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SEcriONlV.. 1882. p. , S -3^ [ 15 ] ^^^^^^^

'J^-^y^uudi \'i%'b\ NEW YORK

BOTANICAL
aARDHN

II, — On thr Oreiacconn and Trrtutrij Fhnis of British Gohiiiili'tK and llie Xorth- Wat

Territvrij. B// J. W. Dawson, CM.G., LL.l), F.R.S.

0*rosonto(l Jfay 2^., 1S83.)
I. — GrENERAI. NOTES.

Collections of tho Crotacooiis fossil plants of Vanconvor Island woro mado many yt^i^i's
ago by Prol'. Dana, wln'n gcolouist to the United States Exploring I'kpcdilion under Com-
mander Wilkes, and by Dr. John Evans, geologist of the Territory of Oregon. The collee-
tions of Prof. Dana were noticed by liiiii in tlic r<'i>()rt of the Expedition, and tho.se by Dr.
Evans were described by Mr. Lesqucrenx in the American .Tonrnal of Science for 1859.
Prof. Ileer, of Zurich, afterwards examined specimens from British Columbia, and in a
letter to Lesquoreux, and also in his memoir, entitled, " Flora of Vancouver," described and
figured some of them. These botanists had in tlieir hands, however, plants from two dis-
tinct horizons, — the Cretaceous coal measures of Vancouver Island, and Tertiary formations
occurring at Bellingham Bay and elsewhere on the southern coast of the mainland of
British Columbia ; and as at that time such plants were not known to occur in the Creta-
ceous elsewhere, it was natural that they should refer the whole to the Tertiary.

In 1863 Dr. Newberry examined the collections of fossils made by the Boundary
Commission in Vancouver Island, and ascertained the fact that the fossil flora of that island
occurs in a formation characterized l)y marine Cretaceous animal remains and descril)ed
the plants then in his hands as Cretaceous.

The labors of the Canadian Geological Survey since 18*71 have enabled the ages of
these beds and those of other parts of British Columbia to be more fully defined, and their
distribution marked out. The details on these points are given in the reports of Dr.
Selw3na, Mr. Richardson and Dr. Gr. M. Dawson for 18*72 and following years. The animal
fossils have also been re])orted on by the late Mr. Billings, and have ])een more fully
described and figured by his successor, Mr. Whiteaves.

It is now certain that the beds containing the anthracite of the Queen Charlotte
Lslauds with which fossil plants are associated (Series C of the general section),* are Middle
Cretaceous, probably A-ery near the horizon of the Gault, and equivalent to the upper por-
tion of the Shasta group of the Californian geologists. The beds of the Nauaimo and
Comox basins of Vancouver Island are U]>per Cretaceous, and ec|uivalent to the Chico and
Tejon groups of California and to the Upper Senonien or Danien of the Frenc-h. In the
^northern part of Vancouver Island beds of upper Neocomian age occvir. These have not
'""yet been found to hold fossil plants, l»ut it is possible that tlie plant-bearing formation of
30 Beaver Harbor is of this age.

en The Queen Charlotte Island beds contain, so far as known, a strictly Mesozoic flora of
■y Cycads and Conifers, while the Vancouver Island beds abound in leaves and wood of exo-

* See comparative Table, infra.

.V3l

16 J. W. DAWSON ON CRl'^TACEOUS AND 'niKTIAkV KLOTIAS

geuous and endogenous trees akin to those of the Tertiary. On tlie west coast a consi-
derable gap appears to exist l)et\veen tiie middle and upper Cretaceous, and on the
east side of the liocky Blount ains, where the Cretaceous reappears and occupies a great
area, the middle part, the Niol)rara group of the American geologists, is almost everywhere
of a strictly marine character and destitute of fossil plants. The recent researches of Dr.
Si'lwyn and Dr. G. M. Dawson have, however, shown that toward ihe iiortli. in llie vicinity
of Peace River, in the sediment deposited along the shore of the old Niuljrara Sea, there
are heds rich in fossil plants belonging to a fauna older than that of Nanaimo and inter-
mediate between it and that of tlie Dakota group further .soutli. the fossil plants of wliieh
have been so well ligured and described by Lesquereux.* in llie Jiuw and J'.elly K'iver
region, l>eds of the Pierre group, or tiial next following the Niobrara in ascending order,
have al.so yielded a few fossil plants.

In our AVestern Territories these umluubted Cretaceous lu'd.s are overlaid by a widely
spread formation, holding lignite coal and fossil plants, which has been known in Canada
as the Lignite Tertiary series, and in tlie United States as the Laramie and Fort Union
STOups. Its fossil plants, as they occur in the Mackenzie River district, have been
described by Heer ; as they ociiir at the Souris River, they have been described by the
writer in the Reports of the Boundary Survey and the Geological Survey. The flora of
these beds is undoubtedly distinct from that of the underlying Cretaceous and of later date ;
but the associated animal fossils have induced many geologists to intlude the Laramie in
the upper part of the Cretaceous, while the fossil plants are of so modern aspect that they
have been held to be Miocene.

The truth appears to be that they constitute a transition from the upper part of the
Cretaceous to the Hocene, and that the analogies whi<h have been sought to be established
between them and liluropean Miocene deposits an; altogether fallacious, and based on the
similarity of an American llora of early Eocene date with one found in Europe at a later
period. This question and the bearing of it on the so-called Miocene of Greenland and
other northern regions will be discussed in the sequel.

Lastlv. on the mainland of British Columbia there are ancient laki^ basins of Tertiary
and i>robably Miocene age, which contain a still later ilora, associated with ins(>ct remains
Thest! bi-ds lie below extensive volcanic accumulations in many plaies, and are probably
contemi)oraneous with the Truckee Miocene of King.

The whole of the specimens collected by the Geological Survey, and representing a
series of consecutive floras extending from tlie I^ower Cretaceous to the Miocene, have been
I>la<ed in my hands ])y Dr. Selwyn, and I have been engaged lor some time in a careful
study of them, now nearly completed, and some portion of the results of which I propose
to state in the ])re.sent i>aper, — referring more particul.irly to the ]>lanls in.juiled under the
following geograjihical heads : —

1. — Cretaceous of the West Coast.
In the Middle Cretaceous of the Queen Charlotte Islands, the most characteristic plant

• CmU'woii Mnrii; nnyilon'D (Juolf>)?ii;iil Survey nf llio Torriti)rio8 nf llio Unil(«l SIaI)«.

i)K liKlTISIl (((I.C.MlilA AND TlIK X( tliTII-AVKST. 17

is Ci/rar/eoriir/iits {Dioiinites) Cii/innhiiDiNX,* a specios alliocl to tho mocloni Diorin, ednte of
^^l'xioo. and also to spocics kiiowu in Envopo and othor parts of Anicvica as Wcaldon or
I>i\vor Cretaoooiis. "With tlu'so ari> associated coniferous woods which indicat(> the exislence
of several spei-ios of trees allied to Sei/iioia and (o Tu.nis. The soiiicw lial limitctl lloia of
tliese Middle Cretaceous coal-measures of the Queen Charlotte Islands was described by
nie in IST-J.t Jmd as no subs(>f|ucnt ndditinns h:ive l)i^(^n made to it. doi-s not need t<i be
further noticed here.

A small collection made by Dr. G-. M. Dawson at Beaver Harbor, in the north end of
Vancouver Island, and not improbably of Middh^ Cretaceous age, though later than the
anthra<'ite of Queen Charlotte Island, contains leaves of Salishi/rin or uinki^o. and also of
tho genus Ah'tiro/iterif;.

A somewhat larger and more varied collection, also made by Dr. G. M. Dawson, comes
from Baynes' Sound in Vancouver Island, and occurs in Ijeds overlaid by characteristic Cre-
ta<."eous marine shells. It represents an Upper Cretaceous horizon, perhaps a little lower
than that of the Nanaimo coal-Held. It contains several species of ferns of the genera
T(ciiioj)teris and Nihsonia, and other characteristic Mesozoic genera. Associated with these
iu the same specimens arc leaves of the modern genera, SalLx, Populus, Bef/t/a, Ulmns, Ceano-
tliiis, M<is:noUa and Sussd/raa. There are also leaves of the curious genus FrotophyUum,
found by I^squereux in the Cretaceous of Nebraska, and conifers of tho genera Salishuna
and G/i/jilostn>hit>!. Baynes' Sound is in the Comox coal-basin of Vancouver Island, which,
according to Mr. Richardson's sections, is approximately on th(» same horizon with that
of Nanaimo, on the same coast. J

The Mora of Nanaimo and of Protection Island in its vicinity, has been collected by
Mr. Richardson, and is proved by the animal fossils associated with it to be of Upper
Cretaceous age. It holds species of ferns different from those of Baynes' Sound, and affords
species of Taxmlium, Sequoia and Salisburin, and leaves of a fan-palm {Snbti/), and of exogenous
trees of the genera Diospi/ros, Po]iiilii:<, J/tg-huis, Qiierriis, and other moderu types. There is
also fossil exogenous wood referable to some of the same genera.

2. — Crelaceuiis of t/tn Nuiih-West Territories.

In the sandstones of the Pine River and Peace River districts, not far from the base of
the Rocky Mountains, and about the latitude of 50°, there have been found, iu addition to
ferns and species of Seqitoia and Gli/jjfos/robtin, a species of Cyaulites, and leaves of Magnolia,
Ficiis, Pru/ojihi/lium, Menii^perrnites, Salix, Pojmhis, Lauroplii/llinn, Diospj/rox and Fagus. The
specimens indicate a very luxuriant and varied flora, such as might find suitable habitat
on the northern shore of the great warm-water Mediterranean, w^hich, iu the Middle
Cretaceous, occupied the space between the Rocky Mountains and the high lands of
Eastern America. Cretaceous mollusks are associated with the plants, and one of them
is identical with a species found in Queen Charlotte Islands. Coal is also associated with

* Discove.re^l liy Mr. .Tamos Ricliardsoii, and describcil and 'figured by the writer. Report Geol. Survey, 1872-3,
t Report of Geological Survey of Canada.
X Geological Survey'of Canada, 187G-77.

Sec. IV, 1882, 3

18 .1. W DAWSON ()\ CIM'/rACKors AND TKUTIAIiV KI.OltAS

these beds. Tlii-ir liorizou wonKl nppiar to he Middle Civtm-eous, and probably in-ar to
that of the marine Niol)rara srruuii of tin- Unilrd States ideologists, wiiiili was deposited iu
a vast Mediterranean Sea, whose northern shore seems to be represented by the Peace Kiver
iK'ds. This gives great importame to these plants, whieh lill up a i>ortion of the gap pre-
viously existing between the flora oi' the Dakota group and that of the Upper Cretaceous
oi" Vancouver Island.

A small collection made by Dr. G. M. Dawson on the Susqua River, some distance to
the west oi" the localities on the Peace K'iver,* .shows, in :i luLilily iiiduratiMl black shale,
leaves of a spet'ies of Piling and of a laurel.

Further to the south, and at the eastern base of the luxky Mountains, are the <oal
beds of the Bow and Belly River. wlii< h are Upper Cretaceous, ol' the " Pierre groirji " age.
The shales associated witli these coals have as yet atl'orded few fossils. The most a})undant
is a species of iSaiiioki. Leaves of Dtoonilfs, C'ltrjju/i/lies, and obscure exogenous leaves also
occirr.

3. — Lnniiiiie of /he Norlh-Wesl Territories.

From the Laramie or Lignite Tertiary series, overlying the more tyjiical Cretaceous, and
by some geologists regarded as itself Upper Cretaceous, while regarded by others as Ijower
Eocene, a number of species of plants have been obtained, all, so far as known, distinct
from those of the Cretaceous beds a))ove referred to. Many of them an- identical with those
de.scribed l»y Newlx-rry and T/'sijuerei^x from the Fort Union beds of the TTnited States,
and by Ucer in his memoirs on thi^ fo.ssils of McKen/ie River.

Some of these, collected by Dr. G-. M. Dawson on the 4!tth parallel. 1 described in the
Report of his Survey. Others collected liy Dr, Selwyn have been described in the Report
of the Geolo<rical Survey (IST't-SO.) A lew others were recently obtained, but have not yet
b«i»n catalogued or described. It is proposed to catalogue all the si>ecies determimvl up to
this time in the sequel of this memoir.

The following table, prepared by I'r. G. M. Dawson, will serve to show the ages of
the several deposits so far as yet ascertained : —

•Keport Guulogical Siinoy orCanatla, 1870-«n, i». 104 B.

OF r,i;;Tisii colimdia .\xi> tiik Ndiri'ii wkst.

19

CoMrARATIVK TABLE OF CRETACEOUS ROCKS.

EiifElaiitl,
Ac.

IT.

III.

NeVini.«kii I Rooky
andMi:^^uuri Mtmnluin
River. Rck'ioii.

4Uth imrallol.

Booono or Fort Union
luie.'it itnilJudith
Cretaceous. River U«ls.

Jf.TF^xolNo.5.Foxnil.

Reds

White
Clinik.

500.

Iiamniie.

i.-iuntoSKXi.

Fox Ilill.
l-SttO or more.

Scitonian*

Olialk
Marl.

Upper
Greensand.

Cenomanian
Oault

Upper
Neocomien-

No. i. Pierre. Pierre

"(«. IW to 300.

No. 3.
Niobrani.

No. 2. Benton.
800.

No.l. Dakota.

400.
(See note tt)-

Niobrara.
100 to 200.

Benton.
200 to 450.

Dakota.
200 to 300.

n'.

Plains between 4lt(h

Parallel Htul

Saj»kali'lu'Wan.

(Boundary t'oniniis-
sion KepiirtJ

V.

Peace River.

(Smoky River
Section.)

^

Souris Lirniticand
■ T.iBnile Tertiary'

fftuTiiUy. " and (I.
lad li!iii(ls section.
(See note *).

Division )'. Bad
T«anils Scot ion, also
at WbitcMud Riv-
er, 'riiri'o ItiiKcs,
etc. KIb.iw i.r S.
Saskiiti'lu' wan, till '-
Appelle Valley,
Eyebrow Hill, etc.

Pembina Mt. Se-
ries. Division t)- of
Badl^ands scftion,
also on Lower Sou-
ris. .A-.-inihu i II 0,
Qu'Ai.imII.'.KII.uw
of.'^.S^i-kali'liiWiiii.
Series R. ic C.
(Hector) N.Saskat-
chewan, West to
Ft. Pitt, N. slope
Cypress Hills, etc.

Li me. stones of
Boyno and Swan_
Rivers, marls of
Thunder Hill. Se-
ries below No. 4 on
E. Bniiich Milk
Kivcr, iieotor's Se-
ries D. (V)on liattlc
River, Ke<l Deer
River, Hand Hills,
etc.

i Saskatchewan at
I Cole's Falls. (?)

f Hector's Series E.,
I with lipnites ( ? )
[Red Deer R., N.
and S. Sa.skatchc-
[wan, etc. (?)

U p p e r
Sandstones
and Shales
(W a p i t i
Iliv. group)
2110 feet or
more.

Upper
Shales.
( S ni o k y
Kiv. Kroup)
.■IMI feet.

Lower
Sandstones,
(Dun vegan
(iroup. 100
ft.
(,Sec note t).

Lower
Shales. Ft.
■St, John
Group. 2f)0
ft. or more.

vr.

British
I'ohnnbia.

(Interior.)

Sandstones .3294

vn.

Rritisli Columbia.
(Coast.)

Vancouver
Nanatmo.

Shales 960

Island.

Comox.

Upper Conplo-

mevate .320

Uiiper Shales. 77tJ
Middle Oon-

Klomerate...llOO
Middle Shales 7(i
Ijower Conglo-
merate 900

Lower Shales. IIXK)
1.32t't. Productive I'oal Measures 739.
(See note •*).

Se-|

Nechacco Se

ries (?)
Skeenasan
stones with
impure coal.
S u s k wa R.
beds (?)
Iltasyouco
beds, 10,00(1.
,Skeena vol-
canic series.
Porphyritc
series. (?)

Auc'dfa bed-
of Tatlayoco,
Jackass Mt.
and Skagit.
7000 or more.
Porphyrite se
ries (?)

VIIL

Cali-
fornia.

Queen Charlotte
Islands.

A. Upper

S hale s and
Sandstones... 150O

Beds of For-
ward Inlet,
tiualsino Sd.,
Vancouver
Island.

B. Conglom-
erates 2000

C. Lower
Shales and
Sandstones . .5000

(See note JtJ ).

D. Agglom-
erates :V>00

E. Lower
Saudston.ss...l000

Tejon.

Chico.

Shasta.

• Onnrira wmibilli, Duvallia tenuifolUi, Thuja intcrrupla, Seqmin fxingmlnrffii, Populiu R'u-hnrdmni, Plnlitmm nohhi, Silicified wood,
etc. (.See Report on 49th parallel.) • n ,

" Sph,-rv,plrris etoniinUt, Snhnl imi>'r!>i!lii. Tarndimn mnmUtm, Turreia densifolin, fialuT pacifica, Pupulus (several species) Brtula
perantif/uu, Quercun Victorisp. Dini*p\/roii Vuiiroiin rittKtH. etc., etc. (See Report Canadian .Survey, 1872-.'i )_ ^

t Cytadilis Unjiga, GlvptiMrntm anuiUimux. Finis maximus, Fiiom proto-nuci/cra, Muiwdiit mtignifica, Pr'Aoplimiun Lecontennum, t ,
borealt, etc. (See Report of Geological Survey, 1879^80)

11 Lesquereux describes l:W species of plants, of which 114 arc Angiospermous and arc of 55 genera. , „ „.

lit Cucitdaxarpua (Diolinitm) Golumhinmis, Cfitpremj.rvl'm, Tiijcnrid'm' (Sec Report of Geological Survey, 18i2-3.)

20 .1 \V I>.\\VS()\ ON' CI.'K'l'At 'HOI'S AND TKIiTI A l.'V IM.oltAS

It will 1)0 soon iVom Iho abovo tiiMo that in Ainoii.-a tho Mora of tlio Lower Crotaceous
or Neooomiaii retains thi' moagri- < haiarttr of tho Mosozoii' ago. ovon in its iii)j>er part ; hut
in tho Cononianian a rich AnuiosiM'rniou.s ilora ^\ as inlrodiuod and rontinuod tliniughonl
tho roiuaindor of tho C'retaooons into tho Toitiaiv.

II. — TllK .MIDDLE AND UPPEI! (•I{ET.\CEOU.S FU)H.\.

For descriptions and figures olthe plants of tho Middle Cretaceous beds of Iho Queen
Charlotte Islands, roloronco niav bo niado to tho Eojiort of tho Goologioal Snrv(\v of Canada
for 1872-73. I would moroly remark hero that though regarded on tho ovidoneo of animal
fossils as Middle Cretaceous, their fossil plants show that they must be sommvhat older than
the Dakota Group of the United States geologists, and therefore approaching to Lower
Cretaceous. On tho other hand, the beds on tho Pino and Peace Rivers, explored l)y Dr.
Selwyn and Dr. G. M. Dawson, would seem to be somewhat later than the Dakota Group,
and near to the horizon of the Niobrara, in which period the greater part of the interior plain
of North America was occupied with a warm-water sea, near the North-western margin of
which the plants which abound in these ])eds must have flourished, and probably enjoyed
as tar north as aO^ to 5o\ a mild and equable climate, which may have l)ocome colder in the
Upper Cretaceous period, but was again mild in the Laramie age. Both on account of the
probalde difference in age, and the geograpliical separation of the floras of (lie eastern ba.so
of the Rocky Mountains and of the Pacific Coast, it will be expedient to notice these
separately. Tho first repro.sonts the flora of the interior of North America in tho. Ivower or
Middle Senonian of European geologists. The second, that of tho Pacilic Coast in the
Upper Seuouian or Ivower Danian of Europe. (See table supra.)

I. — Eti.t/eni ^kle of Rock)/ Mountains, more expeciiilli/ in flievicinifi/ of the Peace and Pine Rivers.

1. Aspi.ENU'M Nini5u.\K.\. S. N. (Fig. 1.)

Erond bii>innato, small and delicate, the jiinnulos elongate, crenulato and with rows of
ol)liquo linear prominences, probably roi)rr.seiitiiig tlie iiidusia. I have referred this juotty
little fern to Asj/lenium, on the evidence of tho renniins of fructification which it jin'sents.
The fiiruro represents a single pinntxlo enlarged about four times. Tho specimiMis <ontain
considiTable portions {)f Ironds. l)ut iniporl'octly i)rosorvod.

Collected ])y Dr. Selwyn on tlio Peace River.

2. CvcADlTEs Unjuia.* S. N. (Eig.s. 2, 2a.)

Midrib strong. < liannelod. jiinnai^ linear, onc-iierved, acnte. at angle of almut f)0 to the
midrib. Ordinary i)innae al>out ;! c<'ntimotros long; longest, .'> contimotros or more. Near
to C. iJiihfoni, Iloor, from tho Upper Cretaceous oj' Greenland, but i)etiole stouter, jiinnao
more acute and at more acute angle to petiole.

Colloctod l)y Dr. Selwyn at Pine K'ivor Forks, also at Table Mountain, in satulstono
containing Innreramus alius ; also at Pea< e River, 2."> miles abovi' l)un\eL;;in.

* Tlio Imlian naiiiP of tlm I'muv Uivur.

1)1" niMi'isii ('oi.r.\ii;iA ANi> I'lih: xoii'ni wkst. 2i

3. Cakpot.ituks lunjRimTs, S. N. (Fiiis. 3, 3a, 3b.)

Fniit <i-lobose, 3 oontiiui'tivs in diamotcr. Suiracc polished and sliiniiii:. with di'iise
thin ooaly outer coat, marked with crowded pore.s or dots, from w liiili are i^iveii oil in a
radiatinir manner nnmerons Hat linear processes 4 to 5 centimetres in leniit limid :'. millimetres
wide, and minutelv dentate at their ed£>vs. I can only conjecture that this rciuarkahle object
is a compound i'ruit perhaps of some cycatlaceous plant, I'overed with bracts or rudimentary
leaves. Figures 3a and 3b show the processes and pores magnified.

Fig. 3bis represents a pinnularia-like plant found in the siiinc 1)C(1 wilh the last species ;
but whether connected with it in any way does not appear.

Collected by Dr. Selwyn, Forks of the Pine li.

4. Glyptostrobus oracili.imus, Lesquereux, Cret. Flora, p. 52, Ft. I.

The matrix holding this species is coarse, so that the details are not very clear ; Inxt the
study of a number of specimens leaves no doubt that they are identical with the species
above named from Nebraska. Though placed ])y Ijcsqucreux in (lli/iilnalnihin^. he icmarks on
its reseml)lance to Freneliu. and more especially to Fret/r/i/r^ Ri-iiliii. of I'lllin'jhaiiscn. iVom
the Cretaceous of Neiderschaena.

Collected by Dr. Selwyn at Forks of Fine II.

5. Sequoia Eeiciienbachit, Heer.

This species is represented by a few brauchlets from the Peace River ; but further south
it is found in great abundance in the roof of a coal worked on Belly River. In ironstone
concretions in neighboring beds, brauchlets of the same species occur, alotig with fossil wood
of the type of that of Seqiwia <j;iga)itea, but with more slender fibres and shorter medullary
rays, and not improbably belonging to the present species. Along with it are shells of
Inoceramus.

Collected by Dr. Selwyn and Dr. Gr. M. Dawson.

6. TORREIA DICKSONIOIDES S. N. (Fig. 4.)

A few leafy branches, seen in the Peace River collections, which are near to T. Dicksonii
as described by Heer from Grreenland specimens ; but the leaves are more decurrent on the
stem, and more obtuse. They are also very thick, and transversely wrinkled.

Collected at Pine R., by Dr. G. M. Dawson.

7. Ficus MAxiaLi, S. N. (Fig. 5.)

Fragments of a large leaf, 8 centimetres broad and probably 24 in length, with rough
surface and strongly marked veins ; margin slightly crenate, narrowing abruptly to the
petiole. Only the lower part of this interesting leaf is seen in the specimens collected. I
refer it to Fkus because of the venation ; but this has also some resemblance to that o{'Juglnns ;
and more perfect specimens are required to give certainty to the reference above.

Collected at Coal Brook, by Dr. G. M. Dawson.

8. Fagus proto-nucifera. S. N. (Fig. fi, fia.)

Leaf oval, of moderate size, pointed at base, veins straight, at angle of 35° to 40", margin
entire ? Nut small, sharply mucronate, rounded triang^^lar. This species is very near to the
modern Fugusferruginea, though the h-af is a little more acute at liase, and may have been

22 J. W. DAWSOX ON CI^ETACEOrS AND TEETIAIJY 1-'T,0RAS

I'litirc, but thi.s is not (crtiiin. Tholoafol' this species is iu>t iinliki' tliat of the other Creta-
ceous beet'hes, as F. poh/r/iida, Lesq.. and F. nrlacen, Newbeny. and also resembles tlie /•"'.
AiiJijHtfi of Ileer, from Saelielin Island nil the coast ol' Sil)cria. This Sachi'lin llora is
regarded liy lleer as Tertiary, but it has a very Cretaceous aspect.
Collected at Peace liiver by Dr. t^ehvyn.

0. LVUROPIIYLTJTM PF,I?II,K, S. N. (Fiff. 1. 7a.)

Leaf elongate, oblong", G to T centimetres long, and '2.'> Inroad in middle, thin and
delicate, with a slender midrib, obsolete alternate veins, at angle of 40' to 50', and dense
reticxilation of line veinlets (magnified in liii'. Ta) ; margin entire, base narrowing to jieiiole,
apex not well seen, but probably acute.

Collected by Dr. Selwyn at Forks ol Peace liiver. and by Dr. tl. M. Dawson at east
branch of Peace R.

10. PiioTEOiDES i>ONOiTs, Hcer. (Fig. 8.)
Heer, Kreide Flora, p. 10, Plate 31, Fig. 5.

The venation of this leaf cannot be seen ; but it is not <lislingui,shable from the species
above named.

Collected by Dr. Sehvyn at Forks of Peace River, by Dr. G. M. Dawson, at east branch
of the same.

11. Betula, Sp.

In the collections from Peace River S(n'eral fragment.s with impressions of bark having
markings similar to those of the bark of the white birch tree, were found.

12. P0PULITE.S CYCLOPHYLLA, Heer. (Fig. 9.)

Lesquereux, Cretaceous Flora, p. 59, plate IV.

This poplar is so near to that above named, that bearing in mind the variability of the
leaves of poplars, I do not think it well to si^parate it. Ti<isqu(Mcux's specimens are from
the Dakota formation in Nelnaska.

Colle<;ted at Peace River by Dr. Selwyn.

13. DlO.><PYROS NITIDA, S. N. (Fig. ]i».)

Closely allied to D. aiicej)s, Lesquereux, Imt more narrow and ik utc, with stouter
midrib and veins at angle of 40" to 45°, and less < uivc<l. L(>squereux's species seems to be
different from that described l)y Ileer in the Flora Helvetica, under the same name.
I^c.squereux's .specimens w^ere from the Dakota Ch'oup. Those in the jiresenl collections
were obtained by Dr. Selwyn and Dr. G. M. Dawson, in tlie canyon of Peace River..

11 M\<i.\<>I,IA TENUIKOMA, J.,es(ir.

I>»Hr|uereux, Cretiu-eoils Flora, Page 92, PI. XXI.

Ijfsquereux's specimens were from llie Dakota (irouj). Tliose in the jm'sent collections
were collected by Dr. Selwyn and Di, (I M Dawson, al Coal Ibnok and Pea<e River.

1.'). MaONOMA MAdMKlCA, S. N. (Fig. 1 I I

F>'iif lurtre, 20 ceiitinictn-K or more in length. (Greatest Ineadth, less than one half the
length. Margin entire, midrib strong, in largo spivimons iM-cominu bmad neat ba-e. Veins

OF Uiai'lSll CUJJ.MlllA AND ■rilK .\< tlll'll WKST. 23

at aiiirlo of about (.lil\, dfliiiiti'. Ilcxuinis, nriiiir^' and luaiirhiiiL;' Inward iiiart;iii. ISasi-
gradually uavi"o\vin<i' to a wide and at Jirst hordi'ii'd pL'tiolc. Api'X not .soi-n. Thr siuallcr
spi'rimous ot" this loaf arc not uuliko thoso oi' the modern M. ticiimiiiatd. Some ol' the leaves
are, however, twice as large as that ligured, and with the angle of venation rather less
acute.

Collected by Dr. G. M. Dawson at Coal Brook.

10. Menispermites renmformis, S. N. (Fig. 1-J.)

Leaf broad, reniform. 11 centimetres broad and 7 centimetres in length, margins
tmdulate. Five veined, but with two accessory veins, making 7 in all. Tliis is a very
remarkable leaf, but of somewhat uncertain alhnities.

Collected by Dr. G. M. Dawson at Coal Brook.

17. rKOToPiiYi.iiU.M Leconte.\xu:m ?

Lesquereux, Cretaceous Flora, p. 103, pi. XVII.

This leaf is very imperfect, but approaches nearly in its venation to tlic species named.

Collected l)y Dr. Selwyn at Peace River.

18. Protophym.u.m boreale, S. N. (Fig. 18.)

Leaf very large, rounded at base, wliiili extends 2 to 5 centimetres beyond the attachment
of the petiole. Venation based on three main ribs, springing from the midrib near its base,
and w^hich are connected with each other by veins angling upward. The lateral veins give
off regular secondary veins toward the margin. The portion figured is the basal part of a
large leaf, whi>li some fragments show to have Ijeeu six inches or more in its greatest
diameter.

Collected by Dr. Selwyn at Peace Eiver.

19. PROTOrilYLLU.AI RUGOSUM.

Lesquereux, Cretaceous Flora, p. 105, pi. XVII.

A leaf not very well preserved, but so far as can be seen not distinguishable from that
above named, which is from the Dakota Grrouii.
Collected by^Dr. G. M. Dawson at Coal Brook.

A(l(lUioiiiil liihuid Species.

20. PiNus Susquaensis, S. N. (PL III., Fig. 37.)

Leaves, long linear, about 3 inches in length, and 8 or more in breadth, replaced by a
micaceous mineral in hard black slaty rock.

21. Laurus crassinervis, S. N.

A narrow lanceolate leaf, resembling L. Nebniscensis of Lesquereux, but more parallel-
sided and with very strong channelled midril). having transverse wrinkles. No trate of finer
venation.

Both of the above species are from the deposit in Susqua River already referred to, and
believed to be of Cretaceous age.

24 y \V I»A\VS()X ox ('l{KTAOKOUS AM" Ti;i!TlAI!Y I'LOEAS

22. DiooNiTEs KOKKALTs. S. X. (PI. TIL. Fiij. 3*7.)

IVtioli' thick, lonn-itiidinally striata. Leaflets lii milliinetivs wide, pavallel-sided, dornr-
rent at hase on the petiole, loiiiritudinally striated with al)out 15 striiB. Ijtnigth of leaflets,
0 eeutimetres or more, terminations nnknown.

This is a frairment of a leaf similar to that of Dimtiiiles ColiinihiiDiiiK from the Queen
Charlotte Islands, but diU'evinir in size and venation. Similar leaves have been found by
Fontaint' in the Ix)\ver Cretaceous of ^ irijinia, and in Europe they are considered to be
characteristic of the I.owcr Cretaceous. In America, however, Dioiin ediile still survives as a
representative of this type of cycads.

Collected by INIr. K. G. ]\I.-Conn.'ll, on Willow Creek, N. AV. Territory.

2. — Upper Creldceous of Vniitoiirfr hliind

1. Neuropteris C.\stor. S. N. (Fie-. 14, 14a.)

Pinnules at right angles to rhachis, closely set, oblong, al)ruptly pointed, attached by
whole ba.se. Midril> .stronu:. fading before reaching the point. Veins obscure, but apparently
at an acute angle to tlie niidril). Very ainindant at Beaver Harbour.

Collected by Dr. Cr. :\I. Dawson.

2. T.ENIOPTERIS PLUMOS.\, S. N. (Fig. 15.)

Tiesembles closely T. Villiilii and T. Gibbsii of Newberry, but has the veins forming an
ani.'le of .">0^ with the midrib, which is very strong, giving oil" to the even margin strongly
marked parallel veins. Breadth 2 centimetres ; length and termination unknown.

Collected by Dr. G. M. Dawson at Baynes' Sound.

3. Nii>!.><ONiA L.\T.\, 8. N. (Figs. 15, bis. 15 a.)

Frond at least (> centimetres broad. Pinnules about 1.2 centimetres in breadth, each
with about 30 parallel veins at angle of 50'' from the ril). Piiuue separated from eai'h other
by narrow acute lacunir. Midrib broad and channeled. Terminal i>iiina a little broader
than the lateral segments.

Collected by Dr. G. M. Dawson at Baynes' Sound.

4. Pteris (Oleandra) Gix)ssopteroide!<, S. N. (Fig. 16.)

Pinna lanceolate, 2 centimetres wide, 8 or more long. Midrib strong, giving ofT
ascending curved twice-forking veins, which from their llexuous cliara< ter sometimes
appear netted. Margin of pinna apparently inilexed or thickened. liesembles Olmndra
iirrlini, Heer, from Greenland ; but has the veins at a more acute angle.

Collected by Mr. J. Richardson, at Protection Island.

5. Sphenopteris elonoata, Newberry. (Figs. 17, 17 a.) Newberry, Boston Journal of

Natural History, Vol. VII., No. 4.

This species was described by Newberry, from si)ecimcns colleiled at Orcas Island,
on the Coast of Oregon. It is compared by him with N. Vrrhllii, Brngt. It is doul)(fully
refi-rred to Sphninplrris, but as the frucliiication is unknown, may be allowed to remain
there at present.

Collected by Mr. J. Richardson, at Protection Island.

OF liiMTisii couMiuA AM' 'nil'; Xi )i;'ni-\vi':sT. 25

<). Davalutes RicHAunsoNi, S. N. (Figs. 18, 18 a, 18 b.)

Uarivn pinnir. iii'arly at viuht anu'los to the potiolo ; narrow, with ulitual pinnules,
unitoil at Ijase. IV'w vciuod and sliiihtly ilcfiirnMit on tho ]iartial ix-tioli", to wliirli tiu'v aro at
right ansflos. I^tMigthofpinnir .Mnillinn'tn's (H- li-ss. TonaiiKil pinna obtuso. lolicd. I'Vrtilo
pinna; much narrower with si-milnnar pinnules, each with two thectv ()n tli^' upixr edge.

CoUorliHl l)v Mr. .T Ividiardson, at rrotection Island.

7. AuiANTITES PU.EU)NOU.<, S. N. (Fig. IM.)

Frond simple, widening u-radually from the base to near the apex, which is truncate
and sometimes lobcd. I^tMigth 10 centimetres, breadth about 3 centimetres. Texture
apparently thin and delicate. Veins slender, diverging at very acute angles, and forking
several timii-s. This is evidently a I'ern, l)ul of doubtful aifiuities.

Collected by Dr. G. M. Dawson at Baynes' Sound.

8. Pecopteris, S. N.

Tri-pinnate, with small closely placed pinnules, bhintly pointed. Venation obscure.
Collected at Eaynes' Sound, by Ct. M. Dawson.

9. A8PIDIU.^[ Kennerlii, Newberry, Boston Journal of Natural History, Vol. VII, No. 4.

This fern, said by Newberry to be very abundant in the shales over the Newcastle
coal at Nanaimo, appears only in a few fragments in the collections submitted to me.

10. TORREIA DENSIFOLIA, S. N. (Fig. 20, 20 a.)

Branchlets with crowded leaves, which are al)out 2 centimetres long and 4 millimetres
in breadth. ()l)tusely pointed, parallel-sided and decurrent on the brauchlets ; one-veined,
thick. In the absence of any knowledge of its fruit, the reference of this very distinct and
beautiful plant is of course very uncertain.

Collected by Mr. J. Richardson, at Protection Island.

11. Glyptostrobus, S. N.

Fragments of branchlets resembling G. Eia-o/ue/ts in size and form, but too obscure for
certain determination.

Collected by Dr. Gr. M. Dawson, at Baynes' Island.

12. Taxodiu.m cuneatum. Newberry, Boston Journal of Natural History, Vol. VIII.. No. 4.
Newberry describes this as follows ; Leaves numerous, short, broad-spatulate in form,

rounded or sub-acute at summit, narrowed into a very short petiole or sessile on the
branchlets.

Collected by Mj.'. J. Richardson, at Nanaimo and Protection Island.

13. Salisburia Baynesiana, S. N. (Figs. 21 and 21 a.)

Leaf obliquely cuneate, thick ; nervation dichotomous, obscure. Margin entire at
sides, sinuate at apex. LeaA-es of Snlisbun/n, possibly of the same species, though some-
what larger, are found at Beaver Harbour, and are associated with oval seeds or nutlets
possibly of the same tree.

Collected by Dr. G-. M. Dawson, at Baynes' Sound and Beaver Harbor.

Sec. IV., 1882, 4.

26 .1 W I'AWSOX ON CRKTACEOUS AND TEJJTIATJY FLORAS

14. ^llUVli^HTK^< Cor.D.VlltiK-MlS, S. N. (IMS'. 2'2.)

All in>h ov inoiv in width when lull gTowii. raialld veins (lisi;ini liuui fiuli other
about 5 niillinii'lres, and with some intervenius? stria?, llosomhles /' ('rrtareoiis, Lesq., from
Nebraska, l)nl dillers in venation. Ti> the naked eye tliis leal' very closely resembles
Cnn/'iUcs bi>r<issiYi>liii of the coal lornKitioii.

Colleited l)y Mr. James Iviihard.son, at Nortli Saanieh and Nanainio, and l>y Dr. G. M.
Dawson, at Baynes' Sound.

l.j. S.viJAi-l.Mi'Kia.vLi.s ^!. X. (Fig. 23.)

Siibiil, Sp., Newberry, Boston .Tcuirnal, Vol. VII., No. 4.
Midrib elons'ate : more tliaii l<i rcntiuielres loim- and l.S wide; eoarsely striate
loniritndinally, perhaps in eonsequenee of pressure. L-af havinii' folds varyinii' from S to
15 millimetres in l)readth, at anii'le of o;V to tJO^ at base, more aente upward. Nerves line,
30 to CO on each fold, five or six on ea-'h side of the middle bein<i- coarser than the others.
General li>rm and mari>in unknown. Imi must Jiave l)een one to two feet or more in
diameter of blade. This is undoubtedly the >^abal mentioned by Le.squi'reux and New-
berry, as found in frau'iuiMits in collections from "T^anaimo. At the Ilarwood colliery on
that island Mr. IJichardson obtained larg(^ leaves, but on a shale so brittle and jointed that
it was impossii)le to secure ilniu enlin\

16. Salix pacifica, S. N. (Fii>r. 24.)

Leaf (jlongate, pointed at botli ends. Apex somewhat a])nii>t, base obliqui'. Length
8.5 centimetres, breadth in middle 1.3 centimetres. ^lidrib conspicuous ; mavgiu entire.
In one specimen a stouji of leaves appears attached to a slender twis'.

Collected by Dr. G. M. Dawson, at Daynes' Sound.

17. ropULUS ItlHiMiiolDKA. Les<p-. *

Iji'squereiix. American Journal ol' Science, Vol. XXVII. p. ;!(iii.

Originally described by Lesquereux from specimens collected by Dr. John I^lvans at
Nanaimo. AVas described as " rhomboidal, with the margin irr(>gularly toothed aliove and
entire near the slightly decurrent base. Lateral primary veins diverging at an acute angle
like the secondary ones, and ascending to both corners of the rhomb of the leaf, all strongly
marked with scarcely visilde percurrent veinlots." It is a leaf with the venation on the
same plan with that of the modern P. ^nintli(k/if(i/(i.

Collected by Mr. J. Ki.liaidson. at Newca.stle Island.

18. r<iPDriUS PROTozARAriiii, S. N. (Fig. 25.)

Closely allied to /'. Znt/ailiii, of lleer. in its style of venation and crenated mar-rin. but
with fewer and more delicate veins and l)roader form.
Colleited by Mr. J. liichardson, at Newcastle Island.

lit. POPITLUS THINKIIVI.-^, S. N.

A poplardike leaf, with three slender v«'ins forking upwards. V.-ry i)ecnliar and
diHtinctivo, and repn'sented l)y several spiM-imens but ail iniperfi-ct al the margins.

f'olleeted al Nanaimo l>y Mr. James Itichardson, ami at Haynes' Sound by Dr G M.
Daw.'ion.

Oi- lijnilSll Col.lMr.lA .\NI» 'IIIK Ndinil W KST, 27

•20. PoPUIA'S RECriNEKVATA. S. N. (Fig. -26.)

Ti<'!ir lariro, w'\\]\ t'litiiv inariiin. or only a iVw dislaiit oIjsoIcIo tcclh, goiioral form
apparently l>i"oad oval or ovato. Midrib dclicali": veins sliii-hlly eiirved, diverging- from
tlie niidrih at an annle of about 2;j\ so that (In y ajipear very erect and approximately
parallel to eaeh other, forking twiee before they reach the margin. Resembles in venal ion
large and luxuriant leaves of /'. buhamifrm and also tht' /'. imilnliills of TTeer.

Collected by Dr. G. M. Dawson, at Baynes' Sound.

2\. rnPITLtTS LONOIOR, S. N.

riau of venation similar to the last, l)ut veins at a si ill more acute angle and the
form of the leaf narrower and with entire margin.

Collected by J. Richardson, at Harwood collierv, Nanaimo ; by Dr. G. M. Dawson, at
Baynes' Sound.

2-2. PopuLUS, Sp.

This is a very large poplar leaf which must have been foiir inches in l)readih. It has
a venation similar to that of P. gnuiilidniliilii. but the teeth of the margin much smaller.
The specimens are in fragments.

Collected by Dr. G. M. Dawson, at Baynes' Sound.

It should be noted that, in accordance with the numerous poplar leaves found in
these beds, wood, having the structure of modern poplar, is by no means uncommon in
the same formations.

23. Betul.-v per-^xtiqua, S. N. (Fig. 2*7).

Ovate, elongate, veins at angle of about 50\ with midrib slightly curved and begin-
ning to fork toward margin, wliich is entire, or with only very shallow teeth. Leaf, acute
at apex ; less acute at base. Length of ordiiicuy specimens, 5. .5 centimetres. Breadth, 0.2
centimetre. Six veins on each side.

Collected by Dr. G. M. Dawson, at Baynes' Sound.

24. QuERCUS ViCTORivE, S. N. (Fig. 28).

Leaf, large, probably 4 to 5 inches long ; broadly lanceolate, slightly toothed at mar-
gin. Veins nearly straight, at angle of 45", and about 0.*7 centimetre apart . Approaches
somewhat to Q. nu/llinen'is of Lesquereux, but differs in angle of vtmalion.

Collected by Mr. .1. Richardson, at Newcastle Island, Nanaimo River and Frotection
Island.

25. Ulmus dubia, S. N. (Fig. 29).

A fragment of a leaf with the venat ion of Ubn/is. Veins nearly opposite, at angle of
about 40" ; curved and forking toward margin, which has distant te(ith. Vein lets coarsely
reticulated, with a tendency to transverse arraugemtiut. A few imperfect interstitial
veins. Leaf curved, and apparently dry and harsh. Breadth, 2.(» centimetres, apparently
somewhat oblique at base.

Collected by Dr. G. M. Dawson, at Baynes' Sound.

26. Sassafras, Sp. (Fig. 30, 30 a).

A small cuneate leaf, apparently trilobed at summit, and with three slender veins,

28 .1. \V. DAWSON ON fliKTACROUS AXI» TKinMAliV I'l.OliAS

(livtM-triuir at a vorv aonto analo from ihr l)aso. T^sual lontith. alxmt .') (•ontiiiictivs. l^t^ufs
ol' this tyiH» aiv Ibnud at IJaynos" Sound and VamirnvtM- Island ; l)nl too iinin'irtHtly i>io-
servod to admit of any fovtain distinction from described sporios.

27. .Trouws IlARWdopRXsis. S. N. (Kisr. 31).

Li^af ovato, narrowin? toward tho baso. Midril) distinct ; veins at a vi'vy obtuse
anijlo. noarly 80\ curvinir and nottinaf at marp-in, which sooms to l)c sliahtly toothed.
Breadth, 4 centimetres : lenuth. probably 11 centimetres.

Collected bv Mr. J. Tvichard.son. at ITarwood Colliery. Nanaimo

28. DiospYRos Vancouverensis. S. N. (Fig. 32).

Oval, pointed at base, obtusi* and oblique at apex. Maruin. entire or slishtly undulate.

Midrib and veins stronuly marked ; aniile of diveru-ence of veins from midril), al)ut GO'.

Voius curved strongly and uniting at the niaruin. Veinlels transverse, straight, giving a

coarse rectangular reticulation. Len<ith. about o.') centimetres; breadth. 3 centimetres.

Collected bv Mr. .T. Tiichardson. at Xanaimo,

29. Ceanothus cretaceus, S. N. (Fig. 33).

Ecffularly elliptical, with three princijial veins, the lateral ones curving regularly from
base to apex. Margin, crenulate. Minor venation, obsci\re. Lenu-th, ;> centimetres;
breadth in middle, 2.1). Distance of lateral veins from midrib in middle, 0,8 centimetre.
The modern C. Ainerint/iiis has vcrv similar leaves, butbroadei in proportion. C. oru/ix has
narrower leaves. This ancient leaf is thus between the two. This leaf miuht be included
in the genus Ci/untinomiini, as defined by fossil botanists ; bixt I cannot distinguish it from
the foliage of the modern genus Cennolliux, still living in the west.

Collected l)y Dr. G. M. Dawson, at Baynes' Sound.

30. Ani.sopiiyllv.m. Sp. (Fig. 34).

Apparently a soft, fleshy leaf, with strong midrib, and giving oil' a large branching
vein at one side near the liase, and more slender and simjije veins elsewliere. Length,
about 7 centimetres; breadth, al)oi;t 4. Margin, entire.

Colleited by Dr. Cr. M. Dawson, at Baynes' Sound.

31. Protophyi-m'm Nanaimo, S. N. (I'ig. 35).

Ijarge, 10 centimetres or more long, and 12 in breadth. Veins very nearly ()))posite,
and at an angle of 55' to t hi' midrib. Inlerspaies \\ illi transverse veinlets more or less
netted and curved, or aniiled upward. .\|)])i(iarln's to I', /cidi/lfiiiiiim ol' Ivscpiereux. from
the Dakota irroup.

Collected at Nanaimo by Mr. .1. liichardsoii ; at Baynes' Soun<l. l>y l>r. (J. M, Daw.son

32. AL.\rrE.>< Insionis, S. N. (I'l. viii., Fig. 88.)

Ii4'af coriaceous, shiniuir. somewhat liianuulai- or broad cuneate. rounded and cn.irsely
lo(*thed above; smaller and distant teelh on the sides; narrow at bas.' and rai>idly
widening. Midrib straiirht. well marked, veins about equally strong, very slightly iiirved,
diverging from llic midrib at an anirle of 50' and runninir dire. I to margin, nearly paridlel
toemhnthir Veinlets straiirht, simple, at riifht angles to ilic veins Lateral margins.

OV r.KlTlSlI COH-MIUA AND TllK XOltTlMVKST. 29

outside lowosi voins. iiaiTo\v. with ;i li'w vcinlcts ;it m utr iiiiuli's niiniiiiu- Id tin- tcclli.
In tho fiffurc ono side ol' llu' li-al' appears less < (lived tliaii natural, ow iiii:' In a sli^lit I'old
in the speeimen."

This leal" is very puzzlint:' in ils siructure. and up In the time ol wiitiiiL^- out my i)aper
tor thi' jtress. I had seen only I'raunients of it. I liave. liowever, l)een ahle at leiiijth to
ixneovor a nearly peri'eet s|HH'imon in shale I'rom Nanainio, from which the al)ove descrip-
tion is tak(>n. The form and venation reeall feature's of the genera Aluns and I'/ti/aims : hut
I have seen no leaf, recejit (n- fossil, which it (>ntirely resemliles.

33. CvuroMTiiEs, Sp.

Small, round, smooth fruits or seeds, also ovate seeds, and ovale seeds with a lih on
one side, are foiuid at BeaA'er Harbor and Baynes' Sound. Th(>y may be seeds of taxine
trees.

Mhcef/aneouf: aur/ Uiirlelenniiifd.

In the collections from Vancouver Island, there are many other kinds of leaves, refera-
ble to the genera Quern/a, Diosjti/roa, Magnolia, &c., which are too imperfect for description,
and there can be no doubt that the species above described, constitute })nt a fraction of a
rich and varied flora which might, no doubt, be in great part restored by active and
judicious collecting, pursued by observers having more time at command than those who
have collected in these beds.

Til. — The L.vkamie and Tertiary Floras.

The whole of the plants classed under the last head belong to undoubted Cretaceous
beds, characterized as such by animal fossils, and by stratigraphical position. It is true
that the Coal-measures of Vancouver Island haA'e been regarded as Miocene by the earlier
observers ; but this was solely on account of the supposed Tertiary character of their
flora. The more detailed explorations of the Geological Survey of Canada have fully
established their relation with the beds holding Lwceramus, BaculUes, and other Cretaceous
forms. Some portion of the confusion regarding these beds arose from the mixture of
their fossils with those of the Tertiary beds. For example, in Heer's Memoir on the
" Flora of Vancouver Island and British Columbia," the greater part of the species
described are from the Tertiary deposits of Burrard Inlet and Belliugham Bay, on the
mainland.

Both in British Colunil)ia, however, and cast of the Ilocky Mountains, the Cretaceous
proper is overlaid by newer beds. West of the Rocky Mountains these assume the form
of old lake basins, filled with fresh-water deposits holding remains of plants and insects,
which have been noticed or described in the reports of the Geological Survey of Canada,
and are undo\i])tedly Tertiary, probably Miocene.* East of the mountains, on the other
hand, the undoubted Cretaceous beds of the Fort Pierre and Fox Hill groups are covered
conformably by a widely extended series of clays and sandstones, holding fossil j)lants
and lignite, with brackish-water and fresh-water shells. This is known as the Laramie

*Beporte of Geological Survey, 1875-6, 1876-7, 1877-8.

30 .1 W. 1>AWS«>N oX CRKTACEOITS AM' TKiri'l A K'Y n.ol.'AS

Liguitic or Fort Union Gronji. To iliis lu-loni:- Uic i>liints from rorcni>inf ("rcok and I lie
Sonris Kivor doscrilxnl l>y lli.' wrili'V in Dr. (!. "M. Dawson's lu'ixirt on tlu' 4'.tlh rarallfl.
and in tho Ki'ports oi" the (Icolosical Survey of Canada.* tlio ])lants dosirihcd l)y llcor
from Matkenzic IJivor.t and Iho.so of ihc Fort Union bods of tho Uppor Missouri doscribod
by N.'wbtMry and others. They constitute also the Lower Tertiary or Lignitic Flora of
Losqut>reux.t

"With refereuee to the age of the Laramie beds, considerable diversity of opinion has
j>revailed. and I do not purpose here to renew the diseussions which have taken place ;
but merely to state what seem to lie well ascertained f;uts. These are as follows : —

1. The Laramie beds pass downward into the undoubted Upper Cretaceous, without
any stratigraphieal l)reak.

■2. Their invertel)rate fossils being largely fresh-water and estuarine and partly of Cre-
taceous, and jiartlv of I^ower Tertiary types, do not give very precise indications of age. l)ut
the beds hold reptilian remains of genera usually held to be Mesoz:oic,while no mammalian
remains have yet been found.

3. According to the observations of the United States geologists, the Laramie beds
are known to underlie, in some places conformably, and in others unconformal)ly, the
Wahsatch series, which is regarded as Middle Eocene.

4. The ilora is distinct on the one hand from that of the Cretaceous below, and on
the other from that of the undoubted Mioceue of British Columbia and the South-Western
States.

5. The Laramie Groi\p has been subdivided on stratigraphieal grounds into four
sei-tions. but no grounds are known which would warrant its division into distinct forma-
tions.

Clarence King, in his Geology of the 40th Parallel, places the Laramie in the Cretaceous,
nn till' evidence, more especially, of its vcrlclnatc rciiiaiiis, I'uzzlcd. howcvi'r, liy (he
confident assertions as to the Miocene aspect of certain fossil i)lants, he seems to suspect
that in the Fort Union series there may be a confusion of the Tertiary beds with the
Creta<'eous. lie places, however, without hesitation in tlie Eocene the Green liiver group,
who8t> plants are pla< cd l.y L'squereux witli Ihc Mioceiu'. AVhite, tlie I'ahvontologist of
the United States Survey of the Territories, approaches to the same general view when
he says in his report of IHHO, that the Laramie is "a transitional group between tlie (^-eta-
ceous beneatli and the Tertiary above.'\^ This was tlie ojiinion exiire.ssed liy tiie writer,
with reference to the (Canadian developnunt of the liaramie. in the Report of the Boundary
Commission in lxT-'> ; and more recently in a note on Fossil I'lants collected by Dr.
Selwyn.ll

But though 1 believe 111) American geologist or pala-onloloyist would now hold
these beds to 1m- newer than the oldest Tertiary, I observe that lleer, in a note on tlie fossil

• l87lt-«<».

t Flora KowiJH Anliriu

}T«rlisry Flrirn, <i(vilii);i<'ftl Survtiy of llio Tnrritorids orUio V. 8.

{S»< nliio i>n|i«ni liy I'mf. SlnvunHoii in Atii. .Imirnnl of S*'!^!^^, mid in KopnrI of Wlioolor'.s Siirvoy, 1881.

( lEi'iKirt of fiiKil. Snrvoy of Cnnniln, 1H70-.SO.

OF m.'i'nsii (((i.iMinA .\.m> tiii-: noi.'Tii wmst. 31

plaiiis DrMiukt'nzic Kivt'v, puhlislii'd :is ImIc ;is .Imu', 1S80,* still n>n'aids tlicm as Miocono-
As tlu' opinions ol" a pala'obotaiiist so riuiiuiit tlcsorvi' cari'lul atliiiiioii, il may 1»' \v<'ll to
I'xaniiuc tho r(>asons \vlii<h he givos.

1. JIc alUvnis tliat noiio of tho specios occxir iii llu' I'loiciu' of Euiopi'. Hut the Eocene
of Emopc presents features distinct from those of any American Tertiary Flora, and depend-
inij; evidently on peculiar 2,vo<iTaphical conditions. Fnrtlier, Crairdncrand others hold that
Heer unduly limits the I'luropean Eocene ; and if ihcir views were established, the statement
made by Ileer would fall to the ground.

2. i^everal of ihc |)lants are common to the' Laramie beds and to tlie so-called Miocene
of Saghalien, of Alaska, and of Greenland. With respect to the former, there is reason to
suspect that the 8at>halien flora, as descri])ed by Ileer, may be Cretaceous. It has many
points in common with the Flora of Nanaimo, and it occurs in beds restins' immediately on
deposits holding Cretaceous animal remains. Tlic Alaska and (liccnlaiid lloras have not
been proved to be Miocene, and as the Greenland ilora succeeds the Cretaceous without the
intervention of any other Ilora, it is not improbal)ly really I'loceiu'.

."). The Markenzie Iviver beds present few points of identity with those of the Ameri-
can Eocene ; birt in making this comparison lieer classes as Miocene Ihc C.reen liiver and
Fort Union beds, which niav be repri^sentatives of the beds in (jucstion. l)ut wliirli
all American geologists regard as Eocene, or older. lie can thus only compare the Laramie
group with that portion of the older Tertiary admitted by Lesquereux as Eocene, while
the other Eocene or later Cretaceous beds of the adjoining parts of the United States,
are left out of llic comparison, being, like the Canadian Laramie, arbitrarily relegated to
the Miocene.

The following tabular view will serve to show the actual dillerence between Heer
and the geologists of the United States and Canada with reference to the Laramie beds : —

Eocene and Cretaceous beds, as given in Clurence King's Rejnui mi Ihr Wlli Pdrnllel.

Eocene. — Uinta Series. Cretaceons. — Laramie ?
Bridger Series. Fox Hill.

Green River Series. Colorado.

Vermillion Creek (Coryphodon beds). Dakota.

According to Lesquereux, the Green River beds of the above list are Upper Miocene,
the Vermillion beds are Lower Miocene, and the Laramie ari; Eocene. But accordiu"- to
Heer even the Laramie, or a large portion of it, is Miocene. The actual origin of this error
is the continuance of similar Floras in America from the Middle Cretaceous up to the
modern time, while much greater changes have occiirred in Europe within the same great
periods.

* Proceedings Koyal Society of London.

32

J. \V. DAWSUN ON OKl-yfAGEOUS .\N1> TKirn AI!Y FLORAS

List of Liiramw Pfnnh froiii the Noflh-We^t Teriitories of CanmUt.
Those mavk.'il wiili an ast.'iisk av.- known in lirds of similar ai?i' in tlu' Uuilcd States.

* Ouoi-'loa seiisihilis, L.

Davallia (Stonolonia) tonuilolia. Swn.
liquist'tuni, Sj).
Physaaonia Parlatoiii, lleer.

* Glyptostrobus Kuropirus, lleer.

* Si'ijuoia Lanirsdorlhi, lleer.

* Tluija interrupta, Xewb.

* Taxites Olriki, Heer.

* Taxites occidentalis, N'by.
Ix>mna smitata, l)"n.
rhrau:mites, Sp.
Scirpus, Sp.

* Popixlus antica, lleer.

* P. a.eriiblia, N'by.

* P. Cuiieata, N'by.
P. Hookeri, Heer.

P. Richardsoni. Heer.
Salix Raeana. Heer.

* Corylus rostrata, Ait.

C. Ameriiaua, Walt.

* PlataniTs iiobilis, N'by.
P. Ileterophyllus, N'by.
Diospyros, Sp.

* Sapindus affinis, N'by.
Khanmns. Sp.

* Iv. Coiuinnus, N'l)y.

* Carya antiquorum, N'by.

* Juglaus Ciuerea?
Sassafras Sehvynii, D'n.

* Yihunuun pul)eseens, Pursh.
Viburnum Lakesii, Lesqr.

Ficus tiliaetblia (or allied) Broni^t.
F. allied to F. a/infabilis. Lesqr.
Quereus, Sp. allied to Q. (i/iIiijiki, N'by.
Aeseulus autiqua, D'n.
IVapa borealis, Heer.
Carpolithes, Sp.

The following fossil woods are associated with ilie above : —

Pojnilns, several species.

Jna-lans. — The strueture is well preserved, and not distingiuslialile Iruni tliat ul wood of

Ju<rlans tinerea, leaves of a species resembling, which also occur, as noted above.
Cedroxylon, Sp. Possibly the wood of Th/i/a in/rmiji/u.
Pitoxylon, Sp.
Cupressoxylon, Sp.

(rt) allied to wood of Sequoia sempervirens.*

{h) " »S. gii^fintea.

(r) possibly wood of fHi/fihis/mbiis.

Three other species.
Taxoxylon. Sp.

Coniferous woods ol'llie aljove types also oc«ur alminlanlly in llie l.iiiiiiles, and can bo
matle out when these are treated with caustic potash

The following are the siiecies recognized by Il'ii, in ilie (dUcriidiis lioni Mackenzie
River, studied by him : —

Xylomites 1)orealis, Heer (growing on leaves). Quercus ( (lafseni. Heer.
GlyploHtrobns llntreri. Hr. Platanus aceroides, Hr.

S«|Uoin I>ang.sdorlfii, Hrongt. .TucrlanN acuminata, Brongt.

* l*it)l(ttl>ly tlio W(x«l (ItviiTilHiil liy SlmjiiUir, in IIiHjr'h Klora An-lii'B, im .Sc'/iioin Oanndautit,

OF I'.IMTISll CoLrMIUA AM) Till; \( )i;TII-\VKST.

33

Taxodiuni disliihuui, (Mioi finuii.)
Sinilax Fi:mkliiii.

* Popiilus aiiliia, Ilr.

* r. Ki.hanlsoni. TTr.

* P. llook.'vi, Ilr.
Salix Ttat'aiKt. II v.
lli'tnla inarroiihylla. Opt.
C'ovvlus Mrfjnarrii, Fm'lios.

Yiburmiin Nordenskioldii, llr
PtorospovmiioK sped al>i lis, Mr.
Pi. (Ion talus, Hr.
TiliaMaliiTOiii, llr.
Phylliios acovoidos, TTr.
Carpolithes Si'iiiiiiulinu, TTr.
TTodcra MacClurci, llr.
Mamiolia Nordi'iiski<ddii, TTr.

Till' only spocios ooinmon lo ihr ]\[;irlci'uzi(' liivcr l)i'(ls and Ihoso further south, ar«
tho.si> uiarki'd with an astorisk, hut 1 l)i'litn'(> Ihat i'arthfr comparison would ineroaso the
numhor of idi'utical speines. This I have not had time or opportunity to institute, since
the receipt of Heer's last memoir. I feel convinced, however, that the dilfereuces in species
in the ditfercnt localities of the Laraiuir, are caused lar^'cly hy dilference of station, and are
increased by the different views taken by observers as to the generic aflinities of leaves,
and by description of mere varieties as distinct species. The poplars are especially open
lo this remark. The genus Poji/i/t/^ seems to have been dominant over wide areas of the
west from the later Cretaceous lo the present time; and large (|uantities of material are
available which will be of gTcat value in determining horizons ; but at present the confusion
of nomenclature of European and Ameriean authors is so great, that a thorough revision
of the whole series seems to be recj^uired.

Tertiar// Plants from the Litrrior of British Columbia.

I have refen-ed above to these plants as occurring in deposits probably lacustrine and
of later age thau the Laramie of the plains. They may be of the same age with those of
Burrard's Tnlet. noticed by Ileer in his memoir on Vancouver plants, and with those of the
Alaska and Bellingham Bay beds, described by H^eer and Newberry, and with those
described by Lesquerenx, from some of the Tertiary deposits of the western territories of the
United States, which have been referred to the Miocene period.

I. — Quesnel and Blucku-ater Rivers^ : —

The plants from these places are contained in white lacustrine silt and brown ferru-
ginous sandstone. They include leaves of Acer, .Tii<^-lans, Cari/a, Castnnea, Qnera/s, Faii'HS,
Platnnus, Betula, Rhamnus, Diospi/ros, Taxodiuni and Setjnoia, along with many nuts and fruits
probably belonging to the same species with" some of the leaves. None of these species,
except the Beqnoia, seem to be identi(\al with any from the Laramie or Cretaceous ; but
several are the same with American and l"]uropean species regarded as Miocene. This flora
is very rich, especially in friiits, and it is greatly to be desired that more extensive collec-
tions should be made in it. The Quesnel beds have afforded a number of specie^ of insects
which have been described by T)r. Scudder, and are regarded by him as Tertiary.f

* G. M. Dawson, Report Geological Survey of Canada, 1S7-5-6, 1877-8.
t G. >I. Daw.son, 1. c,

Sec. IV., 1882. 5

34 J. W. DAWSON OX ORKTACROUS AXD riMrnAUV FLORAS.

II. — Simil/i-iimeen Hi'ver* : —

Tho jiliiuts IVom this pliuv aiv in :i hrownisli shale, ahouiuliiig- in iVagmouls ol' a hirgo
E(ju iar/ II III, whhh I havo doscrihod in (he ivport cited uiulov the name of .E. iS/wkV/iv/wpwsp.
AViihihis are mimeroiis leaves of l^n/inhix Anlini, Ileer, and a few of P. hilior ; and also
speeies of C(ir/iiiiiig. IVn/iniiia, Nelnmbiinn, Siijiiiitliis, Mi/riai, lic/iilii. l^n/iiinis, Vdiriniinii,
Tiuiuliuni, ^ci/iwia and Glj/pliislnibua. and a franment of Thujii, not distiniiuishahlo from
T. occitleiitiilh. The species are dilferent from those found at Qnesnel. hi;l like them
apparently of Middle Tertiary age.

III. — Reserve, North Tliomjmin^ : —

The leaves from this place, in a matrix of grey arenaceous shale, are almost exclusively
poplars, referable to PojiiiIhs Aniicn, P. Geneliix, Newberry, and anothiM- species. With
these is a species of Rliiii<. allied to 7?. roainfofiu of Lesquerenx.

When the plants from these localities shall have been fully collected and studied, il
will be time to otler opinions as to the precise horizons of the Tertiary which they reprc^
sent. "With so small collections from only a few localities, the local dilierences are likely,
to some extent, to mask those depending on age. There can lie no doubt, however, that
they belong to the Tertiary period, and that they may be somewhat newer than the
Laramie deposits of the plains. Like these they are associated with Lii;iiite. and when this
shall be worked we may expect that larger collections will be available.

• CJ. M. DnwwiM, Ko|>ort fi(y>ln);icnl Siin'iiy nf ('mimla, l.**""-.**, p. IWi ii.
f 'i. M. I>nw>«in, I. r.

,ms.i;.>.c.,iss.s.

(iv'irr.v I'M I

'l.AN'I'S.

i'i..i.- I

Fig. 1. Asplenium Niobrara. 2. Cycadites Unjiga. 3. Carpolithes horridus. S."'- Pinnularia.

'riiins.lx'.S.C.lss:?.

CIvM-'/l'.V IIOIS I'l.ANI"

11. ,1,- II

Fig. 4. Torreya dicksonioides. 5. Ficus maxima. 6. Fagus proto-nucifera.
7. Laurophyllum debile. 8. Proteoides longus.

rniMs.lx'.S.C.lss:^

(•Kl''.l'.\('l':()rs PLANTS.

n.,1. Ill

Fig. 9. Populus cyclophylla. 10. Diospyros nitida. 11. Magnolia magnifica.
36. Pinus Suskwaensis. 37. Dioonites borealis.

■I'lMMS.h'.^.l '..l^^-

< iv'i' r\( I'.i lis n.ANT

'I..1,- w.

Fig. 12. Menispermites reniformis. 13. Protophyllum boreale. 14. Neuropteris curta.
IS.*"'- NiJssonia lata. 15. Taeniopteris. 16. Pteris glossopteroides.

'riMiis.lv.S.C.Iss:; .

(■|«M: T.VI'IOI-S IM ANTS.

h.i,\-

20.1.

Fig 17. Sphenopteris elongata. 18. Davallites Richardsoni. 19. Adiantites praelongus.
20. Torreyia densifoiia. 21. Salisburya Baynesiana. 22. Phragmites cordaiformis.

v.S.( •..|ss:' .

I inv r.\( i'.! »is I 'I ANTS.

I'.l.,l.\-I

23. :.

23.1.

Fig. 23. Sabal imperialis.

Trans. Ix'.S.i '..issa

( iv'i; r.v liors i'lants.

I'l.ii. \ii .

Fig. 24. Salix Pacifica. 25. Topulus proto-zadachii. 2G. P. rectinervata.
27. Betula perantiqua. 28. Quercus Victoriae. 29. Ulmus dubia. 30. Sassafras.

iii>.i;.s.c..iss:r

cinriAciiois ri.ANT

ri..i,\-iii.

Fig. 31 Jnglans Harwoodensis. 32. Diospyros Vancouverensis. 33. Ceanothus cretaceus.
34 Anisophyllum. 35. Protophyllum Nanaimo. 38. AInites insignis.

031

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