop with
a minute central point. So many examples of this structure have now

Fig. i.—Protosponffia tetranema. Osculum enlarged

and surrounded by minute spicules. Fiu. 5. — Anchor! ng-rods.

been found that there can be no doubt as to its true natui-e, though in a
few instances the loop has broken asunder, leaving the rods free. Even
in this case, however, they show their cui-ved ends (Fig. 5).

H

[DAWSON] FOSSIL SPONGES AND OTHER ORGANIC REMAINS 103

This ifi one of the most abundant species at Little Metis. There can
be no hesitation in ])lacing it in the ^.enus Protospongia, since the same
arrangement of the sp.cular mesh-work is present in it as in the lype of
tins genus. In the earlier examples of the genus, however, the presence
of anchor.ng-sp,cules was not recogniKod, owing, no doubt, to their in^per-
fect state ol preservatunu and this feature may now be reckoned as on.
of the generic characters. In the present species, however, these anchor-
mg-sp,cules were very peculiar, and seem to be i-ays of a cruciform
spicule, which were bent upward and lengthened, forming a stalk for
the sp,)nge. Tins w<.nld give a firm attachment, and adapt itself to the
gradual nse of the bottom to which the sponge was attached. The
mechamcal properties of such an arrangement of spicula are obviously
well suited to effect their purpose. ^

sTlwn"rr'"' •"'/''''""' ^'" more recent collections alo
show that the skeleton spicules, at first small in the young specimens,
grew in length, by additions to the ends of the rays as the body increased

2,— Protospongia mononema, Dawson.
(Figs. 6, 7 and 8. PI. I., Figs. 2 and 3.)

^r::nLZ:tZ;l ^'"- '-^^^^^^^^ -^ono.^--^. Cruciforn, and

«roLuieu. protective spicules, x 5.

flntf.nrr''p'T ^'^•"."\*^"^' '"^^^ '" ^\^^^i^r, originally globular but now
flattened. Body spicules cruciform and more slender than those of

104

ROYAI, SOCIETY OF CANADA

P. tetranema. Suporficiul or defensive spicules veiy numerous and 1.0HK'-
A\lmt loii^' and slender, so as vo give a hii-suto appearance, and in flat-
tened specimens often to oltseure the IkmIv sitieules. Root, siny-le. stout,
often three inches long, with two to four slioi-t, spreading hraiiches at
base. Tliese terminal si)icu)e.s are flattened at the extremities. The

Fig. 8.—Protosponffia mononema. Primary, secondary
and tertiarj' spicules, x 5.

anchoring-rrd in this species is often mcreased in thickness hy a crust or
frosting of pyrite, and this would seem to indicate that it had, like the
modei-n Hyalonema, animal matter as well as silica in its composition, or
that foreign oi-ganic bodies attached themselves to it.

Nearlj' as abundant as the preceding form, which it differs from in
the character of the anchoring-vod, each of wiiich ma}' be regarded as a
single elongated anchor-shaped spicule, w'ith five i-aj's. The skeleton
spicules are also more slender and delicate, and their rays longer, and
there is a greater development of protective dermal spines. The osculum
is narrow and Avith many long defensive needles. (Plate I., Fig. 3)

3. — Protosponqia polynfma, Dawson.
(Figs. 9 and 10.)

Fig. 9.- -Protosponi;iapolynema. Portion
of base of laige specimen.

A large sponge in great 8haj)eless flattened patches, several inches in
diameter, though there aie smaller individuals also. Eody spicules fine
and slender, making a very open mesh. At base numerous simple root

[DAWsoNl FOSSIL SPONGES AND OTHER ORGANIC REMAINS 105

spiculog, short, and, in aome ca8o. expawded at theiv (,xt.-e,nitie8. Younir
m.l.vHhu, s seem to havo boon ^WobUar and probably sessile, while large
.ndnndualH had a ^lat base; but the ^cenera! form is greatly obscured by
crushing, especially in the larger specimens.

Fta.lO.-Protospongiajjolynema. Primary, secondary
and tertiary spicules, x 5, "

4.— Pkotospongia DELicATULA, Dawson. -
(Figs. 11 and 12.)
Globular or oblong in form, 1 to 4 cm. in diameter. Body spicules
cructorm, regu ar, forming a very dense mesh, abott 1 mm. or less in the
opening^ Osculum probably wide. Defensive spicules very short and
close. Several short anchoring-rods. Some indicatons of a double row
of spicules m the body-wall. The density of the spicular body-waH
causes It often to be encrusted and obscured by pyrites.

t=P--

:}r

m

km

Fig. n.—Protoapongia deUcatula. (a) Re-
stored, (b) Portion of base enlarged.

Fig. 12. -Primary, secondary and
tertiary spicules, x 5.

eottWW. 7"%'™Ph on fossil sponges, identifies this with Wal-
na sot w fh'' ^'-^ ( A^«n..m) subsph<,r.cus of the Utica shale, but com-
panson with specimens kindly furnished by Dr. Walcott shows Ihat there

106

ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

is no f^round for tliis except a rtwttiiihiance in j^eneral form. The struc-
tures, 80 far U8 known, are quite different.

Note. — The two followin<^ species, haviiiy; the rows of spicules diac^on-
ally arranged, as I reinarl<ed in descrihini!; tlioni in 1889, have been
placed l)y Rauif in a new genus DiagonieUa. I doubt the expeciiency of
this on the mei"o ground of divergence of the nnvs of meshes from
horizontality. But there ai-e other peculiarities of these species, which
might fairly entitle them to constitute distinct sections of the genus. I
tlierefore, place them by themselves, noting these differences :

5. — Protosponoia coronata, Dawson.
(Figs. 13, 14 and 15. PI. II.. Figs. 5 and 6.)

Fig. I'A.—Protoapongia coro-
nata. Restored.

Fig. U.

-Protospongia coronata. Primary, second-
ary and protective .spicules, x 5.

Body ovate, 2 cm. long, but fragments indicate that it grew much
larger ; spicules coai-se and four-rayed, so cimnected as to give the appear-
ance by their oblic^uity of a diagonal network of rhombic openings. This
may possibly be the effect of flattening. Numerous small cruciform flesh
spicules. Eoot spicules strong, short or bi-oken off, 2 to 4. Osculum

>-^^^^

Fig. 15.-

-Protospongia coronata. Showing
internal cavity.

large, ter'ainal, covered with a conical hood made up of curved spicules
converging to a point, and 1 cm. in height, in \he smaller specimens, in
which alone I have seen them, the larger specimens being usuallj' imper-
fect. Short protective spicules visible at the sides.

[DrfWSOK] FOSSIL SPONGES AND >THER ORGANIC REMAINS
6. — ProtosPONQIA CYATHIKORMIH, DuWSOU.

(Figs. 15 and IG. PI. II., Figs. 7 and 8.)

107

Fio. lo.—Protoapongia vi/alhi-
formis. Restored.

Ft(i. 10.— Protoapongia cyathifonnia . Primary,
.secondarj' and tertiary cruciform spicules, x 5.

General form inverted conical. "When mature about 3 cm. wide at
top and 5 cm. long, without the anchoring-spicules, which are sometimes
very long. Top truncate as if with a wide osculum, with defensive
spicules on its margin. Primary spicules cruciform, with long rays, in
some 2 to 3 mm. in length, placed diagonally, loosely attached or free,
but forming large rhombic meshes ; secondary and tertiary- spicules
numerous and delicate, with slender arms. Root spicules simple, some-
times very long, five or more visible in the most perfect specimens, and
passing up to the middle of the body. Indications of many interior
minute flesh spicules, often constituting a pyritized maas, obscuring the
meshes.

The oblique character of the transvei-se spicules deserves notice, but
this may be the result of compression, though I think it more likely that
it is an original feature.

This species is well characterized b}- its form, and by its multitudes
of very minute cruciform spicules. These, and the fact of the sponge
being often represented by a dense, pyritous mass, indicate a thicker and
more fleshy body-wall than in some other species.

f

108 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

Genus JIYALOSTKLIA, Hindo.

7.— Hyalostelia Metihsica, Dawson.

(Vi^. 17. PI. III., Fig. 10.)

F\C: n.—Hyaloatclia Metissica. Spicules x 5. ,

Geneml form ln-oad, witli a large oscuhim and a numher of stout
anchoring-n),ls. Body-wall lornied of single long slender rods, woven into
a very loose mesh and HU])porting cruciform and other spicides of varied
form, attached only hy the soft memhranes, so that they are almost always
found loose and disarranged. Up to 1889 I had seeii the species only "in
this condition ; out was so fortunate in 1895 as to find a small specimen
retaining its form, which I have figured in Plate III., Fig. 10. The spiral
ancht)ring-rod8 figured with this species in 1889 really belong to Pala^o-
saceus, which at one time I was disposed to connect Avith Hyalostelia, but
am now convinced that they are altogether distinct, though Hyalostelia
may form a connecting link IxMween the Protospongida^ and the Dictyo-
spongida', its body-wall being formed not of cruciform spicules, but'of
long slender and single rods woven together into squaro or rhombic
meshes. ,

As to the use of the generic name Hyalostelia for this species, I am,
by no means certain, since the sponges included pi-eviously in that genus
are very imperfectly known to me.

[DAW60NJ FOSSIL SPONGES AND OTHER ORGANIC REMAINS

109

Family DicTyoF?oNorD^, ITull.

Genus CYATHCPTIYCUS, #aleott.

8.— CYATriopiiYcus QuEBECENSE, Dawson.

(Figs. 18 and 19.)

Fig. IS.-CjfathophycxM Quebecense. Fi„ ,0 f\.Z*i i ^ .

Restored. > ^^^- ^^--Cyathophycua QueMcfMse.

T, ' Base enlarged.

veJZZ -f 7'''"^ "'Tl"\ '""^P"'"^ apparently of numerous long,
ver , al spicules, crossed by horizontal or annular bars, and with a few
cruciform spaculcs „, the meshes. Tl,e vertical and trlnsverse spicules
may be cruciform spicules arranged vertically. The form terminates

tzz Tw ^"'r-T'' '■"''^^^*'""^ ''"^ ^'-«^--^ ^^^~

WatoTt frim th?Tir ^'^^f ^""""" Cv-fnophycus reticulatuu of
Walcott f^^om the Utica shale, but differs in detail, especially in the sim-

t^^: '"■?"' ''■'' ^"' development of the'tra'n sverse or drcZ
bais. Ihe largest specimens are 8 cm. long by 3 wide at top There are
signs of minute lateral defensive spicules. The general form and strue
ture resemble those of the modern sponges of th^ genus HolaJs.

I changed the generic name to Cyathospongia in my paper of 1889
as the termination seemed incorrect: but this name seems to have been
pre-occupied by Prof. Hall. I therefore leave it in the originalform
until amended by the author. ^

The sponges of the genus Cyathophycus are not abundant in the

Sec. IV., 1896. 7.

no

UOYAL SOCIKTY OF CANADA

1)0(|8 oxplorod at Mi^tis, imd most of tlioni liiivc Iwcii imuli hrokt-n up.
Only (mo Hpocimon wuh ohtained in a (olcrahlc stato of'cdinpkitonoHs.

For furtluT iTiuurkH on the Mtructun' and afflnitit'Mof tliis Hpoij^c by
Dt. """'.ndo, 800 tho paptT of 1H89.

(JENirs AOANTIIODICTYA. Hitu/r.

SpoTi^os ny)]»roxin>atc'y Hiilicylindrical in fbnn.jcons' ■•; ofa ukolutal
mosli-work of longitudinal and transvoi-Hc spioular stranob .>r "hrcs. The
longitudinal Ht rands arc composed of soinowliat loosely a "ran/' I faseicles
of eloni^ul'id ovevlappin;; HpimU'H. and the Hj)ic»;leH of tl-e Hienu. r tnins-
voive fibroH a''e as a rule diHpoMed in a Hinijjle Hcvies. Fvi-m the outer
surface of the spon/re, numerous 8]>icular rays project outwards at ri/^ht
angles. The sponife a])pearH to have heen ancliored hy a hasal prolong-
ation of the lon/^itudinal wt rands. Owin^ to the present con)])re8sed
condition of the H)>e(Mmens it is ddticult to determine the original form
of the ct)n8tituent 8|)icule8. Some of the olontjated lon/^itudinal 8])icules
may bo merely sim])le rod-like forms, others are clearly cruciform and
their transverse rays form the cross lihres. The spicular rays of the
])rojectin^ I)ri8tles of the surface may he the free distal rays of normal
hexactinollid spicules, hut only these projectin/j; rays can now be clearly
dlstin/ijuishod ; the othei-s are merged in the longitudinal fascicles.

The general structure of the skeleton resembles that of Ci/athophycus,
Walcott, but it is characterized b}' the presence of the pnjjecting surface
rays. The mesh is also of a looser character than in Cyathophycus and
its arrangement in quad i ate ai-eas is only faintly recognisable.

9. — AOANTHODICTYA HI8PIDA, HindC.

(Figs. 20 and 21. PI. III., Fig. 11.)

Fig. 21.— Acanthodicfya hispidn.— Portions enlarged x 5,

showitiK framework and cruciform and

protective spicules.

Fig. 20.—Acant/iodictt/a
hispida. Restored.

[DAWSON] FOSSIL SPONGES AND OTHER ORGANIC REMAINS

111

The oxainples of this Hpecios wore prolmhiy nnirly cyliiidnciil tul»«H
from ;{() to 5u mm. in iormth, and about 1*2 mm. in width. Tlie longi-
tudinal f'uHcicloH an' altout 1 ;nm. apart and the transvt-rsi' tilires from 1
to 2 mm. (li«tant from oach olliei-. The projoclinn; Hpicular rays of tlio
BurfacoH are (miy Boon in them* compronsod 8ponfi;o8 at tho lateral marj^ins
UH a Hort of fringe. The free rayw are Homowliat thickly set ; they vary
fronj 5 mm. to 3 mm. in loni^th ; tlio lon;^«'r formn in somo instanci's occur
at rc^^ular inlervalw, prohahly at the angles of the mesh, and between
thoise are tlio shorter rays. The extremities of many of the lar^ei" forms
are slifxh'ly swollen or club-shaped, but it is uncertain whether this is
an oriifinal feature or is due to an irref^ular deposition of the pyrites
which has now in all cases replaced the silica.

This species a{)pears as ribb.'nd-like bands composed of vertical and
)»ai'allel bundles of delicate spi^uh^s, with slender transvei-se spicules
crossintf them at interval? like the rounds of a ladder. It was ])robably
oriu;inally cyliudi'ical, but the extremities have not been seen, though
fraifiuents nearly three inches in lenj^th have been ft)und. One of its
most conspicuous character is the possession of dense fringes of long
protective spicules at the sides, and these seem to be based on a cortical
structure of crutch-shaped or cruciform spicules, from which the defen-
sive s|)icules sprii'g. Scattei-ed cruciform spicides of snuill size appear
also in the middle of the bands. The fascicles of longitudint:' ipicules
are sometimes loosely twisted in a spiral numnej". Ilinde suggests that
in some of our s])onges this appearance nuiy be caubod by the accessory
threads, indicated by Schulze as (Jotnitalia}

Sponges of the above species are sometimes associated with the
larger masses of Protospongia in such manner as to suggest a parasitic
or commensal relation ; but this may be accidental, and may arise from
the cortical spicules of Aranthodlctya becoming entangled with the sur-
face of neighbouring sponges. In one specimen 1 have the anchoring-
rods of Protospongia tetranema, with a patch of pyrite inclosing some
of the spicules at the top and apparently attached to this, and rising
from it a specimen of Acanthodictya. This specimen certainly appears
to suggest a commensal relation. Another specimen is attached laterally
to the side of a fragment of Protospongia, and another is very long and
much curved.

It is possible tliat some of the spirady twisted anchoring-rods men-
tioned below may have belonged to this species, but these have not been
seen attached, and there are only faint indications of simple or loosely
spiral roots.

The genus, no doubt, approaches to Cyathophycus, but is separated
b)- its cylindrical form, the fascicled character of its longitudinal rods,
and its cortical spicular arrangements.

* Challenger Report, vol. xxi., page 17.

112 j-OYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

Genus PAL^OSACCUS Minde.
(London Geologicul Magazine, February, 1893.)

Cylindrical globular or sac-like sponges, with thin walls of rhombic
meshes. The strands of the mesh-work consist of fascicles of slender rods,
cruciform, and, perhaps, five- rayed spicules ; the interspaces are either
open or covered with a thin layer of irregularly disjjosed rods and cruci-
form spicules. No anchoring spicules have been found in immediate
connection with the sponge, but there are with it on the same surfaces
elongated anchoring-siMcules with ornamented spiral ridges which may
belong to it.'

From Cyathophycus, "Walcott, which appears to be nearest allied, this
genus is distinguished by the rhombic character and large size of the
mesh-work ; the generally similar structure both of the longitudinal and
transverse strands of the mesh, and the greater development of rod-like
(Spicules. The same features likewise differentiate it from Plectodeima,
Hinde, and Phoniiosella, Hinde.

10. — Pal.«:osaccus J)/;wsoni, Ilinde.
(Figs. 22 and 23. PI. III., Fig. 9, PI. IV.)

Fig. 22.— Spiral anchorinp;-rod8,
distal ends enlarged.

Fig. 23.— Portion of anchoring-
rods, enlarged

Sponge of large size, apparently cylindrical in its complete form ;
the part preserved consists of a flattened portion of the wall-surface more
than a foot in diameter ; both the upper and the basal portions of the
sponge are wanting. The rhombic meshes of the wall vary from 14 to
20 mm. in width, the average width is nearly 17 mm. The strands of
the mesh mostly consist of very slender rod-like threads apparently
simple, which are loosely arranged, in strands of five or more, generally
parallel with each other. At the angles of the mesh there are, very
frequently, if not in all cases, stouter crucifornii, or perhaps five-rayed

^ TraAofor, ancient ; oukko^, coaree cloth, sack, strainer.

m

[DAWSON] FOSSIL SPONGES AND OTHER ORGANIC REMAINS 113

spicules, and slender cruciform spicules are likewise intermingied with the
rods in the strands. In the interstices of the mesh-work, and ap])arently
exterior to it, there is, in some portions of the sponge, a thin open layer,
composed of slender rods and cruciform and other spicules, overlappin<r
each other without definite ari'angement. It is probable that this layer
formed the outer surface of the sponge, for the spicules are of the same
character as those of the strands of the mesh.

The manner in which the small spicules seem to have drifted to one
side, shows that they probably formed the cortical Itijer covering the
whole surface, but became disengaged on decay of the soft parts.

Some uncertainty arises respecting the anchoring appendages of
the sponge, since the basal portion is wanting, and no unchoring-
spicules are found in immediate contact with the specimen, but on the
surface of the same rock-beds in which it occurs '.aere are many pecu-
liarly ornamented spiral rods which may belong to this species. They
appear as if they consisted of several very minute filaments spirally
twisted to^Jthcr, like the strands of a rope. Each filament has a row of
projecting tubercles, which in the rod are definitely arranged in quin-
cunx, so that the general ornamentation is very striking. At the distal
end the rods are slightly cui'ved, and the raised lines are more straig'it,
and assume more the aspect of distinct fibres. As with the other spicules,
these anchoring-rods are now of pyrites.

Later observations teni to connect these anchoring-rods almost cer-
tainly with the present species. The rods are found almost exclusively
on the same surfaces with this sponge. They do not appear to belong to
any other form in these heds. Fragments of the base of the sponge
show that the strands of the framework have there an imperfect spii'al
arrangement, though slender, and if several o^ them coalesced at the
base they would assume the form of the spiral rods.

So far as can be at present determined this sponge appears to have
consisted simply of a delicate thin sack or cylinder of spicular strands
f(- 'nmg a rhombic mesh, with a thin outer spicular layer. There is no
evidence that the sack inclosed an inner spicular tissue, and probably
this thin wall represents its entire skeleton. A similar condition seems
to have been present in Protosj>OH(jia, Cyathyphycus, and probably also
in Dictyospongia and the genera allied to it, but in none of these do we
find the structure on such a large scale a: ..i the present form.

114 EOYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

Suborder Monactinellida, or of doubtful affinity.
Genus LASIOTHEIX, Hinde.'

Sponges small, depressed oval in outline, the outer surface covered
by a layer of longitudinally arranged, apparently simple, acerate spicules ;
beneath this is another layer of s))icules disposed transversely. From
the base of the sponge several simple elongated spicules extend.

The peculiar arrangement of the surface spicules in this form indi-
cates a probably new genus, but in its present ccmdition one cannot tell
with certainty whether it is monactinellid or hexactinellid. The outer
surface seems to have been invested with a sheathing of regularh ar-
ranged acerate spicules, and beneath these other spicules, disposed trans-
versely, can be distinguished, but wliether these are really acerate or
moditied hexactinellid spicules there is no decisive evidence to show.
In one or two instances the spicules appear to be cruciform, and the
presence of the long, simple anchoring-spi extending from the base

of the sponge, precisely as in normal hexa^ allids, is a further point in
favour of its belonging to this division.

11. — Lasiothrix curvicostata, Hinde.

(Fig. 24.)

The type form is transvei-sely oval, 8 mm. in height by 12 mm. in
width, the anchoring-spicules can be traced to a length of 15 mm. from
the body. The summit is rounded. Thei-e are some nodular elevations
of P3']"ite8 in the body portion, but it is doubtful whether they represent

Fig. 24. — Lasiothrix curvicostata. Natural
size and portion enlarged.

aggregations of spicules or are merely due to the chemical deposition of
the mineral, in connection with the presence of organic matter.

This curious little sponge, of which few specimens were found, is
remarkable for the strong cui'voil spicules which sup])ort its sides, giving

1 British Fos.sil Sponges, Pal. Soc, 1888, PI. i., fig. 3.

[DAWSON] FOSSIL SPONGES AND OTHER ORGANIC REMAINS

118

the appeurance of a rounded bawket wit li strong vertical ribs and very
slender horizontal bars, within which and at top were quantities of slender
straight spicules,

12. — Lasiothrix flabellata, s. n.
(Fig. 25.)

Fig. '2^.— Lasiothrix flabellata. Restored,
and spicules x 5.

I have some doubt as to the right of this species to be placed in Dr.
Hinde's new genus; but the specimens much resemble the former species,
and may accompany it provisionally. The surface appears to be covered
with small ovoid bundles of stout biacerate spicules, diverging from the
centre and sometimes in fan-shaped tufts. The specimens show indications
of an external membrane, and they had somewhat strong root spicules,
much larger than those of the body. It seems uncertain whether the fan-
shaped bundles are really such or flattened groups of radiating spicules
surrounding small oscula. In some specimens the spicules are confusedly
scattered in films of pyi'itous matter with little indication of radiating
arrangement. Dr. Hinde remarks as to this form that '' the spicules do
not stand out definitely, as in the case of the hexactinellid sponge spicules,
':- .t appear to ue imbedded in some membrane. Ir two instances, anchor-
ing-spicules, like those of Protospongiii, project from the base of the
mass. I do not know^ of an}* monaetinellid sponge furnished, as these
appear to have been, with long anchoring-spicules."

The sponges of this genus are very rare in the Metis collections, and
are obscure and difficult to make out as to their details.

116

ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

Ge:vu8 IIALICHONDEITES, Dn.

13. — IIalichonduitks confusus, Dawson.

(Fig. 2G.)

Fio, 26.— Hal ic/iondrites confusus.
Spicules enlarged.

Oval or irvegiihir masses of small simple spicules, imbedded in patches
of pyrite, and without any definite arran<:;ement of ruot spicules, may
indicate the presence of a halichondroid sponjre. In the best preserved
specimens the spicules appear to be biacerate and more slender and
pointed than in the last, and tliey seem to be in two series, inclined at a
very oblique angle to each other. In some specimens elongated spaces,
with well-defined margins, are covered with thin films of pyrites, which
may have resulted from the replacement or incrustation of a mass of
minute spicules, of Avhich traces remain in some places.

It is to be observed in this connection that sponges having oiiginally
much keratose or other dense aninuil matter would naturally aggregate
in and around themselvos a greater quantity of pyrite than those of a
more purely siliceous character. . ^ '

Genus STEPHANELLA, Hinde.
Established by Dr. Hinde, London Geological Magazine, 1891, p. 22,
to contain some sponge remains discovered by Dr. Ami in the Utica shale
at Ottawa, and ccmsisting a])parently of groups of very fine radiating
spicules. S. sancta, Hinde, is the type species. Dr. Hinde regards them
as basal spicules of a sponge to which other outer structures which have
perished may have been attached. / •

14. — StEPHANELLA HINDU, 8. n. '

-' (Figs. 27, 28 and 29.)

Fig. ^.—Stepfianclla Hindii. Slightly enlarged.

[DAW80N] FOSSIL SPONGES AND OTHER ORGANIC REMAINS 117

Many fragments of this species liave been found from time to time
showing long stoul tapering anchor! ng-rods with masses of \on<r slender
simple spicules near them ; but in 18!»5 for the first time nearly perfect
specimens were observed. They consist of discs somewhat larger than
those of S. sancta, made up of fine straight spicules radiating from a ])oint
near one side and rather coai-ser than those of S. sancta, and showing,
hero and there a tendency to be aggregated more densely as if in bundles
but this is not very inarked. At and toward the circumference there are
occasionally a iew very small cruciform spicules which, as they are not
confined to one specimen, I regard as probably the remains of an outer
or cortical layer. If they are accidental they must be the smaller spicules
of disintegrated ProtospongiR' entangled in the spicular surface of Ste-
phanella. It seems more likely, liowevcr, that thev are a part of its
structure, in which case it furnishes an example of a sponge with a dense
internal skeleton of radiating spicules. Fig. 27 represents a nearly

iS;k^

Fm. 28.—Stephanella Hindii. FraRment
with anchoring-rods.

Fig. W.Sfepfianella ? Anchoring-
rods and part of the spicules, enlarged.

complete specimen, and Figs. 28 and 29 disintegrated fragments with the
anchoring-roots, which in some specimens are longer and more taperino-
than in others, though always very stout at the base. *

In Dr. Ami's specimens from Ottawa, a few stout anchoring-rods
and cruciform spicules are found in the same ^labs with Stephanella but
none of them are seen to be attached. I think it not improbable, how-
ever, that the former, at least, belong to Stephanella.

118

ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

INCEET^ SEDIS.

15. NoN-Si'iruLATE SPONGES. — Pvvitous spots of indeterminate form,
and showing under the lens only an ol)seure u;ranular and flocculent ap-
jiearaneo are not infrequent on thesurfacesof the Metis shales. In addition
to these, however, there are two types of these objects of more definite
shape, either trianijuhir Avith a dark space in the centre oi' oval. The
former seem to ho flattened hollow cone.s, the latter possibly flattened
sacs. Some of the former show suiticient traces of spicules to connect them
with Protospomjia eyathiformis, while others may be entirely pyritized
individuals of P. dclicatula. In addition to these, however, there are
others which, under the lens and when moistened, show indications of
simple linear spicules, and more numerous examples which seem to be
composed of indeterminate and interlaced fibres reminding one of the
tissue of a corneous spont^e. None of them have any indications of
anchoring rods. For the present I merely mention them as possibly
indicating types of sponges distinct from any of those above described.

1(). Spiculate sacs. — Imbedded in the debris of the larger specimens
of Hyalostelia, there ai-e oval flattened patches made up of a dense muss
of very small and apparently simple spicules, but presenting no aperture
or anchoring-rods. Having found them only in connection with Hyalo-
stelia, I at tirat imagined they might bo some form of ovarian body ;
but Dr. Hinde doubts this, and is inclined to regai'd them as distinct
organisms. One of them is represented in Fig. 30 of about the natuml

Fi(i. 'M.—Spiculate sac, found
with Hyalosteha.

size. If distinct sponges, there may have been some commensal relation
between them and Hyalostelia. They are quite distinct from the little
masses of broken spicules referj-ed to above in Section IV.

17. MiNDTE Globular or Circular Bodies.

Surfaces of an inch or more in diameter are occasionally stippled
with minute pjn-itous spots ; when magnified these appear perfectly round
and of approximately uniform dimensions. They may either be inor-

[DAWSON] FOSSIL SPONGES AND OTHER ORGANIC REMAINS

119

i^unic discs ol' pyrite, or may repreMent flattened organic bodies. In tlio
latter case, they may be ujerms or ova, or spores, or portions of some
complex vegetable or animal orijanism They recall the little spherules
described by Matthew as occui'riii<^ in the Caml»rian of New Brunswick,
and named by him Monaditca (jlolmUirls. 1 have not been able, however,
to detect any indications of connectinj^ rods or stalks like those fi<^ured
by Matthew.'

VI. OTHEE ANIMAL EEMAINS.

The most important of these are the little brachioi)od8 referred to
above :

Obolella (Linnarssonia) pretiosa, Billings.
h e

Fig, 31.— Linnursaonia pretiosa, Billings, a, natural size of medium specimeis,

6, ventral, c, dorsal valve.

These are very abundant on the same surfaces which hold the sponges,
and are usually replaced by pyrite. though sometimes appearing as mere
casts. They often show their interior structures as represented in Fig.
31. They afford for the present the best evidence in relation to the geo-
logical age of the deposit, since the species is characteristic of the Siliery , and
the genus is a Cambrian rather than Or(U)vician one in Europe. For this
reason I quote here Dr. Hall's description, baseci on Metis specimens
siibmitted to him some years ago. I may add that Mr. Whiteaves, our
best Canadian authority, concurs in referring these shells to Billings's
species 0. j)retiosa :

" Shell small, subcircular or elongate transvereely. Valves subequally
convex, the ventral beak erect, slightly projecting and perforated at its
apex. External surface covered with tine concentric linos, faint radia-
ting stra? being visible on the interstitial lamelhr. The interior of the
ventral valve bears a subtriangular or U'^^^^^'P^d ridge, the branches of
which diverge anteriorly. The thickest portion of this ridge at the union
of the branches is penetrateil by the foraminal tube. In front of the
foramen, and just within the cardinal line, on either side the axis of the
shell is a conspicuous tubercle or boss. In the doreal valve is a median
ridge, extending half the length of the valve, and from this two short
lateral ridges diverge, taking their origin at one-third the length of the
median ridge from the posterior margin."

1 Transactions Royal Society, 1889.

120 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

ANNKLIDS.

Trails and faHtinp;s of worms aro not infrequent in the shales holding
the sponges. Some surfaces are covered wit h what seem to be very minute
cylindrical smooth trails of woriiis, and larger worm-like bodies in pyrite
seem to represent casts of burrows or of the bodies of worms. Some of
these are a quarter of an inch in diameter and rudely annulated in an
irregular manner. There are also a few casts in pyrite of spiral forms
like the Arcniccoliti's .ynralis already mentioned. These burrows and
trails are similar to those found in various places at and near Little Metis
in the beds of the (Juebec Group.

MISCELLANEOUS FEAGMENTS.

Minute fragments, possibly referable to Trilobites, Cystideans and
Graptolites, are occasionally seen, though very rarely, and ai'e quite
indeterminable.

ALG/E.

BUTHOTKEPHIS PERORACILIS, DaWSOn.

(Fig. 82.)

. Fig. 32. — Buthotrephis pergracilis.

I have nothing to add to the description of this species in the paper
of 1889, except that some of the specimens appear to be connected below
with a network of slender filaments spread out on the shale, that some of
the specimens show indications of a structure of elongated cells or fibres;
and that at the extremities of some of the branches thei-e are tufts of
rounded masses of granular pyritous matter; but whether these are

[DAWSON] FOSSIL SPONGES AND OTHER ORGANIC KEMAINS 121

remains of origans of fruotitioation or attache<l animal Htructures, or
merely inorganic ag^ro^ations, I have not been able to determine.

Chndorites Metissicus, 8. n.
Flattened fronds, two to four millimetres broad and the largest eight
to ten centimetres long. They are riband-like and smooth, with even
edges and fork dichotomoiisly at angles of 40° or more. They show
traces of carbonaceous matter but no structure.

In concluding this paper I think it proper to remark on the exuberance
of sponge life, both in abundance of individuals and of generic and specific
forms on a limited area of muddy sea-bottom of the lower Ordovician or
later Cambrian age, evidenced by the collections made at Little Metis, the
account of which in this paper is presented as merely the result of recre-
ative excursions in the summer vacation, in a tield different from that
in which the author is usually engaged.

In a formation usually little productive of fossils, and in muddy
deposits, which must have been laid down in water at a low temperature
and ill the intervals of conditions producing beds of a coarse mechanical
character, this abundance of delicate organisms is very unexpected and
surprising. We have to observe also that if the sponges in question
were, like their modern allies, inhabitants of deep water, there must have
been considerable oscillations of level at the time when they lived, as well
as much deposition of earthy matters in circumstances unfavorable to
marine life, as evidenced in the great thicknesses of barren material inter-
vening between the sponge-bearing layers.

Dr. Hinde has already mentioned the close alliance of many of these
Palu'ozoic sponges with their successors in later formations and in the
modern seas, evidencing the great permanence of the siliceous sponges
throughout geological time, and the fixation of the mechanical and vital
laws of their structure and growth at a very remote period. More
especially is this remarkable if we include with them the spicular forms
which have been recognized in the Laurentian, Huronian and Early
Cambrian rocks. The graptolites belonging to the oceanic waters of the
Cambrian and Ordovician have already indicated the paramount im-
portance of giving attention to the general oceanic fauna of these periods,
as well as to that of the continental plateaas, and it is possible that in
future the sponges may also prove of more value than heretofore in
regard to questions of relative geological age.

The results of these observations at Little Metis, in connection with
the obscure and unobtrusive character of the fossils, also show how much
is in the power of local collectors, having time and opportunity to follow
up any discovery by excavation and continued collection. In this way
beds for the most part unfossiliferous and presenting few attractions to a
passing collector, may be made to yield unexpected scientific treasuree.

MM

[dwvhon]

FOSSIL SPONOKS

Trank. IH'.Kl. 8kc. IV.— Piath I.

Fic. 1.

Fui. :t.

Ki(i. 2.

Fi(i. 4.

Fig. \ . — Protos'pongia fftrniiniid.

Fig. l.—P. monorurnn.

Fig. 3.— Do Showing osculuiii, partly broken away.

Fig. 4.— P. tetranema. Seen in section with root. (All natural size.)

123

M

I I

[dawhon]

FOSSIL SPONOES Trans. 1890. Ssc IV.— Platb IL

■T^K*^

-<^

Fid. 5.

Fiu. 0.

Fig. 7.

Fig. 8.

Fir. 5.— Crushed specimea of Protuspongia coronata, encrusted with pyrite.
{Natural size.)

Fig. 6.— Smaller perfect specimen of the same. (Natural size.)
Fig. 7.— P. cyathtformis. (Natural size.)
Fig. 8.— The same. Young specimen enlarged.

123

orm
I
1

i

[DAWSON ]

FOSSIL SPONGES Trans. 18!i0. Sec IV.— Plate. HI.

Fi(i. 11.

lM(i. it.

Fiii. 12.

Protosi'onyiii cyathi-

-Portion of PaUfosnccus IJawsoni.
L— Slab with Hiiiali specimen of Hyalosttlia Metissica ivt (a).
oritiis at (b) and fragment of Cynihophycun at (c).

J^'iK- ^y.—Aviinthodivtija hixplda. Fragment of small specimen, partly encrusted witii pyrite.
^Mg. 12.— Debris of Protosponi/ia. (All natural size.)

127

i

'^

■ [dawbon]

FOSSIL SPONGES Trans. 1896. Skc. IV.— Platb IV.

Fid. 13.
Fig. 13.— Spiral anchoringrods of Palaoaaceus, enlarged.

129