Palaeozoic geology of the region about the western end of Lake Ontario [microform]

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(From Canadian Naturalist, Vol. A'., No. J.)

PALJIOZOIC GEOLOGY

OF THE RKOION ABOLIT

THE WESTERN END of LAKE ONTARIO

By Pr.)K. .1. W. Si'KSCKU, B.A.Sc, Ph.D., F.G.S.,
Vi,.o-Presicl<-nt ui Kxnu'^ Clleg.-. Wui.l.s.-r. Xova .--utia.

PaEFACE.— In 1H74, I published, in this Journal, a short
paper on the •' Geolo-y of the Neighbourhood of Hamilton."
Subsequently (1S77-80), I made an addith.ial study ot the
rcMon, and found an iinnunse an.ount of geolo^/ioal informutiou
obl.inabl.. This paper on th. Hala.,.zoic Geolo,^ was ready
for print in the autumn of 1879, but its publieatiun was delayed
in order to complete the work; but as the completion seem8
some .Ustance off, 1 present this paper on the iirst portion of the
subject of the Geology about the Itegion of the Western Lnd ot
Lake Ontario. A very lai-e amount of new material in Palaeoo-
tolo.-y has been collected and i . now ready for presP.

\lthou-h the principal facts oi' the Surface Geology have been
coUected/yet the study is .-t yet completed, it being very large,
as more than local phenomena are involved.

1. — INTRODUCTION.

Skirting the Western End of J.ake Ontario, in our Canadian

Province of tlic same name, there are excellent exposures of the

various portions of the Silurian formations (or Upper Silurian

of the New York Geologists) overlying, to a depth of several

hundred feet, the upper members of the Cumbro-Siluriau Age

(of the Hudson River epoch) about the city ot Hamilton,

No. 3.
Vol. X. ' : . •

wm

whilst bawi'fii O.ikvillc iiud Turmitn, tin; rock> of tin' lattur
iip- ;ii)|)(';ir at the surface of tlui eouiitfy.

Tlinsc iii.'iiib-'rs of llio Siliiri:in fonii.it ion wliich arc I'XiioHcd
ii; till- ii'iiioii under coiisideration boloiiii to the Meditiii, Clinton,
and Niagara ejioehs. The hest hicalilie^ for niakiiiL; L'eoh)j.Mcal
exaniinatioiis are at Tliorohl, Grimsby. 11 imilton. Duiidas.
Limehou<c .Station ((jr.T.ll.; and lloekwood. Nowhere in Ea.st
cni America arc there; bi'tter exposures of tlie various rocks of
this ajie. though in some h)cilitics, ospcciaily in the Western
8tatcs. the fossils are in a better ,>t.ito of pro.-civ.ition. How-
ever, in the altove inealities there i^ a very '^re.it difforenco iu
tlie ]ii-e.Mrvati(in of the fossils fnund. and iie.irly liOII species of
or^.ini,-in'> can l)e prociued from .1 limited number of localities.
A coii.-iderable vari.ition of tixture is observed in the rocks in
(he different pl.aces, .and .iltliouL:]! the number of species of animal
remains is consideiablo, yit owitiu to tlie cryst dliin' texiuic of
the lime.-'.ones, one is rew.arded with me.i,i;re ri'tuins lor his d.iy's
labor.

As we will see further on. the loeks untler e'iii>iderati<»n are
intermediate in chir.ict r b'twicn tlmse of the Sta^^ of New
York to tlie t;.istw;ird, and ihnse of ( Hiio tn the wistwird, bc^iiii;
more calcap'nu- tlem their equivalei'ts in the I'ormer St.ite. and
more arijillaeeous than those in the Litter.

In tlie study of the v.irious rocks of tin- Niauira uronp. I have
examined the microscopic il structure, .and have ma<le a number
of clu'tuical analyses. At the end oi" the ))re^ent piper there will
be found a c.italoi:ue of all the speci( s ol' I'ossils in my own col-
lection, with some lew th.it have bern obtained by others, but
of which I have not been fortunate etiouuh to obtain sprcimeiis.
This will be found to be the fulle. t eit.ilouue of Can idian fossils
I'rom the Niij:ara i:rouji yet publislu'd.

Aiiain, ;i lew miner.ils are jirocurable at various localities from
cavities in the Niauar.i limesteoes, ;is well as mineral w iters from
several natural springs and artiticiil openini:s. ill of which will
be noticed in their proper placs.

As no p.irt of tlie Province affords a greater variety of interest
to the student of ireolouy than the repon about the western end
of Lake Ont.irio, T will endeavour to 'j,ive 1 full but concise
account of those leature.s and objects of attraction th.it will assist
the geological observer and .student in the pursuit of this most
attractive and useful study of Nature.

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imiiiiiiBifimiipiw

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H. — TOPOORAPIIY AM) DISTIUIM'TION .

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Kxti'udintr aloni; the southern sliorcs of L;ikc Ontario, af dis
tJincos varyini: from one to ;i (I'W niik-s from its waters, tlnrf is a
ridge of liill-;, or more prnporly an iscarjiment, i<no\vii to um olo-
f^ists as the •• Niairara Kso;'rpmont," extmdintr from the State of
New York into Canada, and eritcrinii' our country near Quoenston,
wlxtiee tli.i nin.'>>, of tlic Xia-^ara Falls lias worked backward
for several miles. From tlie Nia-ara IJiver this ridev . xtend.s
westward to the town of Dundas, and thence the trend is a litth;
west of north to Lake Huron and Manitoulin Island^.

This rauue everywhere forms a bold feature. Along the
.-iouthern shon- of I^ake Ontario, the brow is K)l» feet above the
hike, while near tht " I'eak." north ot* Dund is, the height is: 520
feet, from whioli place the ascent is gradual as it extends north-
ward, until just wc-t of Iiim<hon>e. the eliiF-! have a iieight of
847 feet, whence the plateau gradually rises to *XM] feet at
Kockwood (on the (^i. T. Uailwayj, and ntnthward, in Amaranth
townsliip, it has an elevation of 1400 feet above Lake Ontario.
In its course, south of Lake C)iit:irio, th ; slope i.> general!)' more
abrupt than after the range assumes a northerly trend, — the
upper portion often formim,^ almost prpendicular cliffs from lOO
to 250 feet above the rising slope at its base. The brow where
tlie IL i\c N. W. Hail way ascends the mountain (four miles cast
of Hamilton) is ;}1J5 feet, and at the head ol' James street,
Hamilton, it is 3SS feet above tlte lake, while the plateau above
gradu.dly rises t(. 40;> feet, five and a half miles .south of the
former place, and to 485 ieet, two miles .south of the latter. This
height of land forms tin; watershed between Ijakes Ontario and
Erie, and from it the country gradually slopes to the latter lake.

The rocks of thi.s range belong to the various subdivisions of
the Niagara Group of the Silurian Age. The Canadian Geolo-
gical Survey, many years ago, separated the Niagara and Guelph
groups from the overlying Lower Helderberg group, and called
these. Middle Silurian, wiiilst the New Vork geologists placed
them all togetlier, and called them ll{)per Silurian. We will adopt
that nomenclature wliich recognises the rocks of the various
groups from the Niagara to the Lower Helderberg (inclusive), as
being members, not of the middle or upper, but of the one great
Silurian Age, and consider the Lower Silurian formations (Treu-

ton and IIu'lMin HiviT LTiciups of Airu'ricM) d' tlir New W)rk
GcnloLMCil Survey. uikIit the n;iin<' C'lnibnt-Siluriaii — a name
trivcn by niu! of the rulliers of Ktiuli.sli (m'^Iul^v (i'rofc.->>or Sedg-
wick) before Sir H. .Mriiclii.>on incluilid tlicir Welsli ('(juiva-
lent;- a- llie lower portion ol" his "Silurian System," as the
cliiiracter of the oTiianic remiins is intermediate between Si,1g-
in'r/c's CiDiilirlini and MmrliisDii's Oriijlmil Sihirlmi Si/sfn)is.

In tlie State of N(-w York the Niagara uroup is divi(led in
aseendinir onler in<o the Onkida, Mkdina, Clinton and Nia
OAHA Kl'ociis, and overlies tlie Hudson lUver i'ormation.

The (~)iiei(bi of New York consists of a eoiiLilomerate. and is
watititiij: in ('aiuula. l)Ut all Mu^ other inenil)ers of the series are
present in tln' I'rovince. At tlu; head of li^ki' Ontario, the
Me<lina is underlaid by the rctcks ol' the Hudson Uiver epoch;
rind tlie rocks of the Nia,ti;ara period form the surface de])o.sits
adjacent to tin- like nyion, while twenty miles to the westward,
they are overlaid iri the iieiLdibourhood of the towns of (ialt and
Guclph by the deposits of the Guelph I'ormation.

In tlu' Xiairara PcMiinsula, south of Haniillon. the NiaLTiira
formation is succeeded by some ol' the uiembers of the; Helder-
beri; trroup, unless tluuc be some thin loiicealed deposits of the
Guelph i::roup not exposed.

The LTCneral dip oi' the whole series is 25.5 feet in the mile in
fi direction of ab"Ut twenty deirrees west of south.

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TIT.

OKOI-OOIOAI, SKOTIONS.

Durinu' the sunimer of 187'.>, the writ^ir. witli the assistance
of the l;'t(! Georire Beaslcy, Esq., (\ K., made instrumental
measurements of I'our Geological Sections — the most complete
that could be obtained. Two of these sections were at Dundas,
one at Hamilton, and one south-east of tlie city, from the water-
shed between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, alonj; the exposures
of the Niagara Limestones in the bed of the llosseaux Oreek, to
its falls at Mount Albion. These measurements re<|uired sev(>ral
days' levelling over many miles of ground. In addition to the
principal sections, several smaller exposures were measured in
order to compare the continuity of various strata

The thickness and character of rhe lowest portions of the
Medina formation were ascert;;!ned I'rom the log of an Artesian
well, sunk to a deptli of 1600 feet, in the western part of Dundas.

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Mr. lic.sl.y j.ri'l riiys^lrcn-iii.otr.l (1„. lliickii."<0)r|u, . i, ili,. a.lj:i-
pcnt suiiiniif n!' fli.. Mrdi,,,, Mr.Mi]>. wl.idi i. '2CA I'.ct .iIk.v.- tho
l.<ko. by !,'v. lliiio (,,,„i alldwiin.-- iW dij.) with Mi.' iiH.iitli ..t' the

W<'1I Olwilicll «■<■ Iwi.l fll<. !•(•(•(, r;l, ;,ml W-.T." tllUS CIlil.lMl In Clllc'll-

I'llc ;ic('iiril-ly flir thickli-ss of the loriiiarin-i.

Holnrc .i.lvni'inL' liirtli. r we will -ivc a t;.l.iil ,t vi.'w nC (he
Coiir s<'cticitis in('asiu<(I.

The tir-t .M'fiinii is ,1 th" w. stmi mi] <>[' DuimIi.w, nifir the
jiliicowhiM' ilic ArtiH.ii Will Wiis sunk.) Thr hci-ht nfth.'
iuouiImI ill.' w.'ll w:is rduiiil t.. 1,.. l;!li C-t :il)'.\v I»"si .nlin's
{-';mal Al'tr-rwiinis w l.wli. .] t-. thr Miiimiit .il'll..> clifFs :.l.)iiu'
til.' x.iiKi uvstiTii si.l.' .,r ih.' r:i\!ii,.. which i> loniicd l.y (ho
"!'i"'i "Itii.. (wo !-trraiiis rr,,ii) S)Mn.'.T'-~ m.! \Vfh<t(M-V Fiills--
tli«- iii-h.st p., ill! ,,f til.' .■x],ov,.,| i-ock. l„.i„.^ ,t ll,.- juiicti.w) (,r
(he iw,. -i.iis. wh.i-c tlic I..1, hc.i> aiv CMiiiiM.x.l (,rtl,,. i-h.rty
liaii.!^ i^iili.. same ii.irizcii ,.s thnsrwhi.'h I'oriii th.' ca]!]. in- strata
H.iUh .'!' II iiiiilt.-ii. ]iy iii.aiis ,,f (hi, Mcti..!! ,11.1 th.' Art.'Hian
well, w ■ wviv :i|,h. lo ascitiiin (in' wiiujc (hicklU'ss ,,( the Medina
■'"'"'"I"" 'li'' wh.ii,. thickness ,,r th.' (Mint.. 11 i'.irni.iti.ni. .••nd

•tl^' i"'^ I |Mi|li.ei .iI'Mi.. Xi:,- 11- . [ilMlMT.

Hut lie- w.-ieiii H.le <'i' the laviii.' i- ni ; • (ii n ..n.- hiiielnd
<'•'■' '"^^ ■■' 'li'iii 'h.' .•is.,rii .M.ie. altieiii_Hi llie ro,-ks an- nearly
h.iri/niit;,,. This h-.v li-in .nvin- to ih- hie.) .]■ imd.ifinu in the
f-pir ot r.iekv heiw.'.Mi t\v.. -ivii va'l'vs. whi.-ii wili 1,,. lenice.! in
a liituir I'.ji'T (111 the suii'.ci' uv.dnjv.

T\,r V i\ me uv riri'iii just relerrel m is iii,m',. t\\ \n .'MO i'e-t dei'p.
i' w.' e..:ei.l lie |'i,.in ils e.ist.Tti (mi- nther inirih-'visteni ) side.
Owin- ! ' ihe ;i|iseii('e .i!' (h.' hi-her !..■.!< ,,|' th> s, j-j,..,, ^ye Icvelle.l
\l\> ill'' e-e irpni.'nt ..:i lie' (.pjin-ite si.ie n|' the uTrat '.li-'ii, ;.( tlu!
Jiille kill-, jusl e.isl (if the •' I*,' k." Wlie; ■' (1,.- hijll.st roeks ;ire

''!'• '•■ ■! :<hiive the lak.'. all IhiU'^'ii tie' -oil ris.'- a i.'w |'..'t hi-her
a '-liorl .li-t lUce tn the nni-tliwai'l.

By tl.. M' iiiriisur'ineiils, md ih.' n e .^-.|■v '• ileulatiMii- in cmi--
relatiai;- tl,.' elj leeiit uie ism-eiii.'iii-. it wa.- t'lu-el Ihat tin' wliol.'
thickii"— mI tjic Niauai'i Liniiip i- -de !.■.•! at jtinidis. .it' wliicdi

the liiwe-t Hiiit leet liehaii:: to the .MedMl 1 S.'l-ies.

The .-.cond s<'eti.iii i- iLmi'^ the Sydenham iMa.l at Duiiday.
The third section is at Ilaiuilton. h'tweeti thr liea-l .ilMaines
slrcLM an<l the Jolly Out road The i'mrt!) srethm, as w.> have
Heen. wa^ (aken aloni: the Mo-.-r.nix Cr.'rk to Alhi-ui Fans.

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Si-:{ iKi.N I. (ill I>iiihIixs).
Ill ilrscciKliiiL' onliT : I'm (Is jn.) | ivcir inc(i>'ii( il iiIkivc l,iiiu'kilii.
Mi'ils i;i-2, tncaMiicd iit liii' sniilli-wisti tti sidr of (Jliii Sjiviicer,
fire ((iiiclutrd willi llmsc !i1m.v. Series oI IkmIs tiilliiliiTi'd 1 is at
Artesiiin Well

lifjs. N'iAi;\i:\ l''(iit\i \riiiN. Tliicknenn.

;V... I'eH.
'20 i''ilir triflilied j^lc'lV (ireli;ii emis ddlnlnile. 'r<'li I'ed

-lili iiited. ( ll'i-lit ;il.(i\( I.iike dlitiirid 'ilT 11.) .. Hi.f!
ID DlIlK doli'lllites (soliiewlljil l>il lllllIlK ills) colitllillill.U;

1 I i|i( let idi.diy liifiSM'S dl II l.leii jjitid li|i|>eiillllice . . li.7

IH Meii^uie> ( dill ciijed Id . 'i

17 GlilV illld dillL ddlnlllite.- ill ihill iie(l> — llie llpper
Itcrtidii I'niiiiili;: Irnw ol e--i iii|iiiieiit just eiisl I'l'
•■ I'eid;." 2.S.3

Id Ivirt \:\ (lull mites will: edliejididn j lilli tllU' .'!. 'J

ir> Ddldllillie sliilies CdXi red Willi ilielllstlltidlis dt e|l-

s. mile :',,,»)

14 (Jiiiy fiiiil viirieLTated ddldiiiites in thiii lieds with

eartlix pill tint's ?,H .A

10:^.9

\'S (.'lierlv ddldiniles ( ') I dill enli ij. Ii\ Illeiisiin Ilielit i'>. I
fell, I'llt aildwili;.'- !',.r dip. \)M feet liilisl lie lidded,
and tlii> i diine.ts Mie seeiidn at tlie l.iiiiilvilii
with Ihiit iiiea^nred at western side of liaxiiie lidiii

Wehsler's td S|ie||( er s Falls t^ . 1

12 Gray ridldiiiiles with minieidiis i heity nudnles. tiiis
I'diiiis the i row of cliff jit jiiiiei iciii of liavines trim
SpeiK e, - .It ,1 Widister's Falls l'',o

II Sliuly ddldiiiilo. w ith sleil,\ Imrtinjs '.^.O

lO (.'diii|iai I darU uia.N ddjdiuitev. iiidic or less arijilhi-
aieiiiii ecus, ill heds lidin twd lo twn and a half t'eet

tlii'k ... !(;.<)

0 Ddldinitii Mile .vhilies, with sIiiiIn (Idldlnites 1:{J

H I'dliipai t liuhl ;;ray ddldinite in clie hed. 'I his lied
is ediistant for niiiiiy miles, and it was trdin this
that the (li)i was i jihiilated. and ehei ked in hy
dtiier hed.s 5.3

7 Nia^iini ddleiiiite^, (d\eied here, hilt ex|)dse(l else-
where 10. n

G.l . 4

' 'l.lNI'ON i>'dl:M A'llllN.

6 Clintdii hliiish shales, witli iminerdiis tliin beds <d"
ar;;illa( Cdii.; doldinites. scnic (d' w hieli are alsd very
fiMrii^iiidiis. others are nidic areniieeiiiis. Many
contain fossils. Portidus of tiie series are <dven'<i,
but, beiiifi; ix|iOsed in niinierou.s pla'cs, show tlie
rbiiracter of tlie wliole formation just deserilied. . . 77.,'",

5 Argillo-arcniu'Odiis dolomites, wiiicli may lie con-

sidiued as heds of p.-issiiire tci the Medina boneatli , 8.2

illl.

er,
< at

c.»i.

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4 nillisl) Sllll<lKtun.-S ill twn l.„ils, spiitlill- ill slill.s... V't

3 Cnarsi-sfKidstoii.-— tlic fji;\v I! wn— VMiviii- iiiii. ji ii,
tliirUiicss. This is si-piiiul.-.l iV, ,,i IliV hcls aLnv
liy sl.jily partiri^^ -.,

2 Mnliiia sliuifs— -le.'ii, iv,|, nr vari.-al.d _ |,„itl v
'•'•vir.'il Jicrc, liiit varioiH iiortiuns .'xiMc^nl in lu.iiiv

^ '''""■" ".Ml..!

I l'v<i, -iv,.|i.aii(| varir-ati'.l sjiairs (tu-asiiir.I in Arlc-

"'"" ^^''11) ;;;,.l,„

r.j5.o

T'ltal tliii Uiii'ss SoO.d

Skcikin II. (at i)iiMi|as),
Tlii< .MTlinn ua> in.asiMv,! |,iitl,v ajoii- liir Sydculiaiu ,-,,;ui, un.l
partly i:i tlu' -Ini jn.t w.si uf it TIh' lucasiiniiK-i.ts arc in
• ifscciidiii:,' nnlcT, and tlic ihiihImts uf tlir licds rcfn- t<> tlic i-qui-
valfiit Ip(m|,< in Smtinn I.

Nia';aiia Kiikmatimn.

I'iirrty dolomites, luiinin- iaow of cs, urinnunt along
K'. Sy.lcidiani road. 'Vhr \\\^\>vv |.oition in the section

<fc r.|.r.>sented at tl i'eak." by inoie than looiret,

^- I'ein- reino\,.d |,y .|eiiiidatio"ii ;or some distaiiee

liai 1^ (i|' t||(> h|(,\v . . 1!) ii

1 1 I'oloinitie sjiales n o

111 Coinpait uiay dolomite, ni.i.v .,r l.vvs ar-illo-arenaee-

ollS ill heds iVom :.' (o J.r, frrt thi.k! 11,1,

U // SliHJy <|olomites , r

1» '/ IVdomiti<' shales ,, ,,

') . ')

S ('oiajiait -i-ay d.doinite in one I,,.,], hi-hly efystal-

liiie, with cavities lille<l witii minerals. ....,' ;,.(■,

V (i lay dolomite, more or less ar-illar s mj)

( I.INTO.S I' OIIMATION.

(> I 'liuioii >li, lies, with thin heds of ;iren..-ur-illae(«(.iis

A dolomites, s((metime-< I'errii-inoiis, .some .d' the heds

:> are hissilil'croiis. Alnnit jn feet from the top there

IS a hud of red I'ernininoii.s, eah areo-arenaeeotis

sandstone, rieh in e;isi> of lus.xils ^r, -

,, , HS.T

4 Hliiish .■<and.^tone si)iittin^ into thin -iahs 2.I

Shaly partin.i,' ' ' ' 0 8

3 Coarse t,M-ay .sandstone— tl (Jray n.md '— varyin-

in thiikness from •; 7 to '.1 feet .7 a I

See btdow,

2&1 Medina variegated sliales (as eah nlated) ,-j;i5.o

54G.0

Total thirkness 691 . 5

mm

SkCTIoN 111 (!!' ll.'IMlilt.iM)

Th.s K..cli..n Wis nuMHuml ai.-nuH..- Ln-w ..f il.o .■HrmTmciU at the
nty Mf II.>nill..M, l.-tv-.n tin- ravin.- af ti..- luml ..f .huMts .troe.

,J .he Juily CM." r I. ul-... half u mil. to th. eastward.

Tho M-. lion IH ,n d... < mlinK ..nkr. The- nu.uhc.M.K cf t..e bed-
.,„...., K .1>.. M.,.i..u wi.h .iM ,...ns,,..mllnK h.d. a. Dundan.
(Sei! iii'l"' in Api'i'i'ili-'' )

/.V>/.<

A'...
12

10

SlAtlAKA KdKMAIION.

Thin guiv ,l.>i.'n.itos. ui.h an ahumianr.. nf rhnty

n,„|„|c.s. This hc-.l iK known aK .hr M hcrt [.'I

and forn.s ,h.> bn.vv ..f tli.- rsrarpuunt a. • a'"' <' '

and ..'astwani, h.-in- ::HH Uvi ah.'vo lak.,- a. head of

.lumuH str.M'l. At hf:.«l ol' (jiu-.-n Ktreet this suri.".^

its 19 f«.'f. thiilv

ArKillur.nn. .h.lun.it.N with >l"^ly .P"'-«>."f^^T"K
portion knoNsn as tlu •• Uiu. niniaij.K lieds.' Ueds

T/iicknetn.

12.0

0 r.-l foo. thick. (Sim- analysis and los.silri.)
Dark har.l doloniilir shalrs and dolomites weathering

to -ray-and lowr hods mo.st shaly. (See analysis.) 10
Thirk IhmI Kray .ry-stallliio dolomite (nearly pure).. . 4
Ar^rillo-a.cnareoiis .hdomite in heds from 1-1.5 feet

thick. (Sec analysis)

15.5

8.8

51.;]

Cl IN" '>N Kor.MATION

rt/; Earlhv dolomite, with shaly partini:H ^-'^

Go Chinu.n shales, all dolomilic, with thin hedji of harder
rock, some of which arc arena( eons, and others to
a thiikncssofal.oiit 7 feet, are areuu-ferrugiuous. ^
The upper 0 feet may be considered us paKsagc beds (0.9
5 i'a8.sai;e heds of argillaceous doh, mites. (Top project-

ing portion is glaciated, and is -M feet above lake) 8.8

93.7

Mi;i;iNA FoUM.vTioN.

4& 3 Coarse gray sandstone— CJ ray Baud." Thi-; bed ^ ^
varies in thickness *^-^

i& 1 Medina variegated rod and green shales. Thickness

from . alculalion of Dundas Artesian Well 538 . o

545.0

Total thickness 690.0

SkcTION FV. (Illoliu U.isscdllX Clerk)

TtiiH HOftion i\\i,un liosscuiix Civ.U, fxirmU iiuin AIMon FiiIIm (in
Uirlnii TM\viiNl,i|,) to (';ii|i.iit,i's I,iiii(Uilii>, oi, till' H.irnilt.'ri
iirid (' ..|,.(|,,riiii. mail. 'J"|iik line I'ullnws uciiily th.- stiikr df the
I'Mriiialiuii 'I'll,, s,., tioii IN ill .|.s( ,.|i,Iiii^ i.nlir. Tin- iniiiil-i'rinK
of Ihc 1m(|s ri'lcrii t«> lli. (•.)rrc>i|iciiiiliiii; sliata a( Haiiiiltoii and
Diimias

Only thf NiiiKani {•"oiin.itii.n is iiiMostnUil

^"- r,,t.

Dark icray l>itiiniiii(.iis (lulnniitcs at Cariicntci's Liiiif-
kiln, U. VI, lot 1,^, liait.iii. 'llic tn|p licl is iw.i iVct
tliiik, with ^;lai i.itcil siiifarc 'l'i,js l,,.,] (.niitaiiis

niiuiidanic (if Stri>iiiat>i|Hiia 11,6

BccIk f'oiircalcij 42.7

Gri'j- l.itiiniiiKMis ii>i|uiiiit..'s (ilan;;.. VII. I<it 7. Hartoii)
bi'ils ii,'.':,_l.M fool tliirk. t oiilaiiiiiiL; i avitic.-i liliiMi
witli liariti'. calriti'.sclfiiiti'. lliiuritc. Kitlfnitc. s|ilia-
It'iitf, ami other minerals in heaiitifiil rrystuls,

liL'sities liitniniuiioiis matter 15.1

Covered hed.s . , 57

Eurthy eoinpaet dolomite (Kanire VII, lot .''.). 6.2

(The following; jn down the (reek. li. Vil, lot.s 4-1.)

Fine KT'ii'ied dark dolomite, in one hed, with }:la( iated
gurfaee 2.2

Areno-arj,'illaeeoiis (l(doinites. in thin hed-, witji shah-
part in.us. o.'J-O. I foot tlii( k '. 12.3

Dark iirown liar's, areno-ar;.nlla(eous, ;vitii films of
dolomite , 13

Shaly dolomite (with ahiindaii'e of Str>-fililayiivt) .. . 2.5
Blue arenaceous shale.s, hardened with erystalline

jiartieles of doionuti' 2.9

Arf^illaeeoiis (hdomitcs 3,2

Blue and red shaly rock 3.0

Dolomitie HaK'^(Avieula lied), dark brown arenftceous 5.4

C(>v(;red hed.s 3 0

Kartliy dolomites, forming bed of ireck 7.5

Covered beds 3 _ 7

Thin gray dolomites (areno-argillaceou.s), forming
brow of e.scarpmunt, just west of Falls 4.0

132.2

'112

^ j2 Cherty dolomite.s, at Albion Falls 18.4

10 Argillaceou.s dolomites, in thin beds, with slialv part-

i"g« '. 22.6

9 riue hard dolomitic hhales, with bedt, of shaly do-
lomites 12.0

8 Gray crystalline dolomite, in one bed 4.9

7 Argillo-arenaceoufi dolomites, in thin beds 7.7

65.6

Vol. X.

Total tbickuess of Niagara beda 197.8

I 2 No. 3.

mm

»Km»

10

IV.- -THE MEDINA FOUMATION.

Tn ronrrin..- .n tl,c r.oolo^.ic.-.l FuT-ts of tl.. St.te of Now
York, .e Irarn that iW M.-dina lornntion n«sts on what is
known a. '■ On-i-U Conulnn.r.to." whioL in OruMda County has
onlv a thickness of ^f, f.T. thnu.h .W.wlu.vc it is as much n.
l.)0 iVo. thick. whiU> in 11 . Stat, of l>onnsylvaM,a it ts aovc^ed
t„th.>....a,tor7niM:vt. Thnv .pp.ars to have h-.n a p-^laal
p.,.s:,.n. irnn. th. b n,] .>! .r:,y <MHls.nn.s t.rnunatnr^ the Iliid-
Ln Itiv.r lnrn.a,inn in ( In- ich. .nd O^w,-. counti.^, to the
;.v.rlvln.. co..lou)or-.t<>. both of w!:ioh d. posits, how^vr are
w.ntin -n tho ue^torn part of the Stat<., and .,v entirely absent
,•,„„„ th>. ^.rio. i-i C;,n-:da.;,sindicatrd at a short distance rast
.,f (,d<v;n..nn tl>o nurlh-w..st.'rn sido of I.ako Ont.no, whore
,1, . u| per b.d^ b.4on. i"- to ,h- clos. of th. (-nnbro-Sihinan A^e
;,ro Mvn to r-st b nva'h tho^e at tli^' (.ounn.M.c^'Ui.MU ..f Medina

Tn tneiii- ti;e M-lina f.rin.ifion iV-ui < )<wouo County, N.Y..
it Is tound to iM«rH-.so in thi.k'uss uatil ir :.;t.d,H a dovolopn.ent
,,r.,.v,ral hundred n- t in tho ^^■■•<U'Vu parr of th. State, and at
|),.,„p , at iho h> -d of Lak. Ontario, it is Hd:) lerl thick.
A ain the .roup .rr.da ^lly di.> out lo iho .v.-tward. and is .u.ly
rcprosonto.l In the St::t.' of Ohio by t. t. or twonty feet of red and
blu" motthd sli;il"s.

Almost th" wl'ol'' -a-h-s i^ n.ivle up .,f nioro or less calcareous
sird. s. some of which are a!s.» aren:ieeous (,Mid almost resemble
thin Ha- of unpure sandstone). Tn color t!,c .-hah'S are red.
„re. n, or varic-anMl. Th- seri- is capp. d by a coarse sand-tone,
^■idci: is irn-ularly deposited o,d has a thickness io tho ia-i(m
„f Duod ..> and TIaniilton, v.ryin- irom sevm to t.a. feet. It is
known bv the naui- (d' the "Gray Kand," and is a characteristic
stratum from the Niagara l^iver to the Ge(M-i-n l^ay. Sorue-
times, liowev.'r, it thins out to men- wcd;ies, bnt the hollows
occasioned by the sudden thinnln- process is filled up with ( arthy
calcareous sandstones. This structure is well illustr.ated by a
section in the glen just west of the Sy.hnham road, Dundas—
the Ibllowini: section would not be repren iited lon-itudinally by
more than tidrty feet:

11

2.1 feet JUuisli siiiidstoiK; 2.1 feet.

0.8 " Sliiily piirtin.Lrs 0.8 "

TJiin slialy siindstdins |

I" 6.7 "
'1.0 " S.ui'istoin- : Tiic •'(.Jrny Hiiiid."

1.3 " SiindstoiK- 0.9 "

Liy tlii> nir 111.- it will !»• mi n tii,;t ilic wlml" ^.'pies docs not
uiatcri.illy niter in thicktir.'^s, but tlmt tliu utidulation.s of tlic
S'..' "ac'o III' tlie ■"dray Bind" resulted frniu unequal deposits ol'
sand alonj:; tlio ^cv. lU'iriiins, md it'tt-rwirds the inccjualitios were
filled up by sodinionts (if sliirlitly different cliarieter. Sonietiniss
the -'Oray IJ.iiid '" sliow.s rijijiU; luiivks on it> upper surl';ice,
while tiio Dioro slialy D.irliuirs have tlu'ir ,-^urfaco characterised
by wave action.

At Grinibsy. the lower pdition of thi.s band i.s of the u.sual
gr;iy c(ih)r, but it parses into biiLrht red sandstoni-.s irregularly
deposited, und conspicuously mottled by large sjiots of a <^ray
tint. At this hicdity tin; Arthn^phjjcKs hdrlnni i.s very abun-
dant, .aid tliou::h fouiul in both the uray .lud red sandstones,
it is more cdunnon in the iVirmer.

At Diindas the cappiiit;' portion oi' th' • Gray H;iiid '" consists of
a bluisji s;indst(Mie resemblinii' (juartzite, though this subdivision
ill the character of the beds is not noticeable at Il.imilton.

All the thicker bids of Medina sandstone form excellent build
in<i' material, tliouij;h difficult to wcn-k on acciumt of its compact
ness and tou<ihness.

Along the runoit of the Ni;ii;ar.i Kiver more than 200 feet
of the shales are exposed. So, also. tlnu'C are excellent exposures
in many of the gorges about the liead of Ltike Ontario, Perhap.s
the best section of the sliales is 10 be obtaii:od by following up
the stream which flows into Burlington Bay after passing by the
village of Waterdown. In ttie deep gorge of thi.s stream tin;
upper 250 feet of Medina shale is more or less exjiosed, though
in Home places covered by landslides. The base ol' the Medina
is exposed at a short distance east of Oakville.

At Dundas, an Artesian well was sunk a few yoar.^ ago, and
the following is the leg of the boring, as publi.slied in the Dundas
Banner :

*:.»

1

^■p

■HI

12

Ilciildcr Till 20 feet.

Biu.'Cliiy 48 "

Clay and IJhuk Suiiil 5 "

Ucd Shales 341 "

Liinfst( mo and Grits fiSO "

Total I)ei)tli KOO "

The record of the eliar.ictor of the lower portions of the boring
was not uivon. The "limestone and i^rits" represent rocks of
the Hudson Hiver formation. The record ;i]so stated that at
290 feet from the surface there was a thin bed of sandstone with
a flow of iris and water; at :}<l(l feet there was a flow of water
risinjrciuht feet above the surfaee; at 1)70 feet there was a heavy
flow of "-as. This imperl'eet record is unfortunately all that
remains of much money that was expended in seeivinLi- for a supply
of water for tlie town. Tiie secretaiy of the Well iJompany has
since died, and the complete record is lost. IIow(;vor, it .serves
a purpose, and by connectinix the levels of tlie mouth of the well
(which is 1:^9 feet abo\e L.-ikc Ontario) witii the adjacent
Medina beils, we are enableiJ to calculate \\h'. thickness of the
whole formation.

Other wells Iiavo been sunk to a considerable d( pth, years ago,
but unfortunately their lous are not in existence. One, at an
oil r< finery, east of Hamilton, was sunk into the Medina shales,
or perhaps just throuuh them, when a siiffieient supply of water
was obtained, but which was strongly alkaline (see analysis below).
At 40 feet from the surface (about 27;') from top of the Medina
series) a thin bed of sandstone was found. Another thin bed of
sandstone comes to an out-crop at Hurlin^ton, on the northern
side of the bay of the same name. Tlie beils found at these two
places are probably of the same horizon aithoaj;h their con-
tinuity is broken by the cj'Uso which oriirinated Burlinuton Bay.

There was another important well sunk to a depth of 1009
feet, at the Royal Hotel, Hamilton, but tlioutrh some water wis
procured by me and then analysed, the record of the boring was
lost in a burning building. The east( rn part of Hamilton is
situated almost directly on Medina clays; but the surface of
the.se is covered to a considerable tliickness in the western part
( f the city by drift, which partly fills a Pliocene valley. (See a
future paper on Surface Geoloiry.)

The character of the Medina shales is shown by the following
chcniical analysis. The specimen chosen was typical of the

14^

13

j^reen indurated .shales which uii woatheriug becoinu red. It
was obtiiiut'd from a freshly broken surf"cc at nn .-irtitical ditch
ill Ainsley's Flollow, west of Ilauiilton.

Silicii r)0-2

Alnmiuii 12'0

Iron Piolcixidc 1-5

Linu; 17-7

MajLciiosia 5-8

Carbon Dioxido 11-6

988
A portion of the lime and magnesia was present as silicates,
some of whieli was decomposed by acids. In varioi'.s aiialy.sis of
the ^ledina shale, made by Dr. 8terry Hunt, less than one per
cent, of fixed alkalis was found to be present. Uiuler the micro-
scope, tlHS(> rocks exhibit small crystalline doloinifie particles
scattered llimugli the mass, sometimes uniformly, and snuetimes
in thin layers.

Fnuii the geological evidence adduced by the Ohio Geological
Survey (as will be iii'ticed under the CMiiiton formation), the
Hudson River formatioii was raised up into a sliore line be-
fore the deposition of the members <if the Niagara group. In
the St:ite dl' New York the Meiiina seas laved tlie shores of the
ShawaMiiiuik Mountains, wheriee the pebbUs for tlie conglome-
rate of tli<- Inwcr portion of the series were derived. The western
m irLiin of the sea wa< b( unded by the " Cincinnati Arch," which
has been an upland since the close of the Cambro-Silurian Aire.
The arenaceous material of the Medina series was obtained
largely from the adjacent highland.s to the eastward, althou<jh
a portion of tht; sediments that form tiie " Gray band" was pro-
bably derived from the denudation of the more siliceous portions
of the Hudson River furmation of the Canadian shores.

The shaly beds ol' the Hudson Hiver stories, and particularly
those of the Utica formation of the Canadian highhmds, formed
an abundant source whence denudations could derive an ample
supply of clay to produce tlie wide-spread oft-shore deposit of
Medina shales in the northern portion of the ."-ca. The period
was Lretierally one of subsidence until its close, when thc^ "Gray
baud " was deposited, to be followed by the Clinton shallow
seas, which were to be filled up witli impure limestones alternat-
uvx with muddy sediments brought down from the adjacent
shores.

14

Orgnnir Rrmdiiis.—Oxw i>r two fiM^^iiniits of obscure seu-
wtds Inve been tioticcil by Col, dr.iht in the sbalt's. otbt'rwi.so
tbcy apfx'.ir to he (livoi(j of" (l^;,^•^llislll^.

'J'lic "(ir.-i}' r.irid," iiowcvt!!'. rnnfaiiis a IVw fxxnly pri'^erved
casts oi'sbulls, b(!si(if.s scviral species of sua-wueds. Tbu fossila
■ire usually lomid crowil <1 toL:' tin r on sonn; purtioiis of thi- stir-
liico oltlit; satidstoiii s, overlaid by more or less eartliy partings,
particul.irly at t\v junctim) with the nverlyinii Clinton, or tbose
b,ds th.il mi^lit perli;!ps b< eonsiibrod bids oj' pHss;it;'e.

'J be sr,(-uet;ds ail' thf ni(i-i enmnion. Art/irnp/ij/cii.s hurLini
IS ai)niid :nt at (i rim-by. Tbc br.ineln's ol' tbis orLranisiu is
ifionu'tiines C'lniii oU'd witli idb. d iindules, bavins;- ibe appearance
of fiiiit pods; bowever, sonir j)al{coiitolouist> consider J>Y/(ro-
f)lij/'-iis ,is woini tiaek-s, and. il tiiis be tbe e isc. ibrso lobed ex-
pansions are simply vxirm burrow.- :,t tbe end oi' tbe tracks.

A ennsideiabl" numlxT oC ntHloiibted worm tracks or Icbnites
is also (bund. .\il the fi^-sils consist of notbini; more than casts
in tin K.indslonc.

Tbe bdlowini; inea-n list of fo^,v;i|< has been obtained.

(\\TAI,C)(iUK OF .MEDI.N.V FCSSIf.S.

(i<'»pr(t mill s/i/'i-i'i-s IxPhmirf.

Art/iro/i/i!/cus harlain Hall, 1852, I'nl. X. Y., Vol. II.

!.<ir'ii/ii/ — Grimsby, Out.

" " Fruit (?)

f.OfdIitii — Ul'iinsliy.

PaUeoiifn/ciis sp

I.ociilii.ii — flauiiitdii and Urimsti\.

Z-iphrentis Lilatevaiis llnll, ISaU, Pal. N, V., Vt)l, II

J.ocalihj — Hamilton and Grinisliy.

Atrt/pa ohhit,< Hall. IS.'vj. Pal. N. Y., Vol. II.

l.oeaiih! — Hamilton and (iiimsliv.

V'.}Ji,>lop''is or//ioii»la ('(.luad. IS.'Jli, Ann. Kep. N. Y.

Liii'd iiii — Hamiltiin.

" Rp

Locoliii,' — Dnndas. Hamilton, and <irimsby.

.)lurch/.'<on>\r rn'miiia 'Jonrad, ]S4'J,Jour Aead. Nat. Sc.

LocaUtu — Handlton.

" ron<u,l,:t Hull, 18.^2. Pal, N. Y., Vol. II.

J.oc/i/iti/ — Hamilton and Grimsby,

Plnirotomaria litoro,i Hall. 185'_'. Pal. N. Y,, Vol. II.

Locality — Hamilton and Grimsby,

" i'ervetiisl,! Coniad, 18:i8, Auu, Rep. N. Y.

LocaiUi/ — Handlton and Grimsbv,

hhinten (several i^peeits)

Locaiiti/ — Hamilton and Grimsbv.

15

V . — CLINTON I'OK.MATION.

Tn •^outh'Ti) Hcrkiuur County, \. V., tlir M* Jiin foruiitioti

is wiiiitinir. aii'l tlic Clinton rcsis on lliin deposits of Oneida
cont:l'Mnir;iti . whicli it^i'H'dies (lut iartliiT to tli(> i>;ist. In the
more eiisrci-n p'lrtioiis of tho St itc of New York, wihtc the
Clinton .-eii'- sueo'eds the .Medina, it [Mi'take^i ol'it> litliolo^ieul
ciianieli ristio. However, as i!i' Clinton cxiiiids wi»t\vird its
shales beconie iiitei'ealited with c ileal". 'oui di'[»f)sits th t I'oiin a
oonspiciioHs leitiire. The etlcireous hid- incrcise in import inee
as ihc i'oini itioiii extends wesiwird in the I'rovinee ot'Onlario.
ami at llaniiiton tln'v so nearly re> nilile tIio.->e .ii' the overlying
Xii'_:ai'-i. th t the line of .-epiritioii heeoims alnio-t ailiiti'.o-y.
The N w V'lk * Jeoio-'ist.- pLci'd , L.rd i^vei" ol' ilo'i^mite, con-
tainiiiu icm. ii:> e,l' I'l'iifmnt riiti. and kiinivn ..,- ;he •• IV nlamerua
Rami." ..> tue up[).T h' d of the Clinton of New York, whilt; tie'
Canadian ( IiMloLieal Survy considered it :'s th" hnve-t bed of"
the Ni 1- ii'a Miie>, which in our I'lovine''. it nlo^t nearly re-
s''ndjle>. 'I'lie 1 ttvir d':\isie;i. heiweii t!:'' Cdntoii ,ind Nii^'ai-a.
T have ;idi.jt'd ill this jap r, il' indeed, a liivi-ion, exeept I'or
convene in;!', .-lionid he tn, d.. In I'lct, tie,; upper nine i.'et of
the Clinton dep()<n>, at II- niiltoti mi-ht will be ]iliced \vi;h the
Ni;<<i'ara ;d)ivi-e. N'or Te t|ic;-e ;imv p d;C' 'nl't'ouie d LTn'it\ds of
sejuratinii.

T.;. Clin;' 11 .iioup Ui.:y be described as dolomitic -ledes, with
iiuni' iiui- ihin bids of •iruillo-avi ii;,(;eeu^ d(i|wmit>>, some ni'\vhich
almost ie-anb!e impure s-mlslone. Tne i!i<lur..ted sh.ah-s arc
j^eiiei-dly of blue or daik .^t :y, but in weatlierin^' tie y assume
a red, brown or buti' eoloi\ -M Miy id' tlie more cilcireous b uids
are i^liiy l'"--ilii'eri)us. About twenty I'eet u om ihe top of the
sene tierr i- a red or brown le'i'rue'iieius caleareo areir.x'eous
rock, thou! ' i;^ht l(>et tluek, holdiie.- -'n .abundance of ca.sts of
fos.-ils, wliicii are mostly of the '^e^nera Mi/Jio'nji.n's aed Li'Kjiiht.

It may bv: here remarked that pom; of tiie L nmHihritiicliitte
sholN vetiin any pMT of their oriii-ia.d tests, while tin' LiiignliP
have their .>!iril.> well pri.'sjrvcd, aie! often of a blue color.

Thi> hi d of red lerru^'inou> rock is the iepre>cni,itive of that
peeuliir bed of oolitic iron ore, called •' Fossil Ore," t'orminjj; u
cl. r eterl-tic elejuent of the Clinton group, extendin.; frotu
Wisconsin to New York, and thcnco along the A[)palachiau
Chain rc/ Tenucssee and Alabama. Tn some places the "fossil

mm

16

(Hi: " is only vcprtiMMitiid by ll'iriiiiinous stains on tlif rock. This
iron milder oiuii'' probably from tlie (loriudatinn of tlic vxtru
nivc iron ore deposits, lluroni.in Aire, just nortli of tlio Clinton
sea, in wliat is now Micliiiran.

Tlic lower nine I'eet of the ('linton beds ;nv coiiipo-ed ofaro-il-
1 iceniis dolomites with shnly p.irtinu^, wliieh are soiuetinios
)»i!iiinirious. Sonif ol'tliesi' layers are so ^rannlar ;ind .ireiiace-
(nis .-IS aininst to n'siinl)le s iiidstones. Kroni the lew fossils
nbtained lirre. these reclcs may b^' oonsidere(l as beds of [.assai^e
from the Mdliiia. Inchldinu the b(M],> that I hav*' placed as
beds of pass it;r It the h ise and those at the summit of the L'lin-
ti>n inniKitioii, tlic whole thickness at Hamilton is !>4 teet, and
,1 Diindas .SS I'd t.

In New Vork. on thi- (l-iiesee Hiver. the Clinton j^rniip has u
tiiiekin',-s (if Sli fi'et, eousistin- of c ilcareous shales with thin
beds ol shaly dolomite, toi^ether with the characteristic (hj/ifLC

1 roll ii/'i heil .

In Ohiii this foi'tiiitinn is rrprociittMl by s dmnn-colored doio-
mitic linii'sloiie- which vary in thickness from !'> to 40 feet.

As has lieen nniiced. the Clinton deposit^ litholoii'ically re-
semble thn.M' nf the Medina, in (astern New York, while in the
wi>stern [lait nf the Slate, tln-y approximate to the overlying
iNiatrai,,. This nH>mbiani-c is still ^-reater in Canada, where
much (if the shaly matter is replaced by calcareous rocks, and
ill Ohio. accordiiiLi' to the (leolouical Survey of that State the
ar_'iilace(UH b als :irv. wholly replaced by limestones. Au''iin
thosi! ditfereiiees in the i'os>ils which characterise th'' respective
Cliiiton and Niagara formations in eastern New York lar«^elv
disajipeir in the more western deposits. In Canada the paljeon-
toiouical difference.- .seem t<. be due to the state of preserv.ition of
or-anic remains in the shales and limestones respectively ; for the
f-nms which occur in the Clintnn limestones are ,:;cnerally found
n the culc ire(nis rocks of the overlyin- Niagara, whilst the prin-
cijial differences are in those I'o.ssils preserved in the Clinton
shales, which are not represented above by similar rocks. Id
i'act there is no more v.iriation in tlie fo.ssils found in the Clinton
and Niaoara formations at li imilton than there is between tho.se
of the Niagara '■ Chert Bed " at Hauiilton and of the upper layers
at Burton, five miles distant

Profes.sor Orton found that the Clinton of Ohio contains
pebbles of the "Cincinnati (Hudson River) limestones." In

17

th(! south- western p.irt of th.it State tho deposits ufidi-r consider
iitioti rest either ou rocks of the Ciuciniuiti j;roup, or on the
thin development of Medina shales (which are from ten to twenty
Ket thick). Tlie eonylomerates sliow that tJK; underlyini,' form-
ations of the Cimbro-Silurian Ai:e had been iiardened and up
lifted into cliffs and shore lines before tlie comnjeneement and
deposition of the sediments in the sea^ of the Clinton epoch. At
this time the Canadian Sea was one of shallow water. At Dun-
da.s, Hamilton and elsewhere, v.irioiis thin hard beds from the
hast! to the summit of the formation hav(! their .-url'aees covered
A'ith ripple marks. As (lie muddy sediments, which lilled up
the northern and north-ei.stern portion of tin; Medina Sea, were
principally derived from tin dchris of the lltica .uid Hudson
Itiver jzroups of the Canadian hij:;lilands, .><o also the (Jlinton
.-h.des appear tn have been deriveu .. m the same snurce ; but
these muds ;j;r "u.dly i^ave pi ,ee lo thr' organic liuicstone in the
west(!rn portion of the Clinton se i^.

Orgiiiitr Jicni'iiiis in llif iHiiitdu Fitnnutlon. — Rt'centiy an
interestiiii: !;roU[t of small fossil,^ wa.> discovered by (jleorij:;e J.
Hinde, Exp, F.G.S., in (ilen Speneer. Dnndas. The.-^e orj^'un
isms appear as black shining chitinnii,-^ objects on the -urface of
the stone, usually about the twelfth of an inch in lenf:;th or less,
and wore reco^'nized by Mr. Hinde a.^ the jaws of annelids or
worms. They will be found de-scribed and fi::ured in the Auj'ust
number of the -Quarterly .Journal of the Geolouical Society of
].,ondon," for l.sTD. Kxceptin-; the j iws. no portions of the heads
of the animals were fouml. The followin<r is u cataloirue of Mr.
Hiride's species:

KK().^[ TIIK CLINTO.N BEDS.

Ennirilc!< c/in/oucnsin.
Fjunii-iti:>i oronalun.
Euniciira chir'j7iior/ihu*.
(Enoniles am/dus.
(En oniteii tragil in .
Ardltfl.lit.fn e.itijanx.
JjWnbricoiLcrcili-s liitailis.
Luin/iriroHi'riult's truiiigulartt.
Iiumhricoiicrcitex armuLua.
(jrlyceriten calceolus.

Besides these, he describes three species from the Niagara
formation ; and as I have not the specimens in my collection,
I will include them here with the Clinton species:

(Enonites ? infreqiiem.
Arabellites .nrnilis.
Slaurocephalites niagarentis.
Vol. X. K No. 3-

1!

18

Till' In'lnu ill.: I- I i-iitiiinuMi' III' the (Miiilnii ln-sil> dltfiiiiicd
at lliiiiiiltdii ml hMiiili-^. Tlii^ '•!it;iliiL:iit' iIih-s nut cniitiiin ;i||
llir spccii , 'li.it ;ii-.' iiicliKlril witli tln' Ni;i'j'.ir;i '.:r<tu|t proper,
wliicli Cnj, (iniiit .iijil iiiv^cirinvr rmiii'l 111 ill'' -o called (.'lintou

lieiU. llllt niiiv file more .•mi-piciliMH -ilM eie-. Ml- llid^e iidt i'diuul
lliulli I' ll]i it I lallliltiiii.

r.\l'.\l,li(J| K -^l- eiivi-i.V i.'dssll,^ MCiTiMMM; \r ll\MII.T(»V.

ci-Aia; \ \si. ,-i'::c II-.-, i;!-,ri-;::i.\ei;,

/l>l//i'.fl'ri,/,i^ :/rri,;7;' Hull. l':i|;in||t. N'.'i',. IS.".:',

" jiiil iiiiilil ■• •• •'

Units civ .uicill-, , I///,,' •• .. .1

Striiiiiii'i'/iiiiii s|'

('i>iii,/,/ii///iiiii iiiihiitii II < Ilal!. l':ila'iaii, .\.^.. l-^'."!'.'.

Miiiiiii iili'i'iir't .'vi''7" ■ '■!/' '^:i\'. ■• IS 17.

X,ij,l,r,i,lix l.;i.,l. rii!" ll:ill. r;i;;e(.|il. \ \ .. Is.")'.'.

(1 riiiiliil it liii.-< i-liiiiiiii, iisi.-'

h'llli.lil.x r,ri,iyiiy

J'lihi iisl( I- ';i\uili . . S|ii-iii .a'. Niau. I''ii>>. 1 >s-J.

F.iii'iillUti,,. ,,/>• .;,,•,,,■!! I'liilli).-. .Mii;-rii.. Si;, .-^v.-t.. |s:i;t.

Ih liifiinn :■ ujlhs |I:|||, !'.i!;i.(,u|. \.V.. \<y>.

Chi! I(i"yi,i I'mii li.y.i

/■', If yh //,! rri-,'., l.'aH|.,,l.'|l,.. ^|l|l■|■|| . Sil. Sv.-t.. ISIill.

/■'"•'■"'•■/""■' Hall. :''ali l;.|it.Mri;,"_;,.iits. N.V.. i.sTa

''I'll'-'- llall. l';i!;i'iii]l. .\.V.. iS.VJ.

■' 'iir, ,,„/.< '^|Miic, I-. 11. s. \iaL;ar:i Fnssils. ISS'J.

/'l. /://:.,,:■■ ,.„: 1,1.1 II;, 11. |';|l,.|.,,||t, X.V., j S ,-, J .

Jili'!i<<i'i'ni r. I, .■.-■! SjMii, i-i- U.S. N'i.'i-ara I'Vissils. ISS2.

Ji'rlr/.oni .nniuhUn |[;|||. i';| Ijr, ,nl . N'.\'.. IS.",'.'.

'/\/ imi/'i/iurii Infii irii/nsii •'

Mvrii'l'i i'i/lii>:lririi (.') •• .. ..

A//ii/r/s (M'-n's/, I'l',/) i,,ii-i/nn'ils. . . ■•

i>lr"iili',iih'ii.i r/in,ii/„. ,■,/„/,'.< WaliliailirrL:-. .\( i, So-. Sci, t'iisai, 1821

(hihi.s rlr,i,n,i,i!,i Ddliiiaii. |S':;7.

Liiiiiul'i 'I'lli'iiijii (.onniil. Aim. Il-p.. X.\'., is:!',i.

"'"'"''" Fliill. I'Mlaoiil. X.^'., |S.-,J.

J'n.viiiliirilil (.■■) (i/(i/j

J'li.io l,,ii,,iiii/., Q>y 1 1, mill,., i. If, I .... ■■ .1 ..

ih/fiiiiiii/a .>j). (.')

Moilioli>/'.'<i.'<.sy\'] midefiird spe's.

/'lil/l/os/oimi inil;j,trfli.'<i Hiill. l'il|;e,ait. X.V.. 1S;VJ.

^1»

Ortliin-i.niH r/nro/uni [(;i|l. I'ahnail. X. V.. \S:,'2.

Oi>ctjci'niii Kuhri'Ctiiiii •• .. ,,

Voiiuliiriu nidf/nrenyi.H. . . . u .i ,;

Tfnhiritlitc.'f /iy/n/i.y u .> „

RuKivlinifi'ii hUiihdtii.^

Ichnitox, I'oui- nud'.'tiamM spcc'K.

1

H)

i.sTr.

\ \. M \«. \l; A I'lilJ.M \ I |i»N.

Tiiiimjiiii'hji iiiiil /)isiii/'iih(ii, .-■{)\{'\-\\][\>_ tin Cliutiiii Inriii-
ati'iii. til'' iii(>.>l iiii|inrt:iiit iiiiiiil.tri- I.I' ilif Miio- til'' NinL'ara

(pI'KjHT ; — is Illllcll Ihi'iT \s i'lf'i V (li'\ ilii|ii'il tli.ni tllf Inwcr |i(ir-
tioil.- (<{' the '^inlij, wliicli itlT liirui'ly m lilr t||i ol' ll|i'cl\,llli(':ll
(U'|in.»it.-. ()\vill'^ ti' illf li.ini liliH'st"IH'> 111 the Niill^ifil ('I'licll
surmiMiiiliir^ >• vi ra! Iiiiinli.d l.ii ol m'Ii Mcdiii i and ('lintim
sillily inclv's. it |(inii> :i cnii.-i.iiiiiiU- Ir.ituii- in llir rdiintry -till,'
.-iiiiiiiiir 111' iln' Nia^iir.i (sc:ir)iiiii'iil • a- aluii:: it- nuitlicrii ami
imrtli-i'Msti'Mi iiiaruiiis, (lir snl'tt r inaliiial rminiiiL: llic l>ii>i' of
riil'ji' lia.« bi-t'ii ri'tiiovi'd liy > I'lsii'ii. '■ ivini: alMiipt dills.

The iiiii>l rasti'iti i'.\|Mi~nt <■- "I' thi- t'driiiatiipii in New Yurk
afc near llic Inwii of Cat'^idll. im tlif lliid.-iiri Ivivcr. I'loiii this
phit-r it rxtriid> wcstw.iiil thri'Uuli tln' I'ciitial and wrstcrn parts
(•!' flic Srat'. liirininL; tin- Imid >l'ipr.-, a I'l'V. niilis south (if. and
parallel In, Ijiikv. ()iitaiiii. Kntciinu Canada at tin- Niajfara
liiviT. its dii'i'Ctidii i> wistward. nraily pai'alh'l with its «//•//.•(',
its I'af as i>iii'das. at llir fxtrcnn' wistrni I'nd d' Lakr Ontario.
Hi'i'i' the ranLic ot' liill> clianLii's it- onnrsr aii'l cvti'iids to (,'apc
Ilurd. and ihrnci' tliinuL:li .^^.lllit(llllill and Cnckburn Islands.
'J'lu' lanur of liiils Miulh ' I ih.' hikt;. a.s \\r liuvc iiotieod. is about
400 Icct hiuh and ui'iicrally ii.'> an abrupt rata'. Howi'vi-r, (roui
Duiidas to (iiorLiian l»av. altliou;^li tin- fount ly is of a hii:licr alti-
tude, till' I'eatuics ale le,-> bioken on their eastern .side, as they
reet'de tVoiii Jiake Ontaiio.

The southern portion ol' the b isin ol Jiuke Ontario is excavated
in Medina shales, while it> northern side is .scooped out of the
various rocks of the Hudson Uiver. and the shales of the Utica
foriuation, which onci' foiiiicd the ni.Uirin ol the old s^' a in the
Nia<iara period.

From the northern end of J^ake Huron the Niagara foriua-
tion extemls into Hruiiiniond I.-i.ind. and thence aloiiL: the whole
northerii and western >hores of li.ike Michigan. Auaiii. the
liiar-^in of the se is in this period .abutted against thi' Appalacliian
chain as far south as Tennessee, as is shown by the rem.aiiis of
their old deposits. The large island of the ••Cincinnati Arch"
ibrmed part of the b.irricr at the southern margin of the Medi-
terranean Sea, which extended over a region of thirteen degree.*
of longitude and eight of latitude, in the Niagara period, or, wc
may say, in the Silurian age.

^i^

L'd

III Catiiiila iiKiny ^tl•.•atlls cut tlirmiu'li tlu- rockH of tlic rcL'ion
iiiidi r ('(iii.siil'T.'itioii, Hiid -.rive fine fxposuri's nf tlicir iro'ilo^ical
structiiri'. Till" -trciiiis invari;ibly cxcavattf iiictunsrmc <;lcns,
at iIk' Ik id n{wlii<.li ire usually cuM-ado in iiiaLTiitudi- rmm the
Kails (•!' Nia'_'!ir.i to (.iImts fnriniiiL' a iiicTc scries of r.ipids.

/>rr,/,,pw')if—Thi' licst cxpoMircs of 1 he Nla-rara fnrniatinn
in til.' St It'' nf Nrw Vnik .•ire at Ldckjiort, IJncln stcr .'itid Nia-
L'ara IJivcr. Ii all liiis :i tliickiii's>. of 'J(;4 lief in lliit State. In
Caiiadu tlir iij.[irr tK.rtion of tlir snio is >n dctindcd in tin-
nciLild'MMiJKKHl of I/ik- Ontario, tiiat it is iin|iossiliIi! to -jct a
'•"'>il'''''" ■"cclinn; 'Hid - vi'fi many miles away uImt.. Ji i);isse,s
into tlir nverlyiiiLT (liiclidi iMMuatioii. .IS near Kotdvwood tin linr
of jiiiictioii is uvrierally oli.^ciired liv drift.

At Hamilton. Iiy level nieasiuenient-. a section of (|,,. lower
t)'2 let (h. ill.; |.,.ds finiii 7 lo IL' of Section \\\) u US ur,i<U: by
^Ir. S. n, Mi;i> :,nd my-elf. (,ei\v<'en II, e ( .\|,(.-uiv al lie- lied oj'
.lani.s stivot .-ind l!,e ■■Jolly Cm" ,„;,,). ,1 lidf mil,, ,o tl.o
''■'■"'• "'■"■ 'li" '^carpnieiit .-.ver.i'MS :i!M» f,vi m |„,io|,i jihove
*'"■ "'"■'■ ''"''' '''icrty doll, miles (No. I_;,,f S,etioii>; |,,rm tlio
•■appin^ >tr,tuin of li.o ••.Mountain.- Alon- the Sydenham

road (section I[), the MVlion. ConipOM'd of the si-n- I.eds.

niivisnivd tWi fert fM'.v.n feet :.T,rc of t!,,. ••('!!. ri he,l " i. .x-

posed Imt.- tinn t llnnilton . \:^,in, ,, tic j.mks io-, of ( ile,,

'V'"-"' ^^i'l' <;i'" Wel.^fer, ii„. -, „„. ■■ Ch Tt 'l. .1. •' ioru. .j,c

cappin- Hiatiiin of i;„. ,.ii|V,, .„,,] i,,,^,. ,i„. \i ,,,.,, i,,.,|, .,,.,,

a lltti • ibick-r tlni! e;.-vvv|i,.p'. I lowev<T. o.i ii„. ■a.-tern nde of

Ill's- i-vi;ies ih-Te is ,111 'I dd i t Iom ,, | cxpo>ureof KM i)hM iieir the

'■ I'e; k." which ]r.\< not }>. en romoNod hy d-nndnioii. thus ^iv-

i'l- a nnxinnnn thicknes.> oi iH!) i; .., at ' Dun. his. However, hv

lueasuvin- tl,.. s-ctioi, at Aihion F.dl., „nd the., i,:ve;ii„_ uj,

Jlo,-— :,nx ^\■r.k nvl :.|on- tl,.- strike oi li,,. fMnnalio,, lo (,!.-,r-

pcni.r'.^ Limekiln^, on |., , If,, ;,,„1 j; ,„.,, V|, IJ.rto,,. ,wo miles

H.nth of th.. hn.w ol tli.. - .>I.,unlaii,.' ,,r ll.mihon. I succeeded

in nie-isniin- a ><.ctio„ ,,r ]<),S p ,., ,,„,„ f|,<. ^.,^,. ,,,• ^,,^. M,^,;„-a

(proper). The hci-ht of the last station is 480 feet above tho

lake, and in addition the rock.s an^ covered with live fcot ..f soil,

.•it the Church, on the .same l<.t. Here the rocks have their

surfaces -roovcd with ice action. If may be remarked that the

cappm- bed in this place is almost wholly made up of tho

remains of Stromatopora.

21

This last section o.'irries us to a hiL'licr li(»riznr) tlinti Jiny othor
mpu^^ur.ihli'. yet tlio liit'licst tiionibcrs of tlif s< rics is still beyonil
our ri'.icli. iK'iii-,' covered hy tlic drift over the (gently s]o|)inK
country. However, il' we I'nljow tlie lirir of strike westwird, md
take tiie levels hen , md at the nearest exposures of the (lueli)h
foruiatioii. at (Jalt (which is i I'.w miles north of the line el
strike ol'tli,' i{;irtoii IJeds) and inalvc allowanc fur dip, it would
apjiroxiliiat( ly he found Miat fhe unexposrd upper hed> <if the
Niai^ara formation y<^tl:\\ to ;in addiliomd ^0 or KHI lect in
tliieknos.

Aecordiji- to the n'p.,.rts of tlif (j.'olo-ieai Survey of Ohio, the
foriiiatioii has a ihiekni'ss of 275 feet in Ili-hland county, and
prohahly ."{jd fed in l\\r. nnrth'Te p u't oi' tli'' Stiti', The Cana-
dian C'olo-ical Survey estimal-'il f.hr who].- thieku' ss at dyd feet
in the ni'iijlilriiirdond of Cap.' Il'ird. ifihe dip were unifi.rui

Thus \\.: ,(■(• that I'roin the w^iorn [.;ni <d' New York lo Ohio
thi re is no -reat variation in ih. tliicko' s.-, of the .\i ij:ara depo-
sits, win re th- surf tee is not r'Miioved hyero-idti, md we uiay
fairly place th- tceuuiulations in the (Jan iliaa portion ol' the
NiaL'ara M'a at L':^() fr<t.

Not (inly is the drpo-iiioii of liir whoir series liter.dly uniform,
but 'loTe ,ire iferi lin stiatM which ;tr.' r.eo.^oi/.(|)!c is (jonstant
over ihr r>'2i"n under cotisid'T.iiion. ( »f ihesi-, ihe newt i-on-
spieiuui- are il,- •• {ll.rn h,;:', " /N,,. \-2 of s-'ciinns ), uiid a tiiick
oonipae! b>ii < i' iiuht jr ly dolomii, (vMyini: iVoiii four-and-a-h.iif
to five and-a-l,alf feet iliick, '.nd nuinhered S in the sections).
Tt w,is Iron, takii- th • h'v.'is .f ihis |a-t bed ;,( Albion Falls.
Uainilloii ;;nd Dun. las. ihat I .>tii:iat-d ihe dip at i:")-.") fret in
th<' mile, ill diitelion, aljoui iw nly de'^r'-c,- we.-t (d soufn. Loc-
ally, howrvci, J ionnd liie oip -oiDciinic, imounlin-^ io liT feet.
The distance of (ho .-idrs of iiio triaoiile forne d by the three
stations above naund, were irdcn from ile- lai--?; county map.
The calculation aiireed o!o.-cly with thai, m id-.' from the approxi-
mate h( i-hr of the bai^e of the form ition at Liinrhouse. and that
known at Dinxlas, and l ikin- tie' dir>ctiuii .,(' the dip to be that
found by tlu' above mentioned Irianjjjle.

At Liniehouse the surfaces ol" snme oi' the strata are almost as
irrcfruiar as those (d'thc Medina at Duuda.s. On the north side
of the Dunda.s Valley the rocks in .M.tne places are almost hori-
zontal, but airain they are found dipping; a few feet in the mile
to the northward. This beini; the case, generally, would make

¥

ill" l>iiiii|i> \':iii.\ ati iiiiiicliu.il \;illcy. uitli llic j-lnpc in t aeli
."id 1. s> tliaii fine (Iru'rcc.

( '/I'lf ii'tf r !■/' t/n /i'of/>. - I II N( w Villi* till" liiwcr |t,(rt nC tlio
NinL'.M!! liriiriiioii i- niiri'xnlid \)\ SO leer ii\' iluk ioscilifcr-
nii- cak'nri.'ii-riiLiill.'H Miii.« .-lifili'.- , :it Tlinrnlil. ()iil;iri(i, tlirx; nro
iiiucli iliiiiiMi'. :iiiil ill lliiiiiilt"ii ,'iii(i l>iiii(l.'i> tlii'V .'lie not rcprc-
^(•iitiil ]i\ iiiiii'i iImii Iihiii .-i\ ii> till li'cl nf iiiikMv sidiiiicritH
(S('. 1' '•! X ilimi- /. wlii'M' ii|i|M I |i(iilinii> iiniiliKitc into iiioro
rul('.iri'iiii> lirilv. 'I'Ih' ^'luriil (■Ininlcr id' tlic i^crii's ;it tlio
Vi'st'l'ii 1 liil nl l,.ii\r Ihiliiriii lii;i\ If II pi'( >'iili'(l liv tllf follow-
iiii: ."•('(.•lioii ill ill ,>ri'ii(liii^ order;

(.') 'I'liili i" i;.~ I'l (linK (nliili llhh >lii||r iiImI cilldiy) (loio-

liiilrs. \vitli sliiils |iiuliii.u- Si.iiif la>ii> arc tussililciiHis . . Kiliffct.

(A; 'liiiii 111 il> ni lif^lil-i iili'i nl linlniiiilir hhUs, coiitniniiij;

an iiliMiiilaiii 1 il . in ri> i.iiiliiirs: riissilit'cnnis IlifVi-t.

('■) |).iik liliir II' i;r,n slialv tlnldiiiilis ; (<issilirci"iiis K! foet.

( i ) l»iiliiiiiiii ( iini|ia(t >liai( s m f^ot.

(.) liiLrlil iliali I I y>iMlliiic (■(•iii)iiirt il.ili.initr. in dnc IkuI. 5 IVi't.

( /') hark ;:rav (din part (Inldniili , in iiindrratriv tliirk IhmIs.

till li.\\ r.^l ol wliil II ( M||tjiin> /'< ii.'.iiiii i-iis. . , , 10 t'cft.

At Jjiini'iiniiM'. only tin- lower Ik'i1> arr ('X(ins(.'(l mtar thuirjuiic
limi with tiie ulllle(•lyill^ Clinlun mek.-. Here the deposits coii-
si.»t ol' iinlit ciilon il iloloiniies.ormiiriiriii texture in tliick compact
bed-, Imldin^ oii!\ ea.-t^ ol lo^siN

The reiu'esriil ilives (it this runiiatinii in C)liio coiisi«t of the
Dayl.iii linii'sliine of live feet in thickness, succeeded by (KM'eet
ul shale.-, over which there iire ISII feet of liincstoiies, and in
Tliglilanil Oounly the series i> surmounted by ;{0 feet of saiid-
stoiu'. In refeiriiii: tn tlie-e we.-teni beds, we liiid included the
(*ed irville limestones, bods which are considered of the same
hori/.'tii ;is the (Jiielph dolomites.

The color of the limestones becoujes lijihter on <roin<>'
Westward. (Specially alter tiiriiiiiu a point at Dundas, which
formed a ri-lit anj>led prominent cape in the sea of the Niajfani
period. Even within a few miles, near Dundas, one can notice
tlie liuditer color of the purei' calcareous deposits, and at Linic-
house, to the north-west of the old cape, coiorinj; matter and
shale arc alujost wantiui;',

(^>mpositiott and Chemlail Andli/als of the Li'nicsfoves. — The
Niagara limestones, in Canada, consist almost entirely of the
double carbonates of lime and magnesia, with a varying per-

■••1

«!i'ntii'_'<' '•!' cliiy, IV"'" -;iip1 iii'l ilii.Mti'1 "t' '.li,. itknliiu' ••irtli:^.
Soiiii time-, liowi'vi'i'. tlicri' is itii ••xt'i'ss.il t'.nlHHi;itt.' nriiini' nvrr

wlial i- iii|iuiri| |mi- flic |irn<lllfti(i|l mI lli.' iliilllilr ,-;:rli(i||,itc.
UlllItT til'' lniiTO-C(i|M' tllis i'X^'''>S nf C'jlli-itc i< -cc'll '|i'(Ml|ivill^ tin-

siiiiill s|iici>. Iictwi'i'ii till' iiiKir 'I'.itoriiilv frvst.illiiir p irtii'lc- ol'
"li'loiiiitr. rill' <|ii;(ii'it_v 111' ir.Mi 'n .r«'iii",;illy -rnal!. "iil tprc-mr
ill till' -r.iti' m|' I j-oinxiil.', tli(iii'_:li in -niii.- m|" tin li. •]< it i'i-ciir> us
l)Vnii -. Ilituiiiiiiniis ciildiiiiu' miit'T is jirc.-t'iit in niinv "f the
stiiitu. iii'l in ;i iniiiil>''i- nf lii'N it M •(•;i>i(jii;illy ti!i-> 'in ill t-avifirs.
'I Ik I'l' .n'l' hill I'l'W licd^ (•:i>i III' Pniicjii- whii'li li;i\.' imi n .•nu-
^iik'r.'iliji' i|ii:iiitity nl'cirtliv iintt' i i»i!>iiii

Tlic -liiiii'.- in tills I'l": inn (lifV> r tVniii iini' ,»tnnr- miiv in 'li<' l;ir:^'. i-
(|ii;iiitit\ n\' cl.iy :iinl I'tlicr -iliciti'- piT»i ni in ]il-ii'.' "[' ijp. ,-..l,',;i.
ri'Miis iiiitti r. I'lM' tlii'y ail ciitit.iin a 'ariT'' ii'icrhtn'^r nj' (MrliDii.ifc.
Ill lat'l niaiiy nt'tjic lii"rl« arc ol' an int.'itiH <lial.' rhai ai-ti'i\ that

il is llifliclllt Id drcidc ulirtlhT '.n mH tliClll cailllV li lln'-ln|l. ■,- nV

ualeaifMn- , -hales. Of m'v. imI !h d- ■! I laiiiilt.iM. 1 made tin'

clltlliicai analyses. In'^clln l' With a lllic|M>c(i[)ir -Xa lllinal inn. .i
lew 111' l!i.' results ai'i' Ii'Tc jiv i"i.

Aiii'/i/s,s I Till' -aiii|iii' UM- mI;. n iVmn niair tin' ha^' nt'

ih>' Miai-- I Nn. 7 "T sectiuii; Il il .I.'ii',' f'nt." ||a!nih..ii.

1 lid. r ; he iiiii-i n.ci!|.c nnly a ma--- mi" tr iti-]iar. m |iai'tii'li'-. id"
dnimnii.'. separated hy dartv aineriih'ai- eartliv niatter. was
visil/li'.

Caleiinii e;n Ik iiiite. |i; a;

Mairiicsiiiin (arlniuite la; ".

I''erriiiis earlioiiiite 1.7

L'aleiiim silit ate

Ma;4iifsiinii sili<iit- , '''

AlniiMiia 11

Mliia () 7

M<iisci|!a' nej

;ili-,S

Ait't/i/sis //.--This aitaly-is i-ej.re-.!)f.< the eemjie-itiMn nl" the
fliii'k lied (if li-':it LiT V dolnmite I No. ^ nf .-i i;ti<iii j at the -Jellv
Cut."' liaiuillon. .'ii.j rock is hi-ldy rrystalliiie. and .-hows
crystalline plates ol' criuoids iind shells, hut sekloui <a)ntaiii.s
complctt! casts of fossils. Ondcr tlie niicrn<co]ie it -how- a mass
orcrystallhic sciiii-n-ai'-paftMit particles ..I' doloiniio. lull nl'.Miiall
cavities, which arc often lined or tilled witli pine calcite. coiise-
((uoutly tJic oavboiiafo of iiuio is in excess, 'riii:- hed contaiii.s

m^mmm^

24

uiaoj large cavititis ul" scvoral inches extent filled with ibreign
minerals, which will be noticed further on.

Calcium ca.-bonute 59-7

Ma>.^iiesium <;arhonate 38 2

Alumina and oxide of iron 1-5

Silica 0-4

99-8

Anah/sis III. — Tiie bed from which this sample was taken
is about five feet nbove No, 8 of section, and is one of the
liardet and more compact, layers (No. I) of section) of that por-
tion of the ^'colouical horizDii whicii I have identified as the
Niagara shales at ihc ••Jolly Cut." Hamilton. It is said to
produce hydr.iulie cement, but if 8o it would be of inferior
vjuality.

Calcium I'arbonate ;{3-8

Maf>nesium carbonate 2r)-2

Calcium .silicate 6-6

MagncKium Kilicate 21'

Alumina 5-1

Ferrous carbonate ] -8

Ferric oxide \ %

Ferrous disulphirie (Pyrites) 19

^i'ifa 200

98-7
Aiia/y.si's /r.— The s.impi.' for this analysis was obtained
fron) the ■• Chert bed " (No. 12 of sections). The portion taken
wns free I'rom eherty concntions. as these portions would be
nearly made up of pure silicu. Under the microscope there
was only the r ual crystulliiu. structure of the dolomitic particles
separated by dark earthy matter.

Calcium carbonate 4fi.g

Magnesium carbonate 38-9

Calcium silicate

Mngncfiium silicate | -'^

Ferrous oxide , 08

Alumina 24

^"^'''^'«i 93

100-8

A large number of other specimens were examined under the
microscope, but they were all of essenti'-Uy the same structure,

'P

25

»ud iijore or less ln>iiii)iroiiC()iis. except siinic of tlif more fl i<r,i:y
beds whore tliu er^stulliiiu talc nettus matti r w.is deposited in
»lterii;itiii;4 l;iyer;s with the more eaith} m tter.

As m;iriy itf the d;irk beds ;.re colored wiili bitiiniinous matter
some of the calcariMtus rock.- burn to a white linn'.

iiy w.iy orcomp.iriiij; the >iia;:ur.i roeks in C.'ii.da, witli llio.se
iu Oliio, 1 here quote seveial an dyscs of th»! lime-tones of thii»
Ibrmation in that State, as made by I'roi'es,-or Woimley.

Oakiuiii carlxinale 85.50

Magnehiiuii larlionate 11. IG

(uileii- & niagiu'.-i( silicates.

Aliuiiina and iron 'J .00

Silii eiiiis niattei' 'J. 20

II.

III.

IV.

V.

r,4.45

50. yo

55 . 50

54 . 20

42.2:}

M . T 7

4;;. 28

44.80

7 07

0.40

1.1.'

0 . :io

0.10

2.00

.70

0.(50

0.80

100.80 'JU.08 UJ.O.l 'J'J.OS 'J'J.'JO

Au't/i/sis of thv Slidlrs — As noticed belore. the Ni.i^ira «halci
are analoj;ou> to the lim. floors where the c .lear ou.s m tier is
partly replaced by ar^dlhiceous :iiiteriai.

Ani/i/ais V. — The sample hen e.ximined w,'S from one of the
most shaly i.iyers (No !) of tl.e S' ctioi. - ) of the sh..ly porti.>ti
of the formation a; the '-Jolly (ytit/" II itniltoii. Under the
luicroseope th" e.rlhy m t ' r m', in d lo be held together by the
cry^tilline p.irtich'S of dolmiri;'.

('ill iuni (■.".rhoii.ifo. 2:i 4

iMap,'nesium carlKin ite 2',i)

Ct'e iiin ::i i,;ate ........ %

M;-.fj;uosiuin t: lify.f.e | "'

Kerriiii , i x.d j u 'j

Kcrric oxidj i o

AiiiiUinii i ,, 0

S; iva I

■ J 1

rii- fnllowMiLT -11 A-: i ; ni' ; iL ■ N"a.:u-! s:, ;| ; of ;;iio was mado
by I'ro.'c: •. ; W'l n. \ :

C leiiun n -l:. : t;5 ;, ; co

.M '..i.::ai.'siiiiii (■■■ri.iuiiue ',',"'M

ill ii i iiui !-.i ' ii s

Aiuiniiia ana irun h !o

Sii.ca. ! ;' :i I

^V^^l.•l• Ccnailiin'uh , 5.: ft

Voi,. X.

k2

No. 3.

2()

Soiinu: of fhr Merlin iiirit I Dcjx/xltf,. — -From the character of
the rock> and tlioir distribution in the Niajjara [xniod, as seen
by jrhuicintr ;it a in.ip ol' thu Palivuzoic (jeoirraphy of America,
we see that, the meehanical se(iimeiits (shaly matter), of the
Tiortlieni and north eastern margin o\' the ohl inland sea came
prineipally from tlic Oariadian hi;ihhi?ids. Th'' Hudson River
}£roup formed the shore; line of most plaees. from the bi'^inninsj
of tlie Medina epoeh, both in New York and Canada as uel! as
alotiL': the •' Cineinnati Areh." The eastern portion (if the Pro-
vince of Oniariii was eovtred by the iimestoi;<>s of the Trtiitoji
(jroiip ; the eeiiti il portiiMi, hy the iireat accumulation of dark
Uficii .fJnilrs. and tiiese last by shales with intercalated limestones
and .sandstones of rhi; j'/iii/sf,ii i-jkh-Ii. ext(!ndin^' aloni; their western
margin, aiiil liirminii' the north-eastern shores of the sea, as de-
veloped at the be^innin::' of the Silurian Aj;i; (proper), in the
region iVom wh it i^ now tlie westi'rn end of Lake ()ntario to
Georgian Bay.

It may be noticed that the limit of the Utica shales is not
west ol' iIk' meridian of the Xiaiirara ItiviT. At the close of
the (.Jambro-Siliirian Alk; the deposits belon_uin_ir to that period
extended mueh farther southward than at present, [irobablv to a
latitude not far north of the southern .-bores nC [^uke Ontario
— at least, in its <'astern extension. It was in this ,^oft material
that the l.dve basin wa> subsequently excavated, the erosion bavint^
estiiiiiled but a few mili.'s into tin; Niau'.ira limestones, and their
underlyiiiLT .--h iles. and left the <'searpmen. in bold relief.

Now, on examinini:.' the scidiments south of tlie Canadian .sliores
of tho.-<e days, we find only thin beds of shale in the more; eastern
deposits, but thest^ .;radual!y ihieken in extendini; westward,
until, in the neii:hbourhood of lloehester, they amount L(^ 80
feet (the place being south of the shores c(mipo.'^ed of Utica shale >.
Again, the .shales be^in to thin out at Thorold, Ontario, where
they amount to fifty I'eet, whih; thirty miles westward, as at
Dundas, they are only a few feet thick, and almost intirely dis-
appear after turning the ancient Cape and passing west of the
line f'rom this town to Lake Huron, as the waters, there, were
protected from the muddy eastern currents. The northern <'nd
of the sea was not subjected to the influx of mud to any extent,
a.s in tliat direction the shores were adjacent to the old cry.^tal-
line Huronian and other mountains. How. ver. more shales
make their appearance in the western area, having been derived

27

from tilt' somewhat sli.ily Hudson i:roup nf the 'Cincinnati
Arch." or, perh.ips. from thv maririns of Mtdiiia shahvs tli.it may
have existed on the south-western islaml coast. Of cinir^c in the
eastern portion nf the dlil se i much shah) came from the disiri-
tegrati((ns of the other Appahichim liijrlilands. Duritii; the
Medina epoch, in this n-uion. live hundred leet of sliales wen;
carried down into the eastern or iiorth-(! astern portion of the sea,
whih' only twc^nty feet of sediments were deposited to tlie south-
westward.

Airain, tht; turbid watei's in tlu; Clinton e[)och interrupted
p'.;riudically tlie ^'rowth of impure org mic c dcareous beds, whih?
the Western portion of the (dd sea was nearly free fVrMii the influx
of mud.

('/Ktnirtrr 1)/ the Marine. I.i/i- mid Orl(j!n of the. Liiii.fstatifS. — ■
We liave observed that the y'reater portion oi' the upper bods of
the Niajrira epoch in New York, almost all in Ontario, and the
trroater jiortion in Ohio, together with a considerable portion of
the Clinton epoch in Canada, and all of tint liorizon in the
more south-western State, are Tnade up of dolomitic limestones
of a ^'n-ater or les>< decree of fiurity. Let us examine into the
condition of the sets and of the life that flourished at this time.

Durinu' the earlier days of the Mt'diterrane m se i in the Nia-
gara epoch, in the eastern and south-western areas, the waters
were of a turbid characier. tlnunh freer from earthy matter in
its northern extension. Jiiter, however, and durinjr the L'rt'ater
period of its existence, only a suuiU amount of slialy sediment
was occasionally carried down, thus produciiiLi' favorable condi-
tions for the LTiowth of marine life.

The limestones in Canada are of a hijihly crystalline texture,
and con- ipiently most of the traces of the oruanisms that Cf)n-
tributed to their original ibrmation are obliterated. Out of
numerous specimens of rocks examined uiultr the microscope,
none show any oruanic .structure, except some parts of tiiose beds
containing sjxfiujrs or sfroni'ifitjxtni, with heic and there a place
wheic a stray fossil has escaped obliteration, in the re jrystaliza-
tioti oi" the calcareous mud. In fict, as legards both shells and
corals, there is seldom anything left more than their casts pre-
servi;d in the stone. Even when, by chance, a portion of the
original bed has escaped obliteration, it has become highly crys-
talline. Here and there is an exception to this statement, as in
tlie jase of the phosphafic shells. Liiigii/a and Disciiui, in which

28

frquontly porfioris of flic oriirinil tost-* rein'iin. [ri tlif ri^irinn
uiiilcr ciiii>lli>iMti()ti iMiarly 'JHH sp'cics of fo;-sils l),ivt' been
obtiiiio'! ffiMii the 1km1< p|' flic Ni lu' ira irroiip. yet the collector
may >piMi(l <! iv> ni'I ohtaio a iiiorr IimkK'uI of s[K'ciiniMis to re-
ward him for liis (roiihlo.

If iiiiy li !! ifii; il here tliat tliop! is a bed near flie to[( of the
Bcries af Diinda^-, vevcnil f et tliick. tliat appears to be made up
of bri cei 1, tlie fra^iiu'iits bi'ini; derived from older portions of
the adjicetit locks.

Diirinir the Ioult period required for thf deposition of the linie-
Btone-^. the eh if ictcr of the oi'i; ini>-ins which inhabiteil the sea
was sulijcet fo >oiii(' im[ioi'tuit chari;:es. One of these eotispicu-
ous jieriods has Ic't its siamp in the " Chert beds." wliicli arc
classed a^ No. 12 ol" the sections. The averaL;(^ fhiekiitiss of
this series of thin beds of limestone, filled with muuerous
concrefinns of elicrty material, is eiLihtcMMi or nineteen i'ooi.
The lin;:'sfoiies are dolomit s. as is shown hy the iircvion.-- an-
alysis. \\y far th(^ greater propurticMi of concretions show uo
oriranic structure, but yet, such 1 irL'e numbers when broken, show
the internal sCv-tions of sponjrcs. which mostly belong to the
genera ni' Asf///i>sj)n)i(jiii and Aii/nrdjiina. that the orii^in of the
siliceous no,lules is .it onee appircnt. On some portion> o,' tlie
brow of the escirpment, both at llaniiltou and l)unila>. these
beds form the summit, and as the surface soil of ihe rocks
weather, just beneath wh it is oidy a f'W inches of .soil, the com-
plete fo.ms of the sponiies become exposed by the action of the
frost and of the jiloutih. The sponiiv life was very con.sider.ible,
that it could h.ive aff(uded a sufficient source for so much soluble
BJIica a.s to have produced iIm; enormous amount of chert found
in these beds. We know also that the variety of species wiw
considerable. Nor was the .spontre-life ;dl that ad(»rnid the sea
at that time. These beds are by tar the ricliest itj variety of
Bpecies, from the lowest radiates to tlu; hi-iher types of life that
arc found in th<! Niau;ar.i series. It is also worthy of notice tliat
it is in this small series that the trreiter portion of the rich
Grnpfa/;f,'/aini,r, to be described in a succeediti<r paper, is found.
Just beneath tiie.sc beds (No. 11 and 10; which are more
Bhaiy in character (of which the upper strati are known as
"blue buildin.-r beds"), wc find our greatest number of Triho-
UteH to,i,'ethcr with die hiirh-type Crust. c-an. Ptrrngntus ,vf«a-
deiisis (Daw.son), recently discovered by Col. Grant.

29

Ar.otlur (vmsiiicuous opocli in the liistiry of tlii.' ancient sea
is m irkc.l by tlio j>n\-,t hc<l vi' ildlomite (No. 8 of srction). Al
no titnt' w.is the s( a so IVcc f'louj the influx of luoch.iMieal seJi-
mcnts. This hcJ with .-i thickiios of ahduf Qvc foot forms an
endiiriiiir riiomiiii>iit lor the niyriads nf crinoids whose rcinair)S
mo.-t lir-cly !i«l to it- foi;i).iti i i, ;i]t!iou;;li subsequently it liai
absoihcil ni.i'jncsia. which in tlir rc-cnstiillizatioh of its niole-
cuh's h;is (ihlitcratcd all but the fiM;zUj(.'nts of thr (.ri:jin..l scij-
meiits of (h(!ir stems.

Another noticc-ible clian^jo in the rofk-ni.iking or-;inismH is
found in a bed of doloniilio r<'ck two .ind a h:df Ikt thick, almost
literally filled with the reni.iins of three or four species (A' Sfram-
(ifti/xiru. This stiatuni is nciir the surf.ice bod ;it Carpenter's
Limekilns. (H;ir)i:e VI. lot 1 ") r '' '' •♦on) .iliout three miles south
of the centre of the city of Hamilton.

Besides the remains of lile, as shown in these fcv more con-
Fpicnous beds, we find throujibout the whole \i.:i::;ira epdch that
Tiryoznni.s wiTc nnmeious; Crin<iid> were ;ibundint (in places,
as ;it Orim^hy, wlier<' some of the beds consist simply <d' njasscs
of these stems). Corals wc.vo. dominant in some localities, and
Moilusk^ of ovety cla.-s were l.iruvly ro|;resonted.

The Ni.i^ara limestones have been iariidv derived from broken
phell-, cor.ds and other calc.iroou.^- orirMii^ms, but 8ubse(|uenlly
the calcareous matter li;is combimul with, or a portion of it has
been replaced by, ma^riosi.i which had been pn'cipit.ited !imon"-st
the comminuted nrijanisms.

Henry C. Scuby, Ksr,.. F.R S., President of the (Jeolo-icul
Society of J.ondon. (Q.d.d.S., M;,y, 1879.) has shown that the
condition in winch c dcareous matter is pieseiit in the structure
of shells, m of allied fornix of life, Iims njueh to do with \hc. sub-
ecquent preservation of their rem lin.s in the rock, on tin ciy,-tal-
lization of their particles into solid limestones.

The principal ccndition in which lime is pic-ent in eaicaroous
or-ianisms is as the cirbouaie, eith. r in the !brni (d' c dcite or
nrajronite. However, there are some structuiHS like tie- Liiiguh:,
where the lime occurs, us the phosphate, the same 'is in bones.
The pliospb.ite of linx! is loss ajit to chan.1,'0 its molocul ir condi-
tion than the cnbonate, and, as ,. result, the shells of that
niMterial, or parti dly of it, arc -en(;rally better preserved in the
fossil condition th.,n those of the c irbonate. But these pho»-
phatic shells have not contributed to any extent in the formatiou
of the Niajjara liine&tODes.

mm

■ ii'r- m:';'aWW .■' -w i

[iHi]r"iifiiti»

30

The cry-stallinc form ol ar;i}.">nite may bo considered !it< ud
jibnuruial lonn of carboiiutA; of liine, .irid Mr. Sorby shows that
under viiriou.- circtiuistanct's. it is easily resolved into the more
>;tal)lo form ol' ealcitc. wliilst \\\c carbonate, in the crystalline
form of cileite. eaniiot U- ehanged by any known process iuto
tliat ol" arauoiiitc. Tlii.-e two minerals form the principal con-
.-litui.iit' of the tf.-'l.-' of .-hilL> — in some classes the ara<j;ooite
beinj^- prt'seni. in olln'i.- the ealcite, and aj^ain in others the
inner layer may he of .ir.i^unite and die outer ol' calcile, or vice

Ml. Sorby uives the followinji cla>sifieation of the mineral coui-
positioii of th(! different orders of siiells ;

(a) ('rualaceu. — 'J'iic laitKMiil iiiutter of erustaeoans eousists uf ealcite
hanleiied on the surface with piiosphate of lime.

(''/) Ci:/ihiilo}'<idii — Those shells are made up of aragonite togetbei*
witli a small amount ol' pho. ,)hate of lime.

((•) Giisivrofjjiia. — In most of those genera the sliell is wholly made
up (jf iiragonite, l)ut in si»me the outer layer eonsists of eaieite.

( /) J.umtih&r'iiic/iiala. — In many species of this group the tests are
composed wholly of aragonite, in some entirtsiy of eaieite, whilst other
shells have their iinier layer of one material and the outer of the
other.

(r) JJrac/iiopodd, are compo.sed wholly of eaieite.

(J) Eclunodfrmaiu. — Here the mineral matter is eaieite.

(y) J'olijzon arc ( ini])()seil of various mixtures of both minerals.

(/() Iljidroida and true nora/s are nuide up of aragonite — the former
class having a small (puintify of {t!iosi)hate of lime.

(i) roramin^/'era are prolnihiy composed of eaieite.

The removal of the organic matter holdinji the particles of
the sin 11 together distuib^ the httbility of the structure, and
not only c.iu.ses it to eruiiihle by the di.sintegration idong the
lines between the diif' rent minute crystals, but also hasten.s a
subsequetit re-arrangeiuent of the molecules into l.irij;cr and less
constrained crystals. E.•^peei;dIy is this the case with frajrnients
of aragonite which soon t.ike the form of Cidcite, as is shown bj
the experiment of Mr. Soiby, where powdered coral (:ira«ronite)
kept for ordy a few weeks in water began to ehan-ic into the con-
dition of ealcite. Monovei, t! is is not only an experimental
test under favorable eircumstances, but it is found tli;it the modi rn
limestones now forming about f-onie of the West Indian Islands,
have in places etdirely lost or are losing the natural forms of
the org.nnic fr;ignjents of which they uro composed. Again, the

31

difiintfifrrated frjifrmoDts, wfiich .-irf nssuniinL' tho nmre orvstil-
line condition have tlioir interspaces filled with cirbonntp of
lime (iissolved in tlie water, which was j)rnbibly derived from
the ori>:inal niatorijjl of the shells.

If the or-.'anic rornains be included in a matrix of the s;inic
color, not only the form but ;dso tho cert.-iinty of its former pres-
ence in :iny position is iipt to be lest. Especially is this tlie case
with tho corals nnd sIkjUs which arc composed of arajj;onite.
However, if the surfaces of the or;jani«in> were covered by thin
layers of some foreiizn matter, as pyrites or mud. tlie former may
still be firnserved, but the place occupied by the structure will
be found to have a mor" liii;hly crystalline structure than the
matrix itself, as the carbonate of lime of the sliells. not havintt a
great surface exposed by beinir broken into fragments, has more
time for LM-.idual re-arranirement of molecules, and, coiise(|uentlv.
lar-rer and more perfect crystalline forms ire produced. This is
found to be jtarticularly th(^ case with liamellibranchiate shells
(arai^onite) in the rocks of the Niapira iiroup at Flamilton.
whcr.- only the remains of casts, procured in the manner just
described are to be found, althouirh some beds indicate that thev
were orij,dnai!y made up of a mass of these shells. TIk; best pre-
serv.'d fragments of orjranic structure in our rocks are stems of
erinoids, but these are ij;enerilly re-erystal.ized. althouirh thev
were even at first in the forms of small crystals of calcite.

The corals sxenerally have become silicifi<d but the forms are
so far cli/ino-ed as to show that theorinjinal calcareous matter was
re-crystallized before its replacement witli silica was accom-
plished.

Some of the Grapt(»lites are well preserved ..winir to the iarire
amount of corneous matter that may have arre.-ted molecular
chantre. From obscure casts some of th.' beds of limestones
appear to have been derived from Orthocerafa. iirachiopods
are the commonest fo.ssiis retaining: any of their orii:inal appear-
ance. Polyzoa are fairly preserved, especti, illy in the "Chert
bed." where also a ft w Gasteropoda retain tjuir cilcareoui*
structure. In fact nearly all the fo.-sils an- better preserved in-
the "Chert bed" than elsewhere. This fact may ii some way
be accounted for owing to the presence of soluble silica derived
from the spon^r,.? haviu-r cemented tlie calear(^ous plates toaother
at the time when the animal matter of the structures was beiuir
jrradually removed, for many of the fossils seem-Mo be saturated
with s-riiceous material.

'«*;• 4 '

32

Tilt' obliteration of the ori.in.il cilcirtdus or<:;inisiii,s \t;is cotii-
plt'tcd b}' flif plii.'oicil cIliiiuiv^ ulilcli itMiltcd in the eoiiibinalion
of tbo ciilcaK'ous iiiMtfcr, witli tlie ui.i^rin.siaii caiboii.itc and the
•ubs-((|Utnt r('-C!ryf«t 'li'/ation in tb'- I'orni of tbo dnublo s.ilt.
Aocordini.' to tbo cxpci ini( nts ni' Mr. Soiby tbiji \v;tH efTt eti d bj
the ni.iLiriosi.i rcpliciii^^ .1 portion ol tbt- liin<'. I5ut Dr. Sterry
Hunt, ni.iny years a<,'o, annonnci'd tli.t. a>^ iiniiealed by bis
experiments, iill in.iirnesi ai i notoins :iro deiivid Iroui tbu pre-
cipit;iti(in of botli omboiuti s sininlt.iiieously in .m inbind .'•alt
•ea. At least as far us tin Nia,L;;ira (](»loijiii(s are ei'iieerned. tbe
calcareous orj;;iiiisiiis bavc played a iiio«t iiiifiort mr part in fur
nisbinjr e.iic.irt'oijs matt r, ,iltlinu;:li tbe m ii:nesi,iii s .It may b:iv«i
been exclusively derived fmni tbe evaporilion of tbe w iters in
tbe immense inland Niacin watt is. fnr ;it (Jrimb-ya bi'd of ibi»
dolomite .>.bi'ws its derivatiiii .ilmosL ixelnsivijy Iioih erinoids,
and «t ll'iiniltoti a similar bid in a more liijrblv eryst.illine statti,
«nd filled witb j»ores from I be sbrinkaie. birms a marked feiturc
of tbe peries.

Ill tbf moleeiilir clian<r(' a ooiid(ii>ni Ion in volume would neour,
then by leaving' tbe mek poio'is and p rmittiii'.r the ea'boii itc of
lime of the caleireoiis fiis-ils to be w.i^hcd out; as ilhistntnl in
Uio proat bed of dclomil' (No, S ol sections) .-inii some other
beds, where tb- cvities have not b; n subse)|Ueiilly tilled wilb
«rgilh.c roiiH mud.

As a further illii-f ration of the siib^cqiifut removd f.f tbe.
materi:! .>f the "-LelU by w '.t, v.e n ,{ o.ijy <rn n lirilc b.'vond
Ibe pKMiit re-iion ul ^lll(]y k, ihe (mi i;.h dobeniics. whrre re
iiumcrnus casts uf .^:, (•!;•- i,i \\,c pi,, us slone, wiili t,,,. u; ..'.■;
•bell ;iiid !..-> C'ii;i.:; r'. iiioved, ihu.s havini: iiuiiiciiMis e .vities in
the rock.

Dr. Hunt h >; e(>!;''iict >! ;i s, ;.. (,' ..\|„riiii iits »l.ieli i!ir<i\v
lifi'h! (Ml ;;,(. .r':..;: ni' lir.liim:,, s. Ill i;il,, hisliiN wji r- tiierc 1.-,
a t'oti-idr.aiilc ( \ ; (liitinii -o lu. tm. t.,,. w ,u.r> e iil iniii;^ liirar-
boi.atf I'l >. ., , e I >■ ihii .-■ p r ,,; n oj ; ,, li,,. iiuic
and ihe I'l: n; . !■ • of M-iui,: • b , ,:it.

•ubsi (pieiiiiy <'n rv |i(ir:,iiiiii.
Tile > ..ts 111 .i_ ■ il r-;;''t ' e'- li <

to Inrm .loiili.v.' e ibon -e-. I'r. ;;. lis (ilsiiiu-i ;i i.ui i.t ird.-p rs
and oiiicr nek-. , n aluiiul ih-;' nf eaiimi atcs 1 I' .mh) . linu; jind
nia-M. ^i ,. .-.re cunit.nity b- i- :^ bi.iti 1; (h,,vii b >r :,m~ ii m1
«iu])ti>d iiitc U.j .ea b.sii.s. T.ivse ( he'iiieal prcci, itat s ini.x w^

eat iioiiji t".

"i' m ;:)!;• J \V! ii-;,,
n till' h\ .il' iti'd liii ill.
lie lid 111 at Will coin I line

witli (:i!m' •■'^|)l;i('iim' iicforilinj- t'l Sorby) n iinrtimi o\' tin; Cvil-
oar{V)iis s.mhI dcrivrd Irnni tin' ni'j.';iiii{,' rciiiuin^ in this iclmoh,
linvi' [ifdli.-ihly ill .■! mi'.it (l(u'"i (' uivcn lisi' (>> (Jiif Nii'j.ii'i liiiio-
Ptniics, ;ill dl' wliicli iiic riioii' or m ss dl' tin' cl.nr .ctcr nl' true
(loldiiiitcs. liiit wlit'l'i' soiiio (;i)i)t;iiii luoL'li.iiiiciil </r/n't'i-! :i^ silice-
ous ;;im1 iii'Liilln'i nils uiiul.

From t hi > ex .1 mi nation of iho chirnitci' of tin' liiiu'.-lnni. s nl" tlio
Ni.'i,i:.'n;i '^I'diiji, it ii not siii'i-ri-inu 'hat t'uic i> such .1 paiieity of
fossils in this uic.it ih st'lopini'nl of rm-ks m» 1 niiiciv coinposcd of
tlioir rtMiiaiii-^. In vcrv 111:. nv stiita 1 have ioiitid no fossils what-
over, and even in tlms" where thiy are ni'>^t a.hiuelani , n'lc is
rewaidid only ai'ler a I'Mii: iiuiieiit s<'aieii, Vrt, with all these
dilfuMiliii's. the u(^oloLiisL may eolkn-t in the re-ion of oiir study a
larui..' liumhip oi' speeies. of whicii iliere are citaloiuis tinder
tliose ])arts of this )) 1]) r on the .M.'dini and Ciintnii epochs,
and a stiii lar-cr li.-f at the riil of tlii.i poition ol' the ])a|M:r on
tlio Ni.^ara epoch [iidjiei.

VI r. MINF.liAl.S OCCL'llltlNti IV THE NIA(iAl{A GlUtUl'.

Exccpliiiu.' the h'ds of slon ■ lit I'.iv Iniildiii',;- jturpuso- and I'or
bnriiinu' to lime, there are no mint r /is about the wcstein I'lid of
Lalu' Ontirio oi" ecmomie iinjioriaiicc. However, iniiiv vears
a,ii'o s(um! I'ntile, atteiiqits w.'re in id.' south of tin.' \iil .^e of jJciius-
ville In work a small •'tiad" of j,ilrna The only smd^toMs tit
Ibr buildiiiL;- j)urpos(!s is the •• (Jr ly band '' nl'the .^^(l;nl ibriiia-
tioti. liloeks ol' this stone ol' vny diiiieiisin!! tliat c .11 be Inndlcd
ar(! obtdnable. This -toiP' has b lai cxteiisivily wcikial at
Dundas, Hamilton, (iiimsby and liv' ims\ iile. A l; re. t draw-
back in (|iian\ iiiL;' tlii> iintirid is that it can oiny j;c ])rocured
aloiiji' the cdu'i' of tin; esc irpnimt. tind ri(|niii's a vast amount of
the slialy locks of the Clieton form tion to l.n' reiiiovrd. and
even then tin; supply is o|" a limited (jii mtity. The stone i- very
touub and hard on tools. I ,1111 infoini.d that this laick was
fortiuirly nnnuf ictured int./ L;rind-t<ui' s. The m j^ rit v oi" the
beds of lini("-tonc a:e too thin, or ini' ri(U', Ibr aiivtl.inL; more
tban the louuhcst buihliiiu' inateii.d. lln ,,>vcr, th, re is a suffi-
cient number ol' layers to supply an abundance of buililinu niate-
rial of wiiich tiie liandMimest iscditaiiied fioni tlicmcat (h)!oiiiite
(No. 8) and tlie subjacent beds. In f .ct all tiie bed> belonging
to the Niagara scries, tiiat will at all admit of use, are (jUariicd
at Hamiltun, and the broken material of tlic " Cheit baud" and
Vol. X. h No. 3.

S

wmiikM

otluT layers i> ii.^fil l<^r road niotul, .itMJ only tfi(! iiioro slialy
linii'stoiH'rt arif rcjocteii. The •• Uliiu-IJuihliim bods," altlumgh
somowliit lartliy. lorin fair hiiililiii.; material. At the old
quarry aloiiu' Hossimhx Creek, and elsewliero, in tliu hit'lier portion
nf tlie -cries, ■^'iMid, fairly tliick blocks of dnlomiUi can bo obtained

Tlioii','h the li'nestoiie.s are Lroni-rally ratlior dark, tliey burn to
whit,(! lime, as ibe coluriii'j; is licrived I'roiu organic matter. The
principal limekilns arc su(i[)lied IVom the liii;best beds of the
Niairara seri(!S in tb'' re;^ion of Hamilton and Dniidas, while at
liimehouse, on the (ir and Trunk llailway, the lower beds are
]i<_'ht eoloied. rather pure, and i'orm excellent lime — Toronto and
many other j)l:ice> beini^ supplied witti imnnMise (juantities of the
product of this'' kilns. Some of the beds ;ilso burn to liydraulic
cement.

However, there are intere>lini;' minerals in this region, other
than those which em be turned to use in the arts. The first of
the.xe minerals that wi'will notice is ijjMii)iitt\ This mineral occurs
on both .-idcs of (ih.'ii .Spencer. It is found as an efflorescence
on the ('(litres of the Nia<rara shales which are [trotectcd by over-
hantiini: thick bt'ds of dolomite. This salt has ari.sen i'rom the
diHintej.;ration of tiie adjicent dolomitic beds and the action of
deconiposiiii,' pyrites. In various other protected places this
efflorescence is seen, but it docs not consist of pure ejtsumite
beinic mixed with carbon ile of limi', carbonate of iron, sand aud

In th- five i'lot bed of dolomite (No. S) fine c.ibinet specimens
oi' sclcui I' and ery.-tallini! Ijuritc. cm be obtained. Also massive
gi/psitiu, handsome crystals of v.nbdt.r (variety (»f doLC-tooth spar),
cctt.stifc, and quartz in small crystals, as well as iron pi/ rites are
ibund. .Many of the cavities when broken opiai are found to be
filled with alkaline waters. In one of the Clinton beds, east of
ihe "Jolly Cut" road, I have Jbu:id line red and lireen crystals
oi hiirite. Ilowiver, the handsomest specimens were obtained in
Carpenter's Quarry, on lot 7, Kaiige Vll, of Barton, not now
we ked. Fine spiicimens of crystallized dolomite (pearl spar)
citlcite (in larj:;(! .scalene dodecaheilroiis, and in other modifica-
tions of rhomboh;'dronsj, t>u)idi\ j>i/rit<'s, gulcito, purple, smoky
and yellow y/Hor'7<! in fine cubes, and .seviiral i'ovius lA' bituminous
matter, both liquid and solid (a variety of which was elastic)
were found in con.iiderable quantities filling the cavities of
the rock, aud often lining what were once crystallites. It was

1

The

:{5

in bi'fls ol" yitiiilir horizon it Hi'ainsvillo tint the i,';ih'ti!i wuh
foiin(l Jiti'l woikril iii.iriy ywnrs u'jo. The hftriziri iif the beds is
{'roiii l.'!(l to 1 IT) I'l't't ;4»«-^v \\\o lui'^c oC thi* Ni.it:;ir;i in the ni'iij;li-
bourliood riC Uniiiltnii,

[ii inuiHTou- phiciis iiiiiii'iMl witt'i'-: .ii-i" t'ouiiii. Thcfi! .ire of
two cl.i.sscs — :ilkuliiie .•itid sulpliurt'lt<'d waters. 01' the I'oriiitT
chiss theii' !ti( iiuiutTous -[ii inu> :doiiir tlie sido nl tli(>0!*c.irpm(!nt.
Hitiiii.ir wateis have iilso h. ■en obtained in various wells tiiat have
been hortid to a eonsidei'^hje depth. One of the>e wells was
boied ni'aily, or perhaps, r|nite throuirh the .Mciiina shales at
tbi' Ontario Oil llelinery. oast nl' II miilton. The water of thiM
place, I analysfii in IsTl .

Sodium ell Inridi! . l!-28

MagMfsiuni i iilcridc OGO

Calcium (Jiiloride I 07

I'utussiiirn clilniide a traee

(Jalciiim .siilpliaie 0'2()

KnsidiK! -10

WiitfT 94-!)n

99-75

Another al' those ininei'al waters wa.> obtained at a depth of
1009 feet in (.^nnbro-Silurian beds iVoni the Artesian well at the
Royal Hotel. Flaniilton. The I'ollowinir analysis was made iu
1870:

Sodium cliioride ttS711

Magnesium cldoride 1-2723

Polassiuia ohloridi' traces

Calcium chloride .'')-2723

Calcium Sulphate -1 167

Silica, iron, cii^honie acid, ■>

iodine and bromine /

Water 80-9676

100-0000

Unfortunately the record of this well was burned, although a
little of the saline water still remains in my possession.

Of the second class — 'aiphuretted waters — we (ind a few
pprinirs, the principal beini;' at Mount Albion, and at Sulphur
8prin<r.s, Ancaster. One of the old springs near Mount Albion
la now dried up. Fronj others in this p! ice the supply of gas
has continued to be evolved for many years, and three jets of this
gari, es.sentially sulphuretted hydrogen, are used to light Albion

:;t;

^li'l-; i!it |.ni|)riii"i- h iviii;;- Iiuilt .1 res -rviiir ol" livtlruulic rcrinirit
ov r iIm' .-^iH : in'. \l '• Sul|'liiif *^|'riii'.:>," Ancioli r. ilic aiiidntit
ol'';ii-< i^ 111! s(» l.ir-c, :iii'l III'' Mip|.!v is MMrci'ly iiinid tli.iiM'iiuti:;;!*
to Mit'UMti- till! w.itiT, 111)111 wliifli till! .-ul|iliur is {)r< fi|iit:.ti;il uii
cxpiisur.' t(» till! .ir. Ill Iidlli III' tln'M- l"f iliiics tlio ;; .m ;iris«!rt
from ili'cuiii|(ii>lii.; pyi ill's in ili>' .«urr"iiii«rni,ii' rimks.

VIII. -r \T M.'i'in; il' M\ii\I!\ l"nsS||,S I'ltU.M CANAIHAN

i,(H' \i.n U.S.

Ill till' rulji'witi/ iMlil'iLiU'' I liiivi' I'liilra (MiV'''! |m '^ivc i full
li>l i.r :i'l tlic rc-,-.ils llrit liiivi' lii'ci) ili-iMi, I iTil ill tin' r('::i(in
uinl r I' iii-i(lii'iti"!i. As 110 i'\lrii-i\(' Cm 'vli n c it iln^uc h is li "cri
|iul)lislii'il, I li;iv<' li' III .iiiiiiu'rii'il III il(|icii(l l.itLiilv I'll iii.V own
c>l! iciioii, iiriiiv spii'i' s lit' wli. I'll I ivt' I'T'ii [iroiiilril to iii" l»y
Ci'l. <lr;.iit. A liw of till' iiicliidrtl >iui.'lrs ,iri' iii't in my i-n Irc-
tioii, Inviiiii Yi''|is lirCoii' I» 'I'li sent •iWiiy iVoiii till' I'l'^iuii hv tlio
colli i'liir>, 'i| wliniii Col. (ii;iiit i-^ ih.' lun-t imlrl'iiliuiililr. The
hc-l ('"'hiiinii (i[' Siiiiiifji s ami Strminiii'jiiir'i is tin* oi' Mr. A.
J'). W 'kir. or til' t'liruii'i" izroiip m vnal ^[ii'cii's invc rriiiaiiicd
illiili'.-ci ill' il, .'^niiir oj" I'll' sprcii ^, incluiliiu ni''^t of tlic diitp-
tolltr j'.niiihi. \wo tlin I'^l't; ^I'lTiMKN.s, (Ir-crii'tioiis ol' whi(;li
ari' ..iiiMil III li ' ] iilili -Im'iI Ihnl {'il. (ir.;iit ri t:iiiiril ;.ll liis
own colh rtiiiii. lie umild liavc In ni . lilc, iin ilnilit. to Ikim' cuii-
.siilcrahly swillnl my 'i~i.

Tlu' 1)1 >l lociliti.'^ al llauiilton lor (•oil' oiit;i;- t'n<-ils ••iri' .it tlio
''.Jolly t'nt," :'iiil in tin' :iiija''i'nt np-iiiiiL:'^ in llic (|U>ini!"> aloiij;
flic sidi s i>l ill.' •• ^li'Uiitiin," hntli vwA anl W'-.-t ni tlii.'^ iilicc.
Al.^o, in I: r iiorurs a' tin' ln'a'l> oi' .lanii.-. and (^^lU'i'ii strii ts; at,
till' '■ i5!iiir." II'' .r tin; city ic.-tirviiir ; aloo'j tlii' I l.iiiiiU'in and
NnrtliAVi sioiii Kaihvay lu tho -iniiuiit of tli.' MHs; in tin' ra-
viius 111' r Mount Alliio, : on lots i .nul ."). llani:!' \' II . of
Hartop. ainim- (!;o IIo-cmx ('reck; Mid mi lot 1 ."», jt'iiji' VI,
of the s lino tnwii^lji]). At i)ntiilas, tlir v.ariou- Lilon^ fnriii tlio
lust liciiiti.s, as ,•(11 i'^ Sydi'idiani ti'ad. At (iiimb-y tlio
rich' :-t f.iuii I is fiiiind up {\\r " Havini'." wlnio tin' l'o~.'~iN aro in a
bi'ttci' stato (d' pic'snvatiou than at wws o'hcr pi lo' in our Pro-
vince. Other localiti'S aro .-it Thorold, liimchou-i' (on tli" C T.
Kaiiway). and Uockwood.

3llf

37

CA . ALO(JlIi; OF NIAdAKA I'OSSII^S.

i!KNh:itA AM) ki'I-,(;ii:h. ^i;Tii('!:nv AMI ri:i ri;K\''K.

SlriipKifnprr't rnnrfnlrini (inliU'iiss, IS'jd, Oniii. I'l'tref.

Cdiiiiii/'nni ifinfri. Sp'TKcr. 1 HS !. Ni;i;,'ai'ii l''()s«ils,

" Tiiii'diiUi •• '•

Coni'iylomii <-nn^l<lliil}ini Hull, IS.".'.', I'al. N, Y.

" li()tii;i,il'iil Sliclicci, jKH'J, Nilljiliril KoKrtils.

Vir'jiitvldWd )■■ ! it'll fiit'i " "

Aafi/l'iyjoii'/iit I'lttrmunil (inl(iril>s, ISSO, I'rlicf. (rcrtn.

" .••;<.

Aufdcii/iii'ii i/i.hi/t Uiiliii.'^s. IMTTi, ('I'li. Nat.

IIYI>iU)Z(M.

'll'AITOiai'.-V.A.

j*/i>,'h>'ir'>/'luf- (/) JnlinK Spciirc',-, ISK'J, MiaLrarii Fussiis.

DciiJrii'/i'iipl'is riimnsuH •• •'

" nl.lllih'T. •• "

" dirif.-'oiii •• '•

" frcnlofiun ... •• '•

" iriii'iiriiciliK '• ■'

" /■■/iinofun •• '•

Cullofirii/iiyi iti hiiiri'iiais •• >•

'' ;iniit':i

'• (I ii'ii-Jrii^iiiifi'ii^-) vni!lir.auli.s. ■• "

'' ii'/it'i!iis •• ••

Ihchjourma n!i/'in.'i.'' Hail, iS'.'i", I'ai. N V

" (jrocdh ■•

" iccl'.<rri D.iw-^.ri, I S'.'H. Acml (iiol.

" Ir.iidLit.n SjiclH 'T, i '■'".S. (Jail. N'al.

Cuti//>tiyji(juia-i ciddulorr.iix ■•

" ^u'lir/rhniii.''

'' liU'Tiiiii-iJi/t'osli:.'-; •■ i .'-.SL', Ni;.;.;:ir;i l''i;ssils.

'• (..') ni.!„i''i^- •• •■ •• ••

R/i!Z",Tii/,iit.-< Int'.lms-tK •• l.-'TS. ('all ?\at

Aciinlh'ii;rii}'tnx .iriiati •• •• ■■

■' vnlr.hcr '• 1 sv'j,

hwcmilis jihniitilo^a . !lall. l.'-::"i'.:, I'a!. X. 'i',

'•• hd!,t.... 11 a'l .•; \V'!il'i-!<!, I.--?!. I'.il. Ohio.

•• icnl.ini Sfx'ti ,»:;•, I SSJ, Ni.i.u'.ira, l''n-;sils.

" f>roiiL:'ii.aUcii •• ! 878, (!an. Nat.

J;Jl'n-'a ■• i. S ■<■_'. N:;i;.',ai-a l''t:-:sil.i.

•' rtiiiuilnsa ■ ■ ■• '■

'• curvicornis

" fl/l//OVt.ljS

Thant'iD/nipia-i Ijrtonaiifi^ ■■ •• •• '•

' {.') tnu It 'formic •' '•

Plilti;p\riii iifi foUacjus ■• 1.S7S, C\n. Nat.

Cydo'jrajjLuti roiaJeritatux •■ 'S.-i'^. NiaL-uru i-'tissils.

fiJ*". !■■«>«/>,>>,

:5H

ACTINOZOA.

TAl!i:i,ATA.

Favoaifex nia>/ar,-nyis Hali, i,S52, Pai. N.Y., Vol II.

" /"WM'/.v Goldfuss, 182G, Germ. Pctruf.

Amrnccriinn (/']n;j'<;./es) con.urir/um. .Hull, 1852, Pal. y.Y., Vol, II.

Syringolihs /,,>n„„n.n.s ... Ilindo, 1879, Gi-ol. Ma^r.

Cladoimnt nmllipn.ii H;,ll. i8.f-,2. Pal. N.Y., Vol. II.

Sirinlojmrd Jl.-xi(ii^:i. '• a a a

IIa/i/.i//('s (uttriKilnliiK Liiininiis, 1 7(>7, Syst. Nat.

Syri)vjoi„>r„ r.rlir.iJIaia (?) Goldfu.s.s. 182G, Germ. Pelrof.

KL'CO.SA.

Ciiallm,,!,,,!!,,,,, raUmhua Jlornin.trtT, 1 870, Fos. Corals in Geol

Mich., Vol. III.

Oru,,h„mn .ioh:, M ihu'-Edwards, 187(;, I'os. Corals

ill Gcol. Midi., Vol. III.

.Prtrniii Slrrpirla^nvi cUiicoln Hall, 1852, l*al. N.Y., Vol. II.

ECiriNODEIlMATA.

ASri:H0lliKA.

Peuninr hcllulu. Hilli„,tr,s, I8(;5, Pal Fo.ss., Vol 1.

CUINOIDKA A.M) i; V.STOIDKA.

Lyriocrinn^ dv-iyh,, n.,i|^ j^.-.j^ ^'aX. N. Y., Vol. II.

TkymnocriiiM!^ I ilii formic a \Hr>'l " a

Ear.aly,,lnrnnm drrorns Phillips, 1820, Mmvh. .Sil. Sy.st

St,,,hanor.rinm anynlalus Conrad, 1842, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sc

Caryocrium ornalw Say, 182,-), « <.

I'OI.VZOA.

Crrnmopom foliacea ^.^^ is.G^, Pal. N. Y , Vol II

CUithropora (^ yraciU. Spencer, 1882, Niai,^ara Fossils

FemMMa rh'yan. u.^, 1852, Pal. N. Y,, Vol II

Polypora{l.,nn,i.:m :') ,,/6/a«.«,.,V;.. .Spencer, 1880, Niagara Fossils

Licnrnalm mnr'ntrln Hall, 1852, Pai, N.Y., Vol. II.

Trematopord osi.-imiid .. ;, _,

I5UA0HIOPODA.

SIMIilMOIlA.

•^^''■■f '" 'T''^'" Hisin^er, 182G,Ac.. Acad. Nat. So

' ""V'"-'"s" Conrad, 1812, Jo.ir

'■ '■"*"'" HisinL^er, 1857, Petref Suecica

; '";:''"" ^owerhy, 1825, Min. Concl,

Atnn>n / / '''"■"''"'"■■•' '^^^^^^ ' ^07, 2oth Kc^enfs lieport.
At>ypa u'Icr.lan. Linnan.s, 1 7.i7, Syst. Nat

Atl,yn.iM.rhtin,,)mliJo ijall, 1852. Pal. NY., Vol. II.

iiriv.\co\ioi,r,iiMK.
Rynco.Ma nryl.ria „,^„^ ,,,.^ j,^^, ^_^. ^^^^ ^^

ohlusiplirata u «

" Ik

^''■' '• " I! (.

" "'!m<i u „ ,. ^^

„ . ., ,. , '^ ' Vanu.vem, ]84.>, Geol. ,S DiU NY

-(inunams Iiillinj,'.s, 1859, Can. Nut.

II.

39

STIMU'IIOMKNIIME.

Slroplnmni,, pr'ifun.la Flail, 185'J, I'ul. N.Y , Vol. II.

'• rliDinhoiddlis Wiiliciiiltci-f^, 1.S21, \rX. S<)(\ Sci.

IJpSillil.

Slrophodonta ■•o'mijasciat.a llall, IHOli, 'j'l.vns, All). Inst.

Slrefitor/ii/)irun tenuis •• 1 858,

Leji/ciKi /r'iiisr('r:.i/./i.s Diilin.'in, 1827, Koiii;!. Vvt. Aiad.

Ihuiiil.
OtOiih rlrr/iin/iila Diilniiin, '• '• ••

'• jhihrllelum Elilll, I84;i.

" />orrii//i Mc(^<)y, 18UJ. Sil. l''oss. of Ireland.

Cli.WlAliyK.

('ruiiia (inift Sjioiiccr, 1882, Niagiini Ko.ssils.

rlSOl.NIIiAK.

DUcina U'liiiilumfllala Hall, 1802, Tal. NY., Vol. II

cLiirn Spt'iu'cr, 1882, Ni.'luara KoshIIk.

I.ISi;i'I,l!>KA.

LinguUi idilatiiin Conrad, 18:!',), .\nii. licp. N.Y.

Inmrllata Hall, 1852, I'al. N.Y., Vol. II.

" in'/f:n^ Spencer, 1880, Niagara Fo.ssHh.

LAMKLI.II'.RANCHIATA.

Avicula I'liiiicr.nita Conrad, 1842, Jour. Acad. Nat. So.

Plcrima hrivi Hall, 18(17, 2(l11i Uegeiit s Hep. NY.

Posodimomi/a rho,:ihoid,^n '• 1852, I'al. NY., Vol. II.

Modiulofisit: mt/iulu/a •' "

«' sp '• '• " ••

(.ASTKKOl'OUA.

Plali/o.it(t/nii ii/.(i</(irrnsi.s Hall, 1852, Pal. N.Y., Vol. II.

Lmioxniia Irdu " 18G7, 2()tli Regents Rep., N.Y.

Plfurotamirrui r/iin'i/hrmi.i ...Speneer, 1882. N'iagara KohsIIh.

i''ri':i!oi'()i)A.

Conuliina ninf/nrrrtsis. Hall, 1852, I'al. NY . Vol. 11.

iii<i:/nij/rii Speneer. I87ii, Can. Nat.

•■ rui/ofii . •• 1882, Niagara KossIIh.

CKPll.ALCl'ODA.

Orthoccnif rir;/iit/un • • ■ -Sowerby, 18:1;), Min'cli. Sil. SyHt.

" ~innul(thun " 1 8 1 8, M in. (Jonel.

■■<imi(tal()r . llall, i87i;, 28tli lieg. Rep. NY.

rrilii'-scenx 'J) " I8ti7, 20(1)

/'iiiirtirjinc. Speneer, 1882, Niagara FoKriils.

(i/rtoiUT'i-- rctwrn.iim " •• "

Liluite!' 'ii(t./(ir(iisis. ...... '■ '• '•

.\NNi;hIDA

CorniUi!/'.'' ifrxiio.'ius Miill, 1852, I'al. N Y., Vol. I J.

mm

40

CRTjS'rAf:KA.

Ti:il.(i;:ITA.

niomus barrim.,. ^''"-'^l'- 1 ^'•'^^ "i'" ^y^*'

Ennnmru. orr,.>n, H >11, 18,V2. (vid Cybflc pnnrtata).

SphacrcTirhu. rominq.ri " 1 «« ' , '^"f' ^'^•-'- ''^''P' ^'•"^•

Calumau. h!au.'nh.<-Un llroiiKiui.rt. 1822, Hist. Nal. Cmst.

••^ Foss.

IlnmnJnaotuA di'l/i/iiiioc /i/ni.'u" Groi'n, I.S:',2.

Dabiiaiiifr.s li.mu.'unis

Lichm ho/lorn: Iii^''^'"y, 1«'-^''' •T'^'"- A''"'l- N.'.t. Sc,

.4«ri«./«. /^.///i Spcnrcr, 1 8S0, N li.gani FohsUs.

KUUVl'TKlill!,!:.

riRTijgo'us CanaJcndi^ Dawson, 1879, <Jati. Nat.

AI'I'KNDIX.

Beside!- tho provinus citalo-uc; nl" Cossils fdund in the dilTorcnt
formations t-f l ) Nia-iia (Jruup in C.ma>la, .Mii.ssr.s. Nicljolsci
and Hinde; iiavd (iblaiiR;il tlic lo.lnwiug species:

CLINTON.

ttcolif/na; >:,'rii.fali.s at Duiidas.

Arc/iocouU-i sji!ir.''i/s . "

J'hiiiijlil'JS VHi;J''rii.'' "

SlruiifUojiorit Inn Hi at Ow(;n S;;iind.

Zai'hn'Hiis M'>U,i (.') " "

Ch;ii,:h:><jUr.i'erl at Diiiidus.

Phaiiiijiijrd <: !^i/onni;i "

PtiUi ii-Aijii (•/(/■'•■•^J ■ "

'• (.') idiij/'Jia "

" i'i(i)i:!'i! t "

Ti(']itorij''i I pLiiiiininvxa "

Oii/iis C!i!'i;inninaa "

Lc/ilacna neitc'ia "

Timlncuii/f'.s 7i(i;)l('.clus '•

Gli//>loniiiin'i jilunionuf: "

NIAGARA.

Slromalo/.or.r liinhu. at Owen Scniud.

IlrHoliti'.H iiitiimlincta " "

Fovoaitra venunln " "

" (;.') midlipom " "

« diihia " "

CofJiiles {/.iiiKiiiii) lumiiiala . , , . '• "

" liiiinla " "

Alveolites jhclicn " "

" niiijarensis at Ricliraond.

St.

c,

nt

[■a

1

41

Astrxophyllum grarile at Owen Sound.

Cnunnpora annul aln " "

Syringopora reli/ormis " "

Zaphrentis Rocmeri •' "

Cystiphi/llum vesiculosum at Thorold.

Petraia pygmira , "

Diphiphyllum ctespitosum "

Clathoporafondosa "

" intermedia "

Relepora axperato-Mriata "

Trematopora oMeolaia at Niagara River.

FenesleV '■ tenuiceps " "

Athyris intermedia " "

Slrophomena mbplana at Thorold.

Orthis biforata "

Id the cataloi^uo abovc-iianicd we find at species of Clinton
and 49 of Niagara fossils, (•o'.leclcd by Me.«sr.s. Nicholson and
Hlnde, of which the above 39 specii's have not been obtained by
me, or in so poorly preserved condition as to be rejected from nay
cabinet. In the catalo.,'ue the nrmes of fossils are not usually
phiced in two formations, but only in that where they more

generally occur.

In the catalogue of the fossils of the Medina. Clinton and
Niagara, given here, there will be found 121 species of Niagara
and 53 of Clinton and Medinti, of which only a few species are
repeated in the lists. The principal omissions in uiy cabinet are
in the poorly preserved specimens of the Clinton, at Dundas, and
in the species found at Thorold and Owen Sound. Neither of
the lists includes 13 species of annelid jaws, recently described
by G. J. Hinde, Esq.

APPENDIX .\.

Catalogue of Fossils of the Hudson Rlvn- Format Ion, found in

the Old Beaches at the wcstn-n end of Lake Ontario.

The study of the occurrence of these fossils belongs, strictly
speaking, to the Drift, which will be described in a subse-
quent paper. From the Pulajontolo-ic d point of view, they
are more interesting in connection with this portion of the study
of the Geology of the Region about the Western End of Lake
Ontario than in that of the Surface Geology.

The following is a list of the fo.ssils which I luive obtained in
considerable quantities from t!ie ibssiliferous pebbles of both the
ancient and modern beaches in the region of Hamilton :
V07..X. ^i ^''•^-

42

Stenopont fibrom, Goldfnss.
Columiuiria flur.nlata, r.illiiiRH.
Alln/ris /audi, Billin^'w.
Stropliomrna nltirndtn, ('oiirad.
Sirophor.icni) .'Jloi.Jr,!., dnmid.
/,,'l,l;r.na K,:ric:ii, Sowcrby.
Or!hi.-i Ir.Hhidiniiriii. Dili man.
(JiiliiH nccideiit'ili.^, Hall.
()rllii< l>/!iJ-> Eitliwald.
Oholclla crasaa, lliiH.
Moilinlopxin modwlanx., Conrad.

Modh.inpsi. (s.>v.Tal undormined spec.e«).

C'liio.lonlji hiirri'.lt'r, Uilliugs.

Orlhonoln —

Ctanodont'i.

Jjjrolcsma jiosl^lriala, Emmons.

A»ibo)ii;chin radialii, Hall.

Anicnla dfmisya, Conrad.

Murchisonin ijracUh^ Hall.

Cyrtoliles or»<ihi.% Conrad.

OrlhocA'ra.'i lamMo.viin, Hall

Ormoccras crehisefilum, Hall.

Leperditiu canadeims, .Joncf.

APPENDIX li.

Since ^vriti,.o• tl.o V.^u-t on tho Pala3ozoic fioolojry of the
Remon ubout the Wostern End ..f J.akc Ontnvio, I have observed
th-il Dr IlmU. in hi.. Hcport on the Canadian Petroleum Regions
of Canada (18(i;]-«;<;), givos tl.o !o,^ of a well sunk on theeleventh
lot of the soventh ran-o of Barton, which is ms follows:

Limestones with a little shale 250 foot

White sandstone ^

Red shales with bluish hands 595 "

Bluisli and grayish shale J^

87:5 ''•

The loc.ition of tliis well is about two iu.d a half milecs south-
ward of tho brow of the ' Mountain " at Hamilton. The upper
250 feet include both the Niagara and Clinton formations,
which measurement is almost precisely the same as the thick-
tie«s of these strata a^cert:dned by measurement at Dundas.
Consequently, we may consider the summit beds in bcth places
as nearly identical, whilst the beds at Carpenter's Limekilns,
not much more than a mile distant from the Barton well, are

43

it its mouth, but

to b'' 5'.).') <'(Ma.

ccolocically and ^'cographically higher than

geographically lowor thaa the inlerior beds at Duridas, ou account

of the dip of the strata. ^

The live feet of sandstone constitute th.' prevailing "bray

Band" of the iMedina formation.

The thickncw of the Medina shales .ippiars
I have placed the thickness of the Medina shales at 5:35 feet ;
this being derived from the record of the well at Duadas, where
they are "underlaid by "limestones and grits," whilst in tlu> Bar-
ton well the red shdes are underlaid by "bluish and grayish
shale- " which probably belong to the Hudson River group

It must be remarked that the Dundas well is not far beyond
the turn in the bend of the Niagara escarpment, which I have
desiirt.atcd by the name of ancietU, Ca,.e Dunda«. Tn the pre-
vious Report attention has been frequently called to the fact that
all the shaly deposits decrease, and those which are calcareous
increase the moment that we pass around the provisionally called
Cape Dundas. In proceeding northward the Medina shales thm
out atjd are last seen at Cabot's Head, and, according to Dr.
Bell, are entirely absent from the series in the Manitoulin Island.
The' elbre this difference of about tJO feet is one of thickness and
not of error. It was also noticed that in proceeding south-west-
ward towards Ohio, that the Medina shales almost entirely dis-
appear. .

Had I known of the existence of the well in Barton at the
time that I took the levels over the adjacent localities, it would
havo given an additional point for correcting the estimato of the
dip The altitude of the place, about a quarter of a mih< north-
oMst of the well, is 435 feet above Lake Ontario, while at a
quar.er of a mile to the eastward, it is 424 foot, on a surface of
rocks. Calculating from these data, the dip would be between ..
and 27 feet in a mile, but as the well is between these two points,
we can retain our old estimate of 2.^.4 feet in a mil-. h:-v,ng a
dircctimi of 20 degrees west of south.

are

'W

o

^O^ OTTAWA. ^-^^

y

,-4 . m i .

^'■^

\'JHAL

■ it'

simvACE GEOLOGY oi-rnKUK;;u)NAm^^^^

WESTERN END OE LAKE ON TAKIO.

I5v 1 W SfK.N.K.ii. r..A,S.., M.A.. I'll I).. l-.<i>.
Vioe-l'rosidont of the University -r Kin^'. CHo^e. Win i... Nov. S.-.i..

X.. No. :•-.)

].__iNTi«ti>r(THtN.

lay nny be made out ol' ,1,- .•x,,,.,u,vs .,r .1- old n.-k-lun,..

Zi\ha&„-/J (;.W„J, i t .,.„l.v <.!■ local u,U.,es., lor 1,™,, a

„; e atlft -any .bi's^ eoneen,in. ,be veU. ,ubj.,e> o d.euu

!:; V ;-»bout .be ori,i .be U™e,.G,v,,, Lake, .be un.. .

™d t tra„.poiU,liol, power ol' ,a„ o, Hoe ,ee. be.ule,- ,b

t^^^. cau.es wb,cb eo„,bi 1 .o .or,,, ,b,. r.r, |„e, ,„v.|„.

rcion of Caiiaua. . . ,,,.(■.,,,,.

I„ Par. I, o„ tbe Pubeozoie .JcoU.,y, .. l-r.,"" "1 .',■>>
f„, „.e, „er described wi.b .e.ereuce .o tbe exposures I 1 aU-

„rc'.or„„mo„s. Tbe prese,,, desc-ip-ioos of topo.rapby 1 :

rclcrrace only .o .be Surface Geology.

o,..ler to .„o,-e .uUy explab, .b- ca„s,s wb,eb eo„.p„e o
.,H„- about tbe present feature,, ,. is necessary .o waud .-o,u.

Tbedei.i,.i..,sof.bc.op^r,^.a,eap,rn™.t,^^
the origin oftlie Lower Great l.akL> n.ae ^ .

■T»Oiso,v..yonl.i'.e..a.a,0..,....n...;;-u
tl-ton.UM.ntano; vvithN......>t J- ;...-; ^^^^^

Windsor, N.S. U.ad i-ofor.. th.^ -V'"" „ ■ '„. S.,. i,.tv. Tl,--

s.uue papor was re-puUished ,u ^ ^l-'^- ;\ j;;,; ..^o,,.,,,.. A
logical Survey, with Notes Ly 1 ..'t- 'Z " ,^,.; •„„.,,•,,,, .pu.u iu>
Aion of the pap^ on t . On^
Paperouthesubjeit, road l..'l.... AAA- _ ^.^^^

Vo... X.

»l

46

but will hero be ii^printcil witi
tion marks.

I -niiii' ,'i

ItL'nitioiis without (juota-

II. — TOINKJHAI'IIY ol TIIK UKOION AHOl'T THE WESTERN

KN'I» OK LAKE ONTAIIM.''"

Tlu Xi'iyiirii h'uriir/niini/. — This raD^'f ol' iiills cominonces its
foui'jsc in Ccutnil Now York, ain] cxtcmls wostwanl, at n<i i,'reut
'listaiico .south ot Luku Ontario. It t;ntors Canada at Quocn.stot
Fici^'ht>, and tluMicr its trend i^ to the wcstorn ind of tlu; lake,
where, iie.ii' Hamilton, it turns noilliwurd .and extt.'nds to (Jabot's
he.id and .Manitoulin island. Kverywhere in Cai. -da. south of
li.ike Ontario, it has an .ibrupl lall lookiriL; towards the north-
ward; hut .It Thorold in.l other jtlaces to the t.'astward its brow
is nion; broken than at (Jrinisby, and westward. At Hamilton the
brow of tlie escarpment varies from I5SS to iV.Ml feet above Ijako
Ontario. About five miles ea.»t ul ll.imilton the escarpment
makes an abrupt bond enclosinii a triani:ular valley, down which
llosseaux creek and other stre.ims flow. This valley i.s about two
miles wide ;it its njouth, and lias ;i leiiLith of .ibout the same
distance.

About five miles we.^tward of Hamilton the Niagara oscar^
ment beconjes covered with the drift deposits ol' a broken country,
or rather ends abruptly in the drift of the reuion. Above the
ranjj;o, tlie country i^radu.illy rise,"' to the divide between Lake
(}ntaiio and the Grand river, or Lake Erie, without any coii-
sipicuous features. South ea.^tward of ILimilton, at a point .about
five miles from the brow of the i-scarpment, wh^Tt the Hamilton
aud North-Western Hallway reaches the summit, the altitude
above Lake Ontario is 4!)3 feet. At Carpenter's (juarry, two
miles southward of tlie "mountain" brow, .at the head of Jameai
."Street, the altitude reaches 485 feet; and near Aucaster the sum-
mit is 510 feet above J^ake Ont.irio. From eastward of Grimsby
(for twenty miles) to near Ancaster, the escarpment presents an
abrupt face from 150 to 250 feet below the summit (having a
moderate amount of talus at the base), thence it extends by a
more or less steep series of .slopes to the plane, which irradually

1
4

* The top().i,aai)hy is partly represented on map aeeompanying
Pala'ozoie Geology. IJurlington Heiglits is tlie spur of land between
the Marsh and Burlington Bay.

.J

S.i^l:i'>i-n,>lA

47

inclino.s (somotitnos by ii succi-ssion of torrac-H. to tl„- Ink..

luarL'in.

U» the northorn side of the town of Dundas. thr abrupt lac-
of the oi^carpm.'nt looks souihward. and cxteiids four or live luilc.*
westward, until tlie exposure beo.>uus covered by the drifi
deposits near Copetown station, similar to the u^rmination at
Ancast<r on the south side of the Uumlas valley, but not by an
abrupt endin- as at the latter locality. About two mile, east ol
the G VV. Railway station, at Dundas, the trend ot the ruu-.
bends more to the northward, and from this point there is h
marked difference in the conti-uration of the country below the
8un.nnt The ranuo, after ext^ndin- beyond Waterdown. turn,
still more to the northward and passes near Milton and J.ime-
house station (on the G. T. Railway), and the.iee extend>_ to
Georgian bay. The height of Cop'towr, above the lak.. is oU-
feet On the west side of Glen Speneer it is 4(»!l feet, and east-
ward of the same iior-o. the highest point is 520 feet (Nia-arH
limestone comin-z to within four feet ol" the surface ). At Water-
down the altitude is over 5(H> feet (?) and at Limehouse the
brow of the ran.e (though only the lower beds of the N.auar,*
limestones occur) is SIO feet. Farther to the northwanl the
country rises until it reaches an altitude of 1402 feet above l.ake
Ontario or 1700 feet above the ,.ea. near Dundalk station, on
the W G. k B. Railway. The features ol' the surface ot the
country abov<. the hi^d.lands north of Dundas are mueh more
varied than south of Dundas valley. As the trend of the esoarp-
nient turns northward around the end ol' the lake, the face ot th.
slope looks towards the eastward.

Bnsm nf Lahe Ontario -^-X^ is well known. Lake Ontario
consists of a broad shallow (considerin-. it< si/e) basin, excavated

• The vaiiuus Canadian railways an.l < ai.als. wh-.s. dovatiens a,.
,eferml to s.a levH. take Lake St. PH-r a. .1.. datum. Tins ropre-
L-nts ,n.l. tld.. in the St. Lawn.n-.. Uiv... Th. e.evat.nn a....o. o
I,.k. Ontario is 235 i^^et (by the Uran.l Trunk ' -'-;>);":^ ^ ; '
aeeordiug to difforrnt Cana.lian authnr.t.es. (ah<.v,- Lak. St. Ut. >
The U. ^ Lake Survey plae.s Lake ...dario a, .-U;.! ..et and Lak.-
Erie at 57;;-C(. feet above n.ean tide. Th. W.ik.nd «:anal idae.s Lako
0 L' at .20.7. feet beh.w Lake Kri. (whi..Ms no. .^^^^^^^

aeknowled,ed to be 57. feet above n.ean oeean eve , ^ - * -
all future references to elevation ab<,ve nnan t.de. I hav taken Lak^
Ontario at '247 feet.

48

.'.'?

oil tlu! south, rii DKir-iti out of tlu' Mediua shales, and havintr its
f-outliiTu shores tVoiii one to suvoral miles from the foot of the
Niagara . scari)inei)t. Tlu: Medina shales form the western uiar-
jiin (wlKrc not covered with drift) to a point near Oakville.
From tliis town to a point some distance eastward of Toronto,
the hard rocks are made up of the different beds of Hudson River
epoch ; wliiUi the sol't Utica shales occupy the middle portion,
and tin- Trctitot. limestone tlu' portion of the Province towards
the east(>ri. end ol" the lake.

The couiitrv at the western end of the lake consists of slopes
'^ently risin<r to the foot of the Nia<_'ara escarpment, noticed before.
.Sometimes this elevation is by terraces, and again by inclines so
gentle, as between Lake Ontario and the foot of the escarpment
at Limehouse (on the G. T. Railway) where the difference of
altitude abovo the water is more than 700 fe(>t, witliout any
very eonspicyous features.

At the western end of tlie lake, the two shores converge at an
acute angle. At about five miles from the apex of this angle is
the low Burlington beach, thrown across the waters in a slightly
curved line, which fmnis the western end of the open lake.
Burlington bay, thus formed, is eoniieeted with the open lake by
a canal of the same name. This beach is mide up of sand and
pebbles (mostly of Hudson River age), and is more than four
miles long, but uowlien! is it hal. a mile wide.

No mean depth of Lake Ontario can be fiirly stated. For
geological purposes it has no mean depth, because it is simply
a long chani\el with the adj.icent low lands covered by back-
water.

Wes: of the meridian of the Niagara river the lake is evidently
filled with more silt than eastward, as we find that the bottom
slopes more irradually towards the centre, where the mean depth
(iu' easing from the westward) of the channel may be fiirly
placed at fOO feet below the present surfice of the waters. In
this section of the lake, the average slope from both shores may be
stated at 'M^ feet in a mile. At a short distance east of the 78th
meridian, the character of the lake bottom changes in a most
conspicuous manner. Here we find a deeper channel which ex-
tends for more than ninety miles, having an average depth of
about 90 fathoms or 5K» feet, with, in some places, a trough
about tiOO feet deep, generally near the southern margin of the

Ui

1

r

90-fathom channel. Here :md tlicro is a deeper isoundin^— the
deepci^t bein- 12:! ti.tlionis cr 738 feet. The long chaDncl, sur-
rounded by the 90- fathom contour line, is situated at a mean
distance of not less than twenty miles from the Canadian shcre,
whilst its southern side approaches in some places to within six
miles of the American shore, witli which it is parallel. This 90-
fathom channel varies from three to twelve miles in width. Its
broadest u.id deepest portion is s(.uth of the Canadian peninsula
of Prince Edward's County.

The mean slope of the lake bottom, fron. the Canadian shore
to this deep channel just pointed out, may be placed at less than
twenty-five feet in a mile, with variations from twenty to thirty
feet in that distance. The mean slope from the New York shore
line to the 90-fathom channel may be placed at sixty feet in a
mile, but varying irenerally from fifty vo ninety feet. On examin-
ation we find that the -reater portion of this slope belon-s to
a belt which descends much more rapidly than the off-shore

depression.

That the southern side of Lake Ontario has a submerged
series of escarpments or one moderately steep and of great dimen-
sions, is manifest when we come to study the soundin-s. In fact,
if the bed of Lake Ontario were lifted out of the water, this sub-
merged escarpment would be more conspicuous than the greater
portion nf the present one. known by the name of the Niagara.
In many plaoes the descent from the table-land above the Niagara
escarpment is no more precipitous than the slopes ol the sub-
merged Cambro-Silurian (Hudson River, in part, if not through-
out "the entire length) rocks, with its sloping summit, in part
crnwned by a -ently sloping surface of Medina shales. Nearly
north of the month of the Genesee river, we find that withui
a sin-le mile the soundin-s vary from f.n-ty-three to suv.Mity-
ei-ht^fathoms (between contour lines). This gives a sudden
do^cent in one mile of 210 frot. As the sou.uUn-s are not taken
continuously t-. show to the contrary, n,ost of the change ot
levels may be within a few hundred yards.

In the re-ion of these soundin-s the deepest water outside ot
the 7is-fathmn line is 84 fathoms, whilst from the shore to the
48-fathotn sounding the least distance is four and a half miles,
thus givinu the greatest mean slope of the lake bottom at sixty
feet in a mile, before the escarpment is reached.

¥i^

r.

•^-

•» (

50

An excellent series of soundiuos can be studied in a line nearlj
northward from Putneyville, N. Y.:

Distanti- from Putney

Vilh'.

0.5 mill's.
1.0 "
1.75 "
4.125 "

Depth ol Soundiuii-.

4'J tffl.

72
12G
240 '•

Slope from previous
Soi nding.

tJO feet per mile.

5.0 '• ■» Face of the f :'>T2
6.0 " je.^c'pment. \ 582

I

7.0
10.0
12.0

021
642

7:18

Ftn.l.

(
50

14-1
210

42

0

41S

a
II

Section orLakeOntario from Poinl IvWrUcfht. OnUmo, toPntneyviUe,iai

From this table it will be soon that in a distance otloss than
two miles the slope of the oscarpn.ent is the difference between
5R2 and 24(1 feet, or :i3(i feet as actually recorded. At Hamilton,
the Niagara escarpment is only :iSS feet above the lake, which is
two miles distant, whilst the present slope at Thorold is spread
over nearly twice that distance. That this esearpment is not
local is easily seen. For a distance of over forty miles, from
near Oswe-o westward, it plunu■e^ down :U)(I feet or more in a
breadth varyinii' from less than two to three miles. Eastward
and westward of this portion of the lake this snbmerged escarp-
ment can be traced for nearly one hundred miles, but with the
portion deeper than the 70-fathom contour liavin- more gradual
soundings, as the base of the hills either originally had a more
gruduarslope, or the lake in its western extension has subse-
quently been tilled with more silt.

Although we have not soundings made very clo.se together,
yet tlie admirable work of the United States Lake Survey is more
than sufficient to prove the existence of a continuous escarpment
which has an important bearing on the I'reglucial geography of the

51

1

region, and on the explanation of the ori;.nn of the Great Lakes

themselves.

The soundings do not show a conspicuous escarpment after
passing westward of the meridian of Niagara river, partly on
account of the sedimfnts filling this portion of the lake, and
partly because the lake in all probability never had its channel
excavated to so great a depth as farther eastward.

Attention must bo called to the fact that the depth of the
Niagara river is VI fathoms near its mouth, but that the lake
around t' - outlet of the river has a depth not exceeding four
fathoms witli a rocky bottom.

Another escarpment at the level of ]^ake Ontario, now buried,
was discovered by the engineers of the enlargement of the Wel-
land canal, according to Prof. Claypole (Can. Nat. Vol. ix. No.
4). When constructing No. 1 lock, at Port Dalhousie, it was
found that at its northern end, there was an absence of hard
rock which formed the foundation of its southern end. Rods
more than 40 feet long were pushed into the slimy earth without
meeting any hard rock bottom. This discovery will be noticed

in the sequel/'^

Basin of Lake Er!e.—Tho exceedingly shallow basin of Lake
Erie has its bottom as near a level plane as any terrestrial tract
can be. Its mean depth, or even maxima and minima depths
from its western end for more than 150 miles, scarcely varies
from 12 or 13 fathoms for the grrater portion of its width. The
eastern 20 miles has also a bed no deeper than the western por-
tion. Between these two portions of th(> lake the hydrography
shows an area with twice this deptli (the deepest sounding being
35 fathoms). This deepest portion skirts Long Point (t'n- ex-
tremity, a modern peninsula of lacustrine origin), and has a
somewhat transverse course. An area of less than 40 miles long
has a depth of more than 20 latlioms. The deeper cha.mel
seems to turn around Long Point, and take a course towards
Haldimand county, in our Canadian Province, somewhere w.^t
of Maitland. The outlet of the lake, in tlie direction of the
Niai-ara river, has a rocky bottom (Corniferous limestone.)

The Diindas V<ill<'!/ ""<^ aJJaccnf Canons.— \\c may con-
sider that the Dundas'valley begins at the "bluff" east of the
Hamilton reservoir, and extends westward, including the loca-

• See lleport (4'Cliicf EiiKineur of Canadian Caniils, 1880.

»'

tion of the city of Hamilton and the Burlington Uy, at least its
western portion. With this dotinitiou. the width at the "Bur-
lington heights" (an old lake terrace 108 feet above present level
of the water) would be less than tivo miles. At a mile and half
westward of the heights, the v.illey suddenly becomes narrowed
(equally on both sides of its axis of direction, by the Niagara
escarpment making two equal concave bends, on each side of the
valley, whence the straight upper portion extends, the whole
resembling the outline of a thistle and its stem), from which
place it extends six miles westward to Copetown. on the northern
side; and three and a hall t<. Ancaster. on its southern side.
The breadth between the limestone walls of this valley varies
.•somewhat from two to two and a hall miles. Thr summit angles
of the limestone walls on both sides are decidedly sharp.

Dundas town is situated in this valley, its centre having a
height of about 7(1 feet above Lake Ontario, but its sides rise in
terraces or abrupt hills — many rounded and resembling roches
montnuuees. On ascending the valley we find Jiat between the
escarpment.s are great ranges of pai'allel liills .-ei)Mr;ited by deep
irorges or glens, excavated in the drift by intL^rglaeial and modern
streams. This rugged character contiiuu'S until the summit ol'
the Post Pliocene ridges li;i\c a ii^'ight e(|ual to that of the
escarpment. As the gorges asceiul toward^ the westward, they
become smaller, until at some distance southwest of Copetown
and Ancaster, the divide of the present system of drainage is
reached. Some of these streams ha\(t cut thrmigh tlie drift, so
that they have only an altitude above the lake (which is seven
miles distant) of 240 feet, while the tojis of the ridges imme-
diately in the neighborhood are not much k'ss than 400 feet
high, though they themselves have been removed to a depth of
about another hundred feet, for tlu' drift has tilU'd the upper
portion of the valley to the height of 500 feet above Lake On-
tario. Even to the very sources of the streams, the country
resembles the rivers of our great Nttrtli Western Territories (or
those of the Western States), cutting their way tlirough a deep
drift at high altitudes, which is not \uiderlaid by harder rocks,
showing deep valleys rapidly increasing in sizi' and depth, as
they are cleaning out the soft material, and hurrying down to
lower levels — a strong contrast to the features in most other por-
tions of our Province.

On the .southern side of the Diuidas valley, a lew unimportant

}

)■

streams, mostly dry in sumruiT. Inivc won. l>.ifk thf liiiiist'in"!
escarpment, ovor which tlicy flow, to distance s vary in j; (Voni •.
low yards to a few hundred, makin<_' izlcris it whosr head in
sprinsi' time f-oiiie picturesque cascades ciui be sen. At Moun'
Albion, six mili's east of IJainiltoii. there, arc two ni" tlusc lar^rer
!Xorj!;os, whose waters, after passin;: over picturesiiue {'all«;. 70 fert
high, and throu.^li jzlens several liundred yard- in !''ii.:tb. empty
into tlio triangular valley noticed belnre. On tiic nortlierii side of
the Duhdas valley, besides small <;oi_t.'s with their str(Mm< com
parable to those on the south, side, there are several >>{' mucl
larger dimensions; for example that at Waferdown. six miles
northof [I.imilton. .Still larjrer is(Jlrii Sjn'ocer which has a <v/ttn>i
half a mile loll,u^ :><)() feet, deep and between 20(1 and iJdU yard^
wide at its mouth. At the hi ad of this is Spencer t ills, i;!:*
feet high, and joining it laterally iher'' is another r"Hnii. with a.
considerable stream flowing from W hsier's fail-, whieh. h'.w
ever, is of less height than the other, 'fhe waters I'cdiii- the>-e.
streams comi' IVom northward of tin e-carpmeiit, and belmi- to a
system of drainage different frnm tho-^" stream.- which H<<\v dowi;
through the drift of the Dundas valley, and arc ol' much -reater
length. At the foot of Spcticer fall-, ih. wat.-r- <trike th. upper
portion of the Clinton shaly b( «1-, Tie Falls are tw . f-et deeper
than twenty years ago. Vet the stram \^ <uvi]\. and makes ;i.
pond below In the soft .^hale-. IIiM i( is difler(!ncc in height doe^
not represent the rate of wearing <e recession oi' the precipice, bur
only the rom(»val of a little ({el.ris at the has.-. That the stream
is much smaller than formerly is jdaiidy to h'' ^em. I'-r :it present,
it has cut a narrow channel, fnim ten to lifteen yard> in width,
above the i'alls, and from four to hx feel deep on one .^ide of the
more ancient valley, which is about f)0 yards wid" and :;ii feet
deep, excavated in the Niagara dolotaite>^,

Th(! surface of the escarpment on both sidct< of Glens Spentc^r
and Webster presents a peculiar aspect. That on the north
eastern side has a maximum height id* 'i20 fe( t above the lake
On the same side, a section, made longitudinally, shmss ^^cveral
broad .shallow glens nearly a hundred feet deep crossing it and
entering Gh .» Spencer. The surface of the rocks is glaciated,
but uot parallel with the direction of the channels. On the.
south-western side of the same camm, we find that a portion of
the thin beds of Upper Niagara limestone have been removed.
This absence is not general for it soon regains its average height,
of about 500 feet. <> '-'

54

< *

l)nn<l"s .)//Ar.s/i. — The fastc-ru i-nd ol" the Duridus valley con-
tains a lari^ro swamp, nearly ihvw inil(>s lon.i,', with a breadth oi"
about, throi -fourths of a niilo, known in the early scttlcnu-nt of the
country by tlu; iianic of (!ooto's Paradise.

This ii.irsl) was rornicrly connected by a small rivulet with
Burlin-t.' a bay, but this was yubsoquciitly closed by the G. W.
llaihvay. wh-n tlio cult in- of lA-sjardin's canal throu.iih BurlinL,'-
ton lui-li s was comiileteil. Into this mar.-h all the drainajre of
the DnvA IS vall'v is deposited, catisin"- it to lill up at the rate of
one-trntli >!' a loot jxt ainutin.

I],irl!ihtnv /f.'l(j/i/s.--\v,v()^^ the eastern end of the Dundas
vwanip and -^onie of its braiielu's, are the liurlinii'ton hei.uhts,
varyinii- IVun. a f-w hundrrd yanis to nearly a ((uarter of a mile
in widtli, ant ov; r 100 f'et in ln'i-ht, which have been an old
beach, it a tiur- wIkd tli" lake level was at tlie same elevaticm,
lor wo liiid iliat a lake heich •. xtonds aloni;' t!ie fl niks of the
est-arpinei't. I^>t,li eastward and lanthward lor a C(niMderable dist-
ance at th" -^aint! level. This is luentioned here as lorminpj a
most eiin-piciiiiti-. teirure, mid as ehanijing the physical character
of the we>t,ern extremity ol' P>urlini;Lon biy, and the outlet of
the Dundas valh^y. Vaiion^ terraces and beaches avr. i'ound,
both at lower li-vls, and also IV eminent s at hii;lier altitudes .donii
the .-.ide of tl.e •■ mountain,'" unlil -oinc^ attain a heii2,ht of 500
feet above Jiake Ontario.

Th,' drund Rir>r r./ZAy/.- -Tin; (irand river of Ontario rises
in the (;ounty of <Irey, not more I ban twenty-live miles fnmi
Georiiian bay, Thence it Hows ,-outliward, ami at Elora the
river assumes a (amspicuous leature. Here it cuts through the
Guelph dolomites to a depth of about S.O feet and forms a cunDu
aliout 100 fei't in width wiili vertical walls. At this |)1 ice it is
joined by a rivulet from the west, which has Ibruied a tributary
ainoii similar to th.at of the Cjraml river itself.

Th<.' country in this rei;ion is so flat tiiat it appears as a level
plain. Farther southward the river winds over a broader bed,
and at Gait the present river valley occujdes a portion of a broad
depression in a country indicatinij; a ibrnier and much more exten-
sive valley. In fict, the old river valley existed 'in Pre<2;lacial
times, for the present stream has re-excavated only a part of its
old bed at Gait, Icavini; on the flanks of one of its banks (both
of which are) composed of Guelph doloudtes, a deposit of Po.st
Tertiary drift, in the form of a bed of lirj>;o rounded boulders

r

).

lit'

mostly of Laurcntian gncisso. 'riiiMiduntiy for I'uur iiiilt:> .•-uutli
of Gait is of similar ciiaractcr, IWrininL!, a broad valley, in wliicli
the present river flows. At this distance I'roni Gait the river
takes a turn to the south-westward ; but at the s^aine place, the
old valley appears to pass in a niNirly direct line with the eourse
of the present bed (before tiie inudrrn turn is made to the west
ward). As this portion of th(! v.ilii y now entered has not to
any extent been cleaned out hy modern i^trcjams. it liirms a bruad
shallow depression in tin country extending I'ln :i ll;w miles in
width. Yet, it is oi'teii occupiid with hills coni|tost!d oi' stratitied
coarse trravel belon^iii'i to that belt, which extends IVom Owei)
Sound to the county ol' lirant. and ciilli'd by the Canadian Geo
loj^ical Survey '' Artemesia izr.ivel."

It is tlirouii'h a portion ol' tiiis v;illi-_\ that tlie Fairchild's creek
flows. Many streams derive their supplies (.1' water from tlu;
Beverly swamps, and iei.'d the liindsay creek, which empties
over Webster I'alls and flows <h<\\n Glen Spencei tliroii^h the
Dundas valley to l^ake Ontarie.

The G. \V. Kaihvay at lour miles south oCGalt enters the (jlraiid
river valley and continues in it or its branches as I'ar as llarrisburj:,
thoujih the deeper depressicn '- near St. (Jeorue (a short distanet!
west of riarrisburu). After leavini; what. 1 consider its more
ancient bed, south of Gait (imlos the country between the pres
ont bed and Fairchild's creek was an island), the Grand river
flows southward to l*aris and IJiantfnid. liavini: a deep broad
valley. At Paris, Nith's creek ••nttirs the Giand river from tin:
west, and has a valley almost coni|iarable in size with that ot' the
latter at this town. At Paris, the Gruml river cuts through
the plaster bearing Onondaira ibrmation. Similar rocks appear
at various places along the river, where the stream has cleanecj
out a portion of one side or other of its ancient valley.

Between the elevated plateau (ol' nearly 1 00 feet close te
Lake Ontario) south of Brantford and that rolling Cduntry of
equal height near Harrisburg, the alluvial-covered plain of from
400 to 4G0 feet above lakt: Ontario, more than ten miles wide,
may be considered as a portion (»f an ancient etdargement of the
great river basin.

At the Great Western Ivailway crossing east ol' l^aris, the bed
of the river has an altitude oi' 495 i'ect above Lake Ontario,
whilst at Brantford it is 898 feet above the same datum. FroiD
Brantford the river winds through a broad valley, with a general

.")()

, «

iMsu.'il> (lir<T,tit.ii to iSciK'CM, \\\uAv. tlio imiiiodi ito bod is about ;i
<|u:ii!(inr I mile wide, flowin- near ihc southiTM siilo of a valley,
iiion; than t\Vi> iniK's w'uh:.

Al Si'iireii lli»; bed ol" tlic jinMut river course is IJOS IVet above
Lakr Ontario, or only ".7 feet above Lake Eric;. Eastward of
Snirci. ijir iivor continues to have its broad valley as tar as C i-
yn-a. uli. r. the hard lied ..1" the river is below the surface of

liakc Kx'w.

Kvdiii Srn-'<;a In Ciyui:!) the iHroetioM of the river is nearly
•suuth, l)ut .11 tin: latt( r j.laec it abruptly turns nearly to the cast-
A-ard, Mid in a >hort dislanc it pass's to a flatter eountiy and
flow,- ••v.i Corniferous linn'slniK . After a slu.-ii;i>^h flow, it enters
l/>k.' Kiif (pas-iri^ thMii-h a inarsliy eountry) at Port M ait
I ind. ninrc than iificcn miles in a direct line from Cayuu'a.

Tin' (Jiaiid rivi'r val!-y (75 ilvi d ■(<p) is more than two miles
ill v\idtli and h-iundcd by literal Ivations of Idd fe(>t above
Lakf (li.tiri's or 11:5 !'.'<•( ;ihov,- Lake Erie; and farther by
bound 'ri(s; on both .sides, of MO feet above tin- latter lak<'.

At Duiiville, a few i.j^les iVoiu thi; mouth ..f tlu; river, piles
Acre drivt'ii to a r'Misidi i\;bl •. firptii "'.sithoat rcaehimr hard rock.
The luar-ins ol' th,' valley are .-mall, eoniposed of eitluT the more
<.r le.s- >h-.ly ( )ni)iida;_r a liick,-, or ('.ii-iiferotis Hmesfine. In tlie
mcanderin-> i>f tlie riv( i- iVnm mir si !e oi' the v.dley to the other,
it 'tccasioiKilly crosses .-{(urs ol earthy OnondaLia limestones, but
the ehai-.aeter is not such as to pn elude the possibility of an adja-
lUMit buiied rivev ehannel. .\t tiiosr, .11 the. wafers that could
o.ni" down ife (Ji-.nd river. .■v< ti vtith .m iner.'e.;ed piteh of the
contiliy. tid a hir,;-er preeijpit iiioii <>1' uioi-ture would scarcely be
able I'l more than exeav.t' its present bed. The eoiuitry on .itlier
oiu' -ide ol the river i>r dth'-r i-- remark ably i)i'okeu witiiiu the
limit.- i.f the valley, but beyniid it is ((jually n-m irkable ibr its
level surfaee. This broad iK'culi.ir v.illey bears .i strong; contrast
to that of the upi)er p.irtion nfit« course (is, at Elora) where the
i'lfinit could have easily becai .xeav.at.'d b) iIm! present strcnn if
t-uflicient time were iiiven.

ruturnin-' to the valley ol" Faireliild's creek, we find the stre.im
princip.dly flowint; in the iormer be'd oi' \h<:. Grand river, aban-
doned a few miles below Calt since the Tee A^e. This cv.' .'k
crosses the (Jreat Western Uuihvay at a level of fifteen feet below
the crossing' of the Grand river, at a few miles to the westward.
Au;:uii. the Faircbild's creek crosse.« th.; IJruUtfoid and llarri.s-

iH

bur^' Kailwiiy at ;ui iiUitudr, olil^tT IVtl .ibovc Lake Ontirio, <.r
a liUl.- b'>lt)W tli;it of the r.nunl river at Br iiitford, ;ilthon,i,'h it
cmi-tics int.) it ;i iV.w miliv-^ ...t, nf die city just i.iim.id. Fair
child's .;rr.>k is now of ni-Mlcratc siz<; nioimd.Min- tl.rou-h tli.-
drii't I'or r. \vl(Uli o1" two luilcs. Tliis dril't is strilifi.'d clay.

Cmmtni l»-l,r.,iH tlir (><••',!, I /ilvr oml Diinilns Villn/s.-
Tlic wat.Mshcd hotWf.Mi t'nosr, two i.rusnit draini-o systems is at
only a short di.-tanc: s..uth-w.;.>l of Copctown, and the distance
in a dincti.n. IVuui tl^e K.iichild's to the Dun. las side of tlii«
divide is le^- ilian >c\'/!! mih-s, \sith .m awra-c altitude ol" h!s>,
than 1><I Teet. The hi-ln >: point that I iiavo levelled is 41)2
\hil above Laki! Ontario. On rec-din- -veslward iVoni th..
divide, the country -r . lu.iily d. scends to the F.iirchild's creek.
The re-ion between the divide and ihe Grand riv.;r Is traversed
from novth-wesl to ••oMtlMaM by a considerable number oC
streams. ,dl with r !:;tively lar/e v.ileys. cut in the drd't, sincr
the pivMia system -f drnn;.-e w;,. inaugurated ia ii.ter-lacial

or modern times.

The .'.Muutry tVoi;i .Ier>'yville (about W') W'.'- ..hove lake,
slopes ,::radu;iily to the Gro.d riv.r. from six te ei-ht mile.'^
distant to liie <outhw.ird

On e.^aminalion. it may be m e!> that the eountry is too hi-ii
to permit the r.;i:ehil]V -n , k or Or:nl river, as tley ir.; at
present situ te 1. lo tlow nver the hr]^h\ oi' land ie.to t ,e up].er
portion of the Duudas v.il.y. A- ndV. re<i to befor <, ihr, Nia- >ra
limestone lerminu lie- .M.mmil ..I'ti.e escarpmeni at Anci.ster and
eastward h.s a !,ei;^ht of .bout o<M) le.t. These buds dip at
onlv about 2.") re.:t in a mile, (t- ■ l-ut "JO decrees west of south)
and aie not '^-av r.lly eover.'d by :. ::re:,t M.iekness of urKt, but
H,:my plie^'sarcexpiis'd r ir ar (he surl'.e- We-Lwird

m n

oj Anast.r the,-<e lime-tone^ '.re nowhere to be t'.un.l, but th.,'
countrv i^ or.ly eONend witli dri!'., \t ' short di-^unee we<t of
this village, we lind .tnvm^ Ho^viu;i; north-e .-terly and .NstM'ly
with ver^ deep v.di 'ys in the drilt, indieatin- th • ab<eu -o of »!.<•
floor ofbm^.a.e to . depth ofnver I'^ti f-et belnw Che -ar[\ee o!'
the ..K-irpment. On .oin- we^lwiil we Ib.dth .t the stre un<
have tiot cut to an equal d-pth, but -n: still runn.n ■• deeply

through dri!t. ->,.,.

On reKdun- the divide weM of Anc.ster vdla-e, wo i.nd th.t
th. vdl-ys c.xc.vated out of the drift beh.n-in-i- to both the Dun
au« v.lhy ' t»d Gr.nd river draina.^e, Jnoscui 'te .t an elevatu)a

nam

of about, 400 {hv.l Jibovo Lakf (Jritarii;, thus .sliowinj< the formor
coiinccliou of th(! [);isins iiiuit; than 100 I'cct below the rocky flows
which surround theiu. Even in tliis tlcpn^M'd area wells are
known to rc.ich 00 feet in thr tlril't without meeting with solid
rock.

On the iiortlu rri sidi; o\' the Durnhis v.illt'y the escarpment
after reuuhiii<i: Copitown i>^ hiiricd by thi tlrift. Althou<'h the
line of buried clills n.'cedi- >-oiin!wliat to the northward of the
dreat Woslern i!uilway, ye* thi're are oee-ii-ional exposures, as at
Troy and f)tln!r pluecs in iJeverly and Flamboi'o, wh(!r(! the under-
lyinu limestones como to t\n- surfiiec At IItrrisbur<; the lime-
stones are known to be ab.-eni fcir a il( [illt of more than 72 feet
as shown in a d(!ep well in the drill.

In the town of I'aris on*- wtl! eitne ujntn hard rook at 10 feet
below tiie surface, whilst anoilnr ;it lOO hu-x in depth, reached
no fartiiiM- than boulder clay. Tliis i.ist well niu-t have been in
a huriecl cjianiiel el" Nilh's creek, i.- outcrops of i;yp>um bearin"
beds of the ()iion(laL''a foiniatinu fre(juently occur near the summit
of tlK! iiills. it'iom what has jii,-L bi\ n writt<'e. it is easily (seen that
the Niagara limestones are abxiit from -i more or less horizontal
floor (which is over 50(1 h ct abovi lln; lake, on botii the northern
and soulheiii sides (»f tin; l)unda> valleyj which continues from
Dundas westward to near liarrisburu. wh< le it meets a portioa
of the Grand river valky. P.nt almost immediately west of An-
caster wc find streams running tiortiiward at right ant^lcs to the
escarpment, and cutting throu<;h drifr to tln^ depth f>f almost
hundreds of feet. In f;iel. if \\i: draw a lini; from Dundas to
northward of Ilarrisburi: (,i mile or twoj, and another from
Ancastcr simthward to the Giund rivei. we iiave two limits of a
region where the limestone fl-ioi- lias been cut away i'rom an
otherwise geneialiy level re-iion. The .-oulln;rn sid(! of this
area is the southern margin of the (Jrand river valley, between
Seneca and Llraiitford, and the we>t rii boundary is composed o*
Onondaga rocks east of I'ari.- t whieii p. rb:i|..s fnrms an island of
rocks buried more, or h>s in driit;.

Additional prool's may b; eiied. About .i mih; >outh of Cope-
town a well was sunk to the depth of 100 leet before water was
obtained. At two miles south-east of the same village there is a
small pon'd oidy 240 feet above Lake Ontario, or more than 260 feet
below the neighboring escarpment. This is in drift. Again, at
a mile north of Jersey ville, the country has a height of 4ti5 feet,

: ■^s^j.ft-jWfjMi. iiwTfMiBffjIIIIWWIpllj

■ ifiafmm

with ii well in dn' siiri'aco soil Id a depth of '10 tool. A small
rivullit flows in ii valley a fi'w huTidr''! yjirdn south of the last
named well vhieh has -i bod lit') feet, ahovi! tli(! like. At about
a mile wt.'st orjersciyvillc^, tluj altitude is 4i»S I'eet with a wi;ll 52
feet deep. Aj^iiin, at about two miles west of tin; sauiu villa'^e,
near the county line, the altitude is KK) I'ecit, with a well 57 feet
deep. About a mile nortli oi" th(^ last n lined stition is a ravine
4I5G feet with till! .Kljacent hills forty feet hii'Iier, and rising' in a
mile or two to about 500 leet. All these wells ave in the drift.
From exposuriN near Ancaster, it .appears that the unslratilied
drill has not an altitmhj of 400 feet. And as we know that some
of these sup(!rtiei.il beds are stratified olay, and over most of tiie
country ju^t described not a boulder is to be- sei!n, iKiillier on tin-
surf lee nor in the materi.il t.iken from the ;;iri'ater porti'/us of the
wells, it is probabh; that the water is only obtained on nearin;^;
the more ponnis boulder clay below. It lias al'-o been noticed
that two wells, .it letst, are 100 feet deep b(;f<ire reichin;^' water,
therelbre we may fairly place this as about liio infei'lor limit of
stratified sup(.'rlioial -;lays. It will b; nmi that westward of the
mi;ri(li.!n of Ancaster there is an .in';i of over 100 ^(juire miles,
where (he Nia;.cara floor is known to hi- remov(Ml everywiieri; to a
de| til of KM) i'eet, and in its eastern portion to more tli.in 'i^'A) feet,
and siill nearer Jj.ikc Ontario to .. measured depth of more than
200 feet, below its waters.

III. ruK i5(JUIF,t> KlVEIl CH.WNCI. iN liiK IHJ.XOA.S VM.l.KY

.\NI) IT.S KXTKNsld.NS.

That the Duiidas valley is ihat oi' an anci.Mil river valley now
buiied to a LM-e.it 'leiith with \\\i; ifehrh produced in tlie lee Ai^e,
becomes apparent on a c.arciul study of the rc'ion. However,
until a key was discovered the mystery of its origin was foiiiul to
be very obseun;. My own libers .at studyin.,' tins re-ion may
fairly be .-.t;/.ted as the first .sysr< ■mat i(! atteiin)ts ,it tiu; Milutiou of
the present cnnfiiiuratiou of the western end of iiaki; Oatirio and
the adjacent valley. A.ssertions h, '.e been made fiiat it was
scoope'i out by a ulacier, but this wild hypolhe.sis was only a
.■^taten ent joade without any leijard to iacts.

From the description of the topo;j;rapliy, .i,'tveri ai section ll.
of this paper, it will be Mim that the apparent len-th <d' the
rock-bound valley is six miles with a widtli i»f over two
mile.s; tlsen it wido;iH suddenly to ibiir mil:- (with concave

'i<mms>^<iKMaSiir,^i:.i_^^

4)0

«.};

«;ur\(\N (»ii botli sides) alter wliicli it ,;i-inhi ill}' inoro.ixes in
widtli as it ()p(!iis into Liik-' Ontiirio 'I'lie direction of tim
ixis of tli<' Viiiley is abnut N. 70" K. Tlu snmniit edjxcs
il tlie roek-walls on both side> ;ire sli:tr|>Iy auj^ulir and not
rounded or truii(!;tt( d. This aiiunl-nity is nt)t due to frost aciion
since the Ice A;;<', to any extent, us i- shown hy the character of
'he tains. The ni(;k-i of the siuomit are rreijuently eovtsred with
ice markings, but 1 am not aw:iif ni' unv h i;ality where they liavo
been observed i.s briiij; piriill''! with tie i iiii; direution nf tho
s'alley, but on all >id'S one e.io uhs'i'v lie rn 'MMietinie-! at only
• niall aii'^les of le-;s thiiii .")<• di_r;is) inakinj »Miis|tieuous aiii^lcs
with its axis. Onv ex('e|itioii ijiay [)<■ ihmIi fo this •^tate.ment.
()n a piojeciini; ledi^e ol' ('linl(ni liiuest(»he, .it llussi'l's quirry,
ntar iritniltoii, at a iieiixht of Jf) I Wri above tin hike, and liM-
i'eet bi lew the sunimit ol' tie' ludiiMlaiii. " d'ler ilie removal of
■JOIiio t ilus, I observed that tie surl'ae.' was I'l-lished. but with
'Cratcdies s^) faint that tluy eouitl si-nei'ly \h- compared with
tbose (if fine .^ iiiil|)a|ier on wood; and ih • direition. il' determiti-
ible, wispaiiilKI with the nvi rhaiiLLin.L: r-e ir|inieiit. Th''ro aro
ui.inv tributary er/i./i.s', wliiidi tii' I'vitleiilly or'.:reati'r anti(|uity
than the fee A;^e. wiiicli eould noi iiaS' > .xeavaU'd by the present
streams, and are at all sort- "l' dir 'i-rii'n- cuiiipared wiih the
-triated purl'ace of tlu; count r\.

Till" topoAr.iphy (d' tht Iowit lik.' M-.ie'i- |irii-iud.> tho idea of
a jrhicier flowiiej; down the v.ille\ tc ilir iioiih-iMsf ward. Aijiin,
as the direelion of tie' ice wa- Niwafd- tin- s.)iithwesr, tlie waters
t'rom the melting jilaciers could ^e I'l;, How up an e-cirpmeut
Tiiany hundreds ol' I'eet in iiei^iii. Kvv.n il the iNia^vira e.scarp-
'jiei't did nor exi.->t eisewle re, tie- n<in-parallelisin of the strife,
and cdj^Cf; of the escirpnunt with their .Mimiiar summits, is suffi-
iieiit to prove the nim-ulacial (iriiiin td' tin' valley in tb(! hard
limestone nicks. .Nforeover, at ilie c i-tern end of tin; narrower
uorlion <d the valuy, tin re :ir( i\\<< e(>!ieivc curves ficlnjj; th(!
ake, which (d' uecrs^itv unnld lii\c lin'ii niuoved if .such a
.ri;j;aiitic iiriiidin^ auent had been imtvini; up the valley.

This glacier-origin of the vall'-y brmg ,ui abxdutely untenable
'aypothesis, I sought for sonie lliiviatile ;i.:'iil capable of effecting
the present configuration of tlie region. At the time, no idea
occurred that even the great valley of tho present is oidy a miser-
able remnant of one of gigantic proportions obscured by hundreds
of feet of drift. The question arose, could Lake Krie have ever

MMmn

r.i

ouifitiod by tlii^ valley'.' 'I'liis ^ll<Il^(^stiutl did not lidld its -.'rouiiti
for any length of tiiuf, b*!cause tlu) pri'.^'tJt lnvi'ls ari' all tmt liiuli
Near Gait, the truces of the true origin iirst prcsciiited tlitiiisolvo.
A branch ol' tin; (ireat Wc.>luni l(ail\va\ txlnids frniii (iali
southward for about lour niih's in the valley nf tin- (liaiid rivei,
after whieli. without inakiim any im|iortaMt aseeiit. it |ms-;is iiitc
the broad older valley, described abnvi a> tliat in whieh Fair
cliild's creek now flow*. Alter a raieful examination of tin
rcyion, and of the railway livels. I eanie to the eonelu^ii'ii thai
this W!is an old burii'd valley. ll thru heeauie api-aront that it
the Grand river had oeeupied the .»ite ol tlu' Kairehilds',- creek,
that the latter probal)ly Howi d dt^wn the Diuida.s valley and that
tho Grand river, beiim one (d'the liirji«'.st of tlu' rivers of Ontario,
iniiiht have been a suffieient eaii-e for the ureat exeavation at tin-
western end of Lake Ontario. Having proeiired ;dl the levels
that bore on the snbjeet which were available it became iieces-
:^ary to connect .several jilaco mysell' by instrument.al measure-
ments, whieli work wa.- aeeomiilished with the aid of I'rof.
Wilkins. As th(> whole floor of Ni,i-ara lime>tone.« i,- ab.^ent, as
has previously been shown, the proof that th(> ancient Grand
river flowed down the Punda* valley was comjileted, and of this
discovery there was published ;i local notice in Aul'Usi, ISSO.
Siti;nilicant and iiiterestini; a> this fact w.is. rel itive to the chan^'c
of systems in our Canadian draina-e, a still more important i.ssue
was involved. When takin- the I'veU betw<'en the Dund.as val-
ley (modern) and the Grand river, il was found that the whole
calcareous floor wa> removt'd from a ba.-in sever.d n)ilesin width,
and that all the wells W(!re .-^unk to a considerable depth in the
drift before water could be obtained. On ^lancin.n at the map it
will be seiMi that the Grand liver from Hrantford to Seneca
meanders tlironj^h a broad course, which in its aiudont basin is
.several miles in width, but that from Seneca the valley is nar-
rower, and the course of the stream more direct, a> far as Cayui^a.
At Seneca the valhiy is two miles wide, and seventy-live feet
deep. Al.-^o the bed of the Gr.and river at Seneca is in drift
which is only P>7 feet above the lake into which it now empties,
as ha.s been pointed out in tlu' section.

Having observed tho connection between the Dundas valley,
Grand river and Lake Erie, it dawned on me th.it I had estab-
lished the knowledge of a channel having a very important
bearing on the surface geology of the lake region. It now be-

Voi.. X. '• ^'"' ^-

62

Wettria.'

^!''".

■«i

•".10 iipparuiit rliiil Lake l']nv had Howod tlir(ju>;h the Grand
river valley reversed, to a point west or north-west of Seneca,
and thence by the Dunda.s valley into Lake Ontario; also that the
upper waters ol' th'; (jrand river, previously discovered as pass-
in<i' down the Duiidas valley, were really tributary to the outlet
>)[' Jjake Lrie, and joined it somewhere south oi' llarrisbur"^ ; and
that the basin between tli.. Brantlbrd (and the (irand river of to-
day) and tlie (Jreat Western ilailway, at Copetown, tbruied an
evjianded lakelet aloni;' the course of the ancient outlet of Lake
i^jrie, scooped out of the softi'r rocks of the C)iionda<ia formation
b"li)re noticed. As the watt'rs excavated a bed in a deeper
channel, ■■){' t-ourse this lakelet WduKl bi'come an I'xpanded and
depressed valley, >ucli as we nften sec ainoni^st the hills of drift,

— .y.

f^liag:

lYy.::.

JV.

:3fe;:i

L . .Kctkc Ontario

\oMj^ L_.

I'Mu. 'J — 1. Iliulsdn Iiivfv tnrniiitioii : 2. Medina slialcs ; :!. Niagara
.UKl 'Mintoii (Inlumitt's with sonte siiaifs. A, ('. D, 1'.. modern valley
at ini'iidiai) ol ]>urliii,i;h>ii iiei^hts: r, (', D. li, modern valley at meri-
dian of I)iiiiilas: a, c, d. e, li, sertions across, deeply excavated in beds
ol' streams in wistein part of the Dundas valley ; •!. i'.onkler clay
liilinn' aiK ient viiliey : ,"). Erie clay: C. 'I'lilns from sides ot cscari)-
ment : 7. did heaeli. los feet abov<- lake ,, I r,urlin,i:ton Heights : (J,
Desjardins canal leadin;< iVom Idiiidas marsh to Ihirlingtou hay;
\V. W, well at lit)yal Hotel, Hamilton ; W, another well at Dundas ;
L, O, level of F.ake Ontario; [,, FO, lov(d of Luki- Krii'. Hori/ontal
m.iiie, 'J miles t" an inch ; vertical si ale, |(.)() feet to an im h.

• %

w^tmxi^ MiKx.^f.'m

()3

at a short distinct wostwanl ol' l)uii(l;i>. I'ossibly tlio Grand
river divided and flowed iiround .in islnnd. the wostorn side
of which is occupied now by the town of I'aris. At any rate.
Noitli's creek at that town, litrnied a larjze trihntary to the river
then flowing doMn to Lake Ontario.

From a careful study itl' tlie hroad valley oi' the lower portion
of the Grand river, it becomes appii'ent that it was a jiortion dl'
the outlet of Jjaki- Erie, whieh passin;.:' to the reu;io!i of Seneea
villau'o, turned towards the Dunda^ valley, altiiouuli the present
river exposes shaly ()nondai.;a roek->. (H'casionally a- it ai']»ro:iohes
tlie marjiins of the old valhy.

Again Mr. (\irll lias shown that the .\ll(!i:hany drainage' passed
near Dunkirk into thi^ Kri(> basin at a place just opposite tf> it>
outlet, as indicated by the ])resiiU writer.

Much oi' the I)undas valley is nii'lerlaid by stratified FiTie
clay, which is known to extend to a (U'lith of (iO l'ee.t below the
surface ol Laki' Ontario, aeoordint: to Dr. li(d)ert Hell. In the
upper part of tlu' valley, sire ims havi exposed »onie deposits of
unstratified elav iilleil with aniiulir shinule. derived iVoin the
thin beds of limotone I'orniiiej- the uppei' portion ol' the Niaiiara
formation. In the I'asteni ]iortion fif the valley, the I']rie elay is
overlaid uneonlorniably by brown Saiiiicen elay or loam (stratilied;.
Fn tlu- upper portions of the v.illevthe hilN an' eapjted by brown
clays or sand-^. But alone some of the iiillsides excavated so
deeply in the drift, we liiKi ohl i)e;i('lie.~ resting; uneonlorniably
on boulder clav.

Near tlie centre if tlieeilv of Ilaniillon. in the wider portion
of tlu; Dundas valley, a well wa< sunk to the ilepth of ov<'r KlOO
fcctt. 'IMiis well revealed a most interest iiio; lict. Tliouuh
known to nic several years a^o, F did not a])ply it until recently to
its true boarintz', since diseovei'inu tlie oiiuin of the Dundas valley.
Mr. J. M. Williams sunk this well, at the {{oy.il Hotel, in Ilani-
illon. He told me .several veais aee that he had to sink tliidUiih
l!00 i'eet of boulders, before e(nniim to hard roek, thus e iu>in'_i
tlic outlay of a lar_'-e sum ol money in e.\ce«s of hi- ealculations.
Unfortunately this well-record has been lo-t by lire. .\t that time
the fact was so fresh in hi- nn'inory (improved by the extraordi-
nary cost of the well) that his statement could he relie(l on. bein<r
experienced in well-borin<fs. The mouth of this well is \\'.i feet
above J^ake Ontario, and tlierefore the hard nu^ks are absent for
a depth of 227 feet below the lake surface 8ee ,«cction. V'v^. 2,

F!i»*>, "8

■f

04

r

>- i

1 f

'i

t:

As tlic valley is five iiiilcs wide at this place, and as the well
!s (inly about one mih; distant from its southern side, it becomes
apparent that the valley in tlie centre must liave been much
deeper. ^Moreover, il' we produce tlu! southern side of that
jiortinn ol' (he valley, which is over two miles wide, we find that
the well is less than a (piarter of a mile away from it. Now if
we connect the t'.p o\' the Me(lina .<liales (240 feet above l^akc
'v)ntario) with the base of the drift in the, well, and produce it to
"lie centre of the valley, it wnnld indicate a central depth of over
'(00 feet. At tlu! basi.' <i!' the drift there are nearly fifty feet oi'
Mf(liiia shal's. tirlow which arc the Hudson River rocks (more
iir K':^s calearedus and arenaceous, mixed with the shalch).
This hai'der fni'ination aldiin tin' bed nf a river wovild be less
'Xt(■ll^ivelv renidved by aiiueou.^ action than the overlviu"- Medina
shales, especially as the pitch of the wat.'i's would be much lessened.
This L:rapliic iiii'thod of calculitiun seems ,is perfectly admissible
liere as it 'loi's in detci-miiiiiiu nther constants of nature, llow-
'.'ver, 1 have placed the cstiniatiMl depth in t!ie section at about
711 fathoms below the lake surface, which depth is perfectly com-
patible with the soundinus of the lake ;it no very ureat distance
to the eastward. Mven this depth uive- onlv very ticntle slopes
irom the sides oi' the I'iver valley. It should be remarked that
Burlington bay is excavnted from stratified clays in places to a
depth of 7S feet. Hut this water is siltin-' up comparatively
(juickly.

Now we !i:iV(! seen that the deep excavation in the l)unda.s
valley and westward ise'Ut thron-h more than 2')(l leet of Ni:iL;ai'a
.ind ('linton rocks, mostly limestone, nnd to a depth in the
Medina .-hales, so that thetntal known depth ofthero/7V;» is 74:{
i'eet. but with a calculated depth in the' niiddle of the channel of
about lIKMI feet. This depth i'or a co/)*/,/ is not extraordinary for
lOasti'rn America. [ii Ti^nnosee there ai'e river valleys exca-
vated to ade'pth ot liilMI fe,.t. And in ."ennsylvania Mr. Carll
rejiorts others to be eipiallv <leep.

Ai:-ain. this I'reiilacial i-iver explains the cause of the present
topioiiraphy of the wi stern end of Lake Ontario. The draina-e
hy this river swept )>ast llu' loot oi' the submerii'ed escarpment of
Lake Ontario describeil in preceding' jniue^. until it ri'acdu'il the
iueridian of < ^sweuo.

With such an outlet, and with the ancient (ii'and river
valley burie I by 2'reater or b'ss deptli, we have an easy soluti"ii

'^'iti

MM

fi5

to the problem o\' tlie (Iruinntre <^t' Lake Erie. Moreover the
present barrier between the lakes may have quite probably been
increased by local elevation of the land as we tiiid the indications
pointing to the Dundas valley bcinu: along the axis ol' uji anticlinal
of less than one degree of dip.

Attention ha.s been called in this paper to the deepest portion
of Lake Erie being southward of Haldimand county, and about
the end oi' Long Point, and extending transversely towards the
Pennsylvania shore.

Ho I'ar, our remarks have been ajiplied to (.'anada. 1 1' we turn
towards the American shore, we will see that tlie observations
made tlicre go very strongly in support of what has Vjeen written.
Several years since Dr. Newberry, Mr. (Gilbert, and others, called
attention to the deeply buried valleys of the Guyahoga, Cliauriu.
Grand, >Liuinee and other rivers in Ohio, which emptiel into
Lake Erie much ])elow their presiMU levels. The Cuyahoga has
its channel buried to a depth of 22S I'ect below the surfice of
Lake Erie of our time, whilst the deepest water in tlie neigh-
boring portion of the ^ake i< less than a hundred feet.

In Report III, oi" the Pennsylvania (Jeological Survey, issued
in November, 1S80, Mr. John F. (Virll published excellent maps of
the Preglacial drainage of that State and the ni^iizhborinLi portions
of the adjoining States. This report on the PrcLiiacial river> is
the lesult of tive years' labois in the oil reuiLMi<. and many of Mr.
Carlfs results have been ileri\ed from the facts madi' known by
the borings lor the mineral oil.

Besides (tailing attention to llie very dee'ji valleys n\' erosion
amongst the mountaiii-. Mr. ("aril has -liown ihat in the oil
region,- the river valK'y> are Ireipiently tilled with drift to a depth
of iVom ■_'<•>» to 4r)0 le( t. Tn I'act nearly all the present rivers
flow over e'ds deeply liiled with 'Irift. The map of the Pre-
glacial draii ije shows that the u]ipt'r waters of the .Slleghany
emptied by Oie Cas>adaga river. reviT.-'d. intn L;ike Erie, near
Dunkirk, and had lor tributaries many ofhei' stream- now flowing
southward , for example the Conewaniio. These stream- drained
an ai'ea of -HHKI mile-, which now -ends its surplu- water- to
the Ohio river. The French and other river- now emptying
southward from the Conneaut basin, emptied in Preglacial times
into Lake Erie, westward of Iv'ie city. Again, the Chenango,
Conno(|Uenessing, Mahoning and other tributaries of the Beaver
rivt'r (it.-elf now emptying into ihe Ohio) tldwed northward, by

I

^U

the M.'ihonini: rivi'r. ivvorsod. into tlic state of Ohio, to near the
sources of the (J rand ami Cuyahoira river?. Hence Mr. Carll
(lid not continue its eounse, on tlie map. hut from the study of
the levels and character of the country, as dcscrihed by the
(ieolou'ical Survey of Ohio, I hive connected it with the Grand
livfT of Ohio as rc[)reseMle(I on jny map. In addition to this
drainage T liave pointed out the prohability=- that the Mahoninir
;.nd upper Ohio, with the Beaver (reserved), Mahoninji' (reserved)
and (irand (olOhio) rivers fornu'd ,i nearly straight valley, from
the western side of the mountains of A'irtiinia to Lake Krie.

Thus we lind three lartic areas lunv flowinj;- southward formerly
ciwptyiim into L;ik<! Erie hasiii.

The ileepe-t ]'0rtion f.f Liikc Krir i^ hftween these ancient
river niouth> and the ancient (1^li(,iirh, mritf ol" the Erie drainage
hy the (Jrand river of Ontario. a> de-eribed in these pat,'es.

Thus we have shown a consecutive system oi' drainage of the
lUrmer waters of the burie-l channels into Lake Ontario, and
tiience runnin:^' ah.ri-' the fi.i.t of the submertred escarpment of
tic. latter lake to its eastern imhI, reeeivi!i<; the (Jeiies<e .and other
lariic rivers alon^- its (iourse.

Not (,nly is the Dundas valley a ileeply buried channel, but
nearly all the -tre.iins that enter l.ake Ontario are flowing- over
more ^r le.-v deeply buried elianro'U,

Oi'.KiiN OF Till-: Ldwi.i: (Jiiioat Jj.akks.

AH oi' thv eliain of tJre.a Lakes f.f North America are excava-
ted principally out of the more or le^s siialy almost horizontal
rocks ci' the various basins. 'J'iiey are all valliys of erosion
(exeeptiriii- perhaps, a portion of L;,ke Superior.) The erosive
action of the atmospheric agencies wnuld tend to wear the coun-
try into tindulatintr basins, — ior only sueh are the bottoms of the
uie-it J;akes. It i.^ true that sli-ht ueoloi^ncai undulations may
h.ive determined the position of tiie ] ike-basins. Tiie basins of
liakes .Nlicliiuan, Huron and Ot)t:iiio. especially, are traversed
Ity lonii- sub-lacustrine valleys !<'seinblino hose (»f l,ir<re rivers,
and bounded by (iscarpnuMits. which rise abruptly several hundred
feet high. The deserij^tion of the hike beds— the probibh; Pre-
ulacial outlets of Lakes Superior and Michi^ran (di.scliariiing
their wat'.rs tothcMissi.s.^ippi valley ; the outlet of Lake Huron

* Se(; I'roe. Aai. J'iiil. Soe. XIX, 10,s.

tl7

(at loast during- ;i jjortioii ul' its Iiisttiry) across tlu' southwestern
counties of the Province oi' Ontario, and enterini;- the tlrio basin
somewhere between Vienna and Port Stanky ; as well as a
ibriner outlet ol' Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, have been dis-
cussed somewhat fully in my i)aper publislied in th(! Transac-
tions of tlie American Philosophical Society, already referred to.
In order to keep nearer to the present subject oi study, I will
confine my remarks on tht; •• Origin of tlie J^akes,' to that of
Jjake Ontario, for the other Idces ^ive correspondiujjj testimony.

Dr. Newberry prophesied that an outlet for Lake Erie into
Lake Ontario would be discovered near the Wcjland canal. This
outlet in an unexpected p(tsitioii T liave diyeovered. and in a
position which explains more perfectly the (;ausi of the topography
of Lake Ontario than any that could have been di.-covered forty
miles to the eastward.

When was the advent of such a drainage system for this con-
tinent ? Homeof our American friends, who have advocated the
sub-airial and fiuviatile origin of the lakes, have jjlaced it back t(»
the Devonian A<io. About the commencement we know uothinir.
It would be safer to place it after the Pahxjozoie time, for probably
some jiortions of the Province of Ontario were covered with
carboniferous deposits, as well as Michigan and Ohio, which have
subsequently been removed by denudation.

ExauHitinn iif Ijiihr /j((s{n!<. Having seen tlie course of the
Pri!glacial drainage, let us ask how the broad lake troughs could
be excavated, lict us look at J^ake Ontario.

The river coming down the Dunilas valley Howed originally
near tlie out-crop ol'the Niagara limestones, elevated by geological
causes long ago. The direction ol' the stream was parallel lo its
triTid. On the one side were the soft Cambro-8ilurian shales,
geographically higlier. geologically lower ; on the other (soutlieru)
side, the Niagara limestones, beneath which were the soft Me-
dina shales until these were worn away in part. As tlie slialy
rocks were removed and the limestones were u!nlermine<l, the
Niagara kscarpment was produced. liow far these lime-
stones have receded towards the present face and summit of the
slope, is a question yet to be decided. As the wati-rs sunk to a
lower h^vel a second escarpment was produced ^ the one noticed
at Poit Dalhousie, at tlie present lake level). Afterwards the
Hudson River shales (with some har<l rocks) wert." pierced whilst
yet there were capping Medina shales, forming the surface of
the country between the river and the limestone escarpment.

'•■1

.^

I,,

All this pro?up{tOso< tlie continent at a liij^her level (at least
♦iOO foot). Durini; yonu; portion of the tertiary times, at least the
oastorn portion of the continent must have stood a thousand or
twelve liundrod foot hij^her than at present, as indicated by the
soundiniis in the St. Lawrence viver (near the mouth of the
Su'zuonay), in tlu' Now Voric Harbour and off the mouth of the
Cliesapeake Bay.

The rate at which tiio upper lakes was excavated would depend
partly upon tlu- rate oi' tlie excavation of the Dundas valley and
its extensiuns through the limestone at tirst by a slow abrasion,
and the solution of the carbonate ol' lime by the carbonic acid
held in the water, and afterwards by tho undermining of the
hard rocks on the removal of tlu' .Medina shales.

At the time when tlu' ■• Preulacial outlet of t!i(! Basin of Lake
Krle, \e.'' was written (Feb. ISSb 1 felt confident that the
Preirlacial outlet of Lake Ontario would be more or less easily
revealed, and therefon- neglected to give due consideration to the
orosion that would be effected by the action of the rain and rain-
water. Thi may well be summed up by(|UOting from a criticism
(HI my above mentioned paper, by Prr.f. J. P. Lesley, the Direc-
tor of the Geological Survey df IV'Hnsylvauia-'- ■' For a number
"of years T have been urgiuu upon geoloiiists. especially those
■• addicted to tiie glacial hypotheses of erosion, the strict analogy
'• existing between tin- submerged valleys oi" Lakes Michigan,
•• [luron and Erie, and the wiioK' series of dry Appalachian
'Valley- of VIII,' streiehing from the Hudson river to
'•Alabama; also of Green Bay. Lake Ontario and Lake Cham-
" plaiji, with all the dry 'Valleys nf [[ and IIP' One single
'• la\v i>f topography governs the erosion of them all, without
'■ exception, whether at present traversed by small .streams or
'• great rivers or occupied by sheets of water ; the only agency
'• or method of erosion conauon to them all being that of rain
'• water ; not in the ibrm ol' a great river, because many of them
'• neither are now nor ever have been great water-ways. As a
'■ consequence of their abs(tlute similarity of geological position,
" general form and common genesis, their age nmst be one and
'• the same. The sea has had nothing to do with the production
'• for it has permanently invaded some of them, or oven
'• temporarily others. [c(; has had nothing to do with their

Sec lleport Qi of that Survey, 1881.

" production, lor those in iim ulaciul ri;«:iori> viiff« r in no ii>j)ect,
" fron» those nearest the Gulf of Mexico. I also loim aj:it ur<:ed
•' on theorists the necessity of taking into aeeounl as ,i priuif.
•' factor the imdcrground nohitiun <if Ibmxtinn strnta. and thti
" subsequent aqueous removal of the fallen dehrls u\ ov«rlyini^
*• strata, the rootinj-s of eav»!rns and the steeps of clift'^. . .
'• A curious illustration is offered b^ tlif peninsula ol Vin-ataij,
•on the surface of wliicli arc no >treanis o( \vat(;r. tJH.- drainayv
•'of the whole country bcinu undt'ru:rounil. It is useless to
" repeat the oft-told demonstration ; but it is well now that Dr.
"Spencer has disembarrassed u.> of the chief difficulty of oui
•'last pre-receut water-system of the ntwlli. to remind tht;
•• admirers of his j^nat discoM-iy that his m.w found ancient.
'• Grand river did its work not, otdy with the constant assistant;
"from the be-inning to the end, of millions of smaller rivers,
"creeks, runs, rills, but also in such .-subordination to them as ;.
'•general acknowledges to his troop.-, or a contractor to iiis arniy
■of navvies. . . . Our (Jreat Lake basins although travtr>eJ
" by a great river, were n(»t excav.ited by it. l)ut bv a nniv.r.^.d

• vertical descent of rain-water upon the areas, lowering theii
■•■ surfaces gradually and nearly equally at all point> while ut tin-
•' same time mining it througiiout the whole e-xtent of it.> lime
•• .stone underfloor; the ujaterial being removed in the ordinary

• way, by rills, rivulets, and the great i Ivors to tin- .sea."

On former pages an attempt ha^ hw.u made to give th<'.
phy.sical configuration of the bed ol' Lake Ontario, and but liitl.;
was said about the former outlet of the ba>in heeiui.M- little i,*
•ibsolutely known.

Before considering the glacial theory of tlie e.\eavalion oi' th"
lake, let us examine where there could have been an outlet to'
the waters of this great river .■system.

Posnhilities of av outkt hif th< St. Ldmnno. The north
eastern portion of Lake Ontario is very shallow. Althouirh th.'
country surrounding it is low. yet it is underlaid by hard rock-,
which arc so frequently exposed, through the moderate thickne.«s
of drift as to preclude the idea of a great buried eliannel existing
adjacent to the St, Lawrence, which a short distance below the
▼ol. X. H 2 So 5

I

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70

wiitlct ul' till L'ikc flows ovtT liimniitian rocks. HoW(5V(:r. in
northern New Ynrk, but (southward of'tln'St. Lawrence, there .'irv
■-.iiiH' iiiiimpuriant buricl cViuiiiiols connected with the Ontario
h.isiii. Th" St. li.iwreiiee river itsolf is modern from Lake
Ont.irio to tin; juin^tion nf tlie Ottiiw;i river, though the lowest
jiortioii of the liver i< eiiiispicuously of nrieient diite. witli pot-
linle> indic;itirr_' a deptli of rii'.irly 1200 feet. Without a con-
siihirahle eliaiiLre of level, sueh us either tluit which would be
yirodiKn'd by :i loc il -iibsidenee of iiortiie.'istern Ont.irio and the
upper >'t. liawreiKv, or m very Lir(;it northern subsidence durinjr
;i period of southern ehivitioii iny possibilities of the pregiacial
"Utlet of Ontario basin by tlie St. Lawrence seems impossible.
However, tlic oscillation iiypotlusi.>« >-('euis to be more and more
■supported by ol)serv,itioii.

/*()ssihi/llii's of •III until t ii> tlir xoHth-t'Hsti'r)! fud of the lake.
Hetwtien the eastern shor(!s of liuke Ontario and the foot of the
Adirondacks. the broad plane appears to mark the former lake
bottom bel'ore the, hike contracted to within the present limits.

This remark holds ^■ol»d for tin- •• (Jreat Level " between the
southern mriririn of tlie lake and the escarpment to the south,
although ir»'i feet above it. TIk! level country south-east of the
lake is uu(h'riai<l by almost iiorizonta' ^'alajozoic rocks, which
are exposed alontr many ot' the strcjams, and are covered i^euerally
with no irreat thickness of drift. Thcsi! rock exposures occur as
tar south as a short distance north of Onuida lake. They artr
also seen alon;^ the Osweijo river, and the lowtir portion of the
Seneca. ILtwever. there is a deeply buried basin in the reirion
of Onondaija lake. Oiie.ida lake is only titl feet dcM^p. and 127
ti.'et above hike Ontario, and is situated in a basin of drift.

(Jnondaiiu lake is 119 feet above Lake; Ontario, and is about
t)5 fet'.t in the derpi si soundin::. It is a modern lake situated in
a threat drift rilled basin. The shallower portion of this basin is
toward the norlliern end of the lake, ii increases in depth on
approaching Syracuse, but ai;ain becomes .somewhat shallower on
passinu- southward of this city. The drift-tilled basin reaches to
;» depth ot about 2!H» feet below tlic surface ol' Lake Ontario.
Southward of Syracuse the country ri.ses to the escarpment form-
inji,' the southern boundary of the Ontario valley.

71

Fnr many ycirs, .«uj;^i:sti(tii> li,.vi Ixm-u uvidv tinit lUv I'r.-
;^'luciiil outlet ol'LiikLi Ontirid was 1)^ tin' l»uii>il l)a.Mii jii>t ti.-
^cribod, fniptyiiiu its water.-, by tlic Mdliawk and llnd.-un riv.-r..
iuto tlic Atl.iiitio. Ilowovc'i. tlii- ."uiiui .sled dutlct is mt \n»
.siblf, witlidtii coiisiderrblr idcjil i-ii ui'^r d| clrv.itidii. ;i> .-Imivmi
by Mr. Cirll, fur tln' Mdlnwk ri\t r pus.sc.-. nvoi inciaiiidi plm:
rocks at liittlc Kall.i. Ih-rkiintM- (Iduniy, ai an eh vatidii abd\'
fjiikc Ontirid dl' abdut 12.') t'ti-t. withdui tii>' [idssibiiitv i.l' ai.
adjaciiit buried (diannrl tbionuii ilic ran^- d|' hills, tlimui;!.
■which the Mdhawk valley is cut The Oudnd.i-a basin, then,
appears to have be' ii originated hy .i rivei exlendiiiL: IVom th.'.
Adirondack mountains westward, and « ni|itviii_u intd the Ontario
basin northward ol" the I'auiua l,.ke. I'drniin- aidn- l\ir edur>'-

the basin, now deeupiod by drill maleiial <nil (M: ia^a lake.

and perhap- that id.->o <d' Oneida l.ik' .

Mdstol'tiie other lakes id' wiitrai .New Verk. especially thu.^i;
havin<j,' a more dr less meridldnai dii. ctidri. lie in ^reat v.dh y.s,
and are only cld.sed u\, aneii nl ri\. r valleys. .Vil of these hikes,
rXCept tW(», Seiioc.i and Cayn-.i. are ,ii a oonsiibMabK; eh'V.ii inn ,
One of the dee[>est d|' tluvv elevated lakes is Skeneatehs (III:]
feet above Lake Oiitarid, and ;;2ll leet deep;. Thi.- lake, ami
Owasco lake, have ndrthern modetn outlets over rucky hanier^.
They lie in vallc^ys .-ever.d hundred feet d :ep (;;i»() feet ei' innie;
and evidently emptied into the Sus,|Urliann.i rivi;r in sunie for
iiier jieid(.uit'al times. The vadey-- df tin si' lakes as weli ;,.-,
.-several river valleys in Me- reuidn now havlni: nntliurn outlet.-,
rsueh as those of OnoiuLe^a. .Mid IJiituaniii creeks^ all radiate;
I'rom adjacent er eomnidii pdints as tiny ext aid eoithward,
evidently shewing a former sonthirn di.-chai>^'. However, it is
exceedin,i;ly difficult t<t de1(M-miue In.w much of the valleys .are of
Preglacial, and liow much of Interuiieiai or Tostiriaciai d,it ■. for
then- are evidently three perioiis of erosion -the valK)- pnuhu;eu
in Inteijihicial and Modern epdch.- coinciding;.

Thus far no apparent oullei el' lln iinat. .mcient Oiitaiiu ba.-in
has presented itsidf. (.)ne otlier rout<- at lirsi, appe.ired pe.ssible
—fj,i/ the. Scncat Ijdlce. Chcininu/ ■'hi/ JSnsqi/i/ifnimi liinrs. The
feature.'' favoring this suLi-e.slidn are ; the -leatcst liepthd!' Ji.ike
Ontario north of Seneca lake; the depth nf Senec.i lake, wliich
is 012 leet (42;> feet below ihe level of Jiako Ontarioj . the

n-^wm:i^jiamm!.^mnmm

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72

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'linet ciiifiimify ol' Sni.Tii litkr viillcy with that of the Cheniun*^.
at Klmirii, ami of tlit; latter valley with that of the Stisquehanna,
iit S-iyii'. Thf \ alley of Clieintmu above Eliniru is much smuller
Mian the [Mtrtjitii Iclow. wliicii joiii> it at ii eonsiderabh* aiifi;lc,
Ituf this portion of tlie river just above Khuira is more modern
than tilt; l*rei;lafial eouoe nf the (Mu!iuuii;j;, which from Corning
jiasseJ direetly to Seneei valley at Horse; Heads. One thing is
I 'Ttaiii. the Ontiirio hasin as it was emer^inj; from the last sub-
""ideucf ol' till' iee aye, Mowed by the route indicated and liii'^ered
stitfieieiitly loiiu at th*' leve] .if tlu' upper part of Seneca valley,
*•» produce beaches -it the -aiiie level alonii' various portions ol
tlie niaruin of the basin.

I'm1«'«'> there was i ^reat relative (tliaii^e of continental level.
Oif route just, described eeuld not have beieu the Preglacial outlet
if tlir li;i»iti i»f Ijiike Ontario, a- ;i considerable portion of the
< ihnii ot' till' Siis(|Ue|ianiia for -everal miles below Towanda (7HS
)<'et abovi' the sea i • lia> a rocky bottom."' Oayuga valley would
tot afford any better outlet. a< its .-ummit is 2<K> feet higher
lliaii that III' the valley of Seneca likr oid connects with the
Sus(|iieli.iniia by diminished v.dleys.

A pot-hole at the mouth of ('hesupeake Bay indicates an
aucieut dejtfh of the Su<(juelianiia Kiver to at least 1170 feet
ix'low M.'M ]i \cl. Many of the streams in northern Pennsylvania,
now tributaries ol the Susipielianna, indicate an r)riginal nortli-
A-ird flow t(i S<'neea lake.

i)s<ill(iti>iiis Iff tin ConliiKiit ill flic /jii/:t iKjioii. — Until re-
'■t'utly my investigatiotis bearing on the :jrigin of the great lakes
have l»een mainly based on the hypothesis tiiat the closing of the
hasin>« was not occasione(l by the elevation of the lake margins,
by means of the local elevation of the t-arth's crust. This hypo-
thesis then necessitates the (existence of buried channels being
outlets of tlu; lake basins, which, if their contained drift were ex-
eavaled. would reston; the Hri;iilacial drainage. My recent ob-
-■-ervatioiis in New York and elsi.'where have failed to obtain any
proot> ot' the (;xistenee of >uch channels.

t>utside of the ni^ion of the lakes, in the iled river valley,
vhere are known, at hast, two deep bore-holes far apart where the
<irift exrend> to a level below that of hakt; Winnipeg, and iudi

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73

catos that it' tlit 'irit't wui-f r<;ii)»jveil IVoiii tli<: Rcd-MiuucMota
valley tliu (Iruiuu-o of -luiue ul' the ^rcut lakes ami rivers of the
Canadiau North Wtsst lerritorie.- would flow to the Mexican
Gulf (as first poiuted out by Giueral WarrciiJ without the ueces-
sity of a loeal ehaiige of level. This fact extended to the lake
rcgious strengthened my opinions as to the eorreefness of the
above hypothesis.

Whilst the tiuvialile oiij:,iu nf Lake Ontario is apparent, yet
the failurt; of demonstratin;.^ a drift-filled outlet for the basin
(which is uUO Icet below tlif lev.l of tliu .sea) has forced me pro
visionuUy to aeecpt I lie hypothesis tiiat the basin was partly elosed
by oscillations of the rt'^iou. as stroujily set forth in an able letter
from .Mr. (J. K. Gilbert.

A> in «;vidence of local uscillaiion. Mr. (Jiihert has poiuted
out that the Irondetjuoit Bay. near lloeliester, was excavated to
the depth of more than T" leci. and two miles wide, by stream>
of Posl-ghieial (or lnt,er-u;laeial ) date, :ii;d subsecjuently submer
ged to tlie above depth. From this, his conclusion is that at the
time of the excavation of this tiord valley, the relative altitudes
of the locality and tiie rock >ill over wliicli ]>ake Ontario dis
charges difiertid IVom their present status by more than 7(1 feet.
Corresponding:; perfectly with lronde(|Uoit Bay i- Burlington Bay
at Hamilton, with a depth ol 7S feet, with a elosed beach across
it> mouth. From this and other local feature-, the surface t:;eol-
<i'^y uf the Dunda.- valley wouM indicite a L;reater elevation, to
the extent of more than 7S llet at the he id than at the present
outlet ol the lake.

lict lis consider for a moment the physical effect that would bo
produced upon the .■>iralilication by the sabsidenee of the north-
i'astern [lortion ol' liuke Ontario ;ind the upper St. Lawrence.
Tlie dip of ihe rocks at tiie western end of l^ake Ontario is
about 2.") feet, in a mile, westward of south. At the eastern end
of the lake. 1 bitlieve, it is snuuwliat greater. The deeper por-
tions ol' the lake are more than lH mile> from it> present outlet.
Any local depression gradually exteuding not th-eastward from
the deepest soundings of the lake, to even the extent of 2') feet in
the mile, would lower the ciutlet by the St. Lawrence to an ex
tent fir greater than would be necessary to drain tin; lake, pro-
vided this ehan'.;e took jdace .it a time of high eoutinenfal elev.i-

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ticuj, lliu- pntdiioiii)^ ii brniil ilr()riv>i li villi^) \N\' ktn»w that
the valley of tlu' lower St. Ij.iwrenei i> .»ubun.'ru<Ml to the depth
ol'at lea.st lu arl} I'JOIt ll-ct. TKi roek) boundaries of the roi^ion
could >c;iret;ly more tli'ni iiidicilf tlii> eliurim; ol' iitvcl as the dip
ill the roeks would p is^ IVoiu iIk (">iiilitinii nT ll,') Hu't in the mllo
or le.sh to almost ahsulule hoii/oni.lit}, and we have no means of
eompiirisoii II", liowser, tl, 'I'Mitinii', took plaue to the north
ward to .1 greater exletit then (in si/iK h vsurd. siicli us uji^ht be
ueeasioned by a ehaii::i' ofilir <'i'iiti' ol' iiravity of tiif earth, then
the ii'^ion to the southward ol' ih* iaki > nii^hl be relatively
suffici(!ntly lowend is to p. rmii i portion ol tin drainatre to puiss
I'Ut by ( ither tlic >I(»Iiawk or S( nic.i hakr valleys, which
I videiitl} durin;_ suuie poiti.m ol tie' l(;i A'^r disehar^tMJ walcirs
from the exp.mth'd basin ol tlir |ak''. Tin' loeal o.MMlhitions would
also be in(!essary in the i-xplan.:lioii nf tin- eoniph'te closing of
till' outhus of the lake by tluM' laniti-s (a- al.-u those of tin; upper
lakes). I'riil'. Ijcsley sri m- tc lav or th^' hyputhi'.oj^ ol" the former
nutlet of the (Jntarii. '".(.■.in by the Mohawk onl liudson ri\ers,
but points out that thi v Ih^y i.» underlaid by .-olid roeks at
Little Kails (ILrkitner County j at an I'lcvation ol' ilfjO feet above
tide. Therefon.' the deejjiist porlii»n ol thr lakf would \n\ 850
feet below this barrier in the i^rrat valley. In elosini: flu^ para-
graph, till' above named distin^uishi <1 ;.,'eido^ist s.iys that if the
above route be correct, then I lie country about Jjitth; Kails must
have been cliivated ((juery : by the Mohawk uplifts, atJ iteujs of a
more p iieral [lud.<on liv i uplift.-, nmri' than OIH) fm-'t. And
this may possibly ;j;iv(' us i ruile ieolo^ie.il dafi for the elevation
nf the Catskill ' njoiint'iiti plat.':u, ^lopin- w^'.-tward into Penn-
>ylvania."

It is by IK' iiie.uis muM .-.-ary ti' :i--unir th it the loe d elevation
which cut off any outht to the ,^ea, by ■ illi< r ili. St. Lawrence o"
Mohawk-lludson ri\(;r.-, took plae- duriiiLi' or at the close of the
Ice Al'C for the pt;rlod of tin riv^'r-v,dl(;y.<^ ju.->t dtwcribed dates
far back in yeoloiiieal tine;. Il tin- expl mations brounht forward
be wholly correct, then thi; dat. of the e-unmcneeinent of the val-
leys should be placed after the elo.-.(; of the Ptiljtozoic time, as the
valley of the Susrjueiianna, and Mune of the ancit'Ut rivers entering
the lake basins are partly excavated out <d earboidferoua rocks,
which had been previously elevit d. 'rhi> would .iij;ree with the

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older portion,'- ol' Uv Mi'«si>^ippi ri\(T. Ilnvvi^vor. tin- (Jroit
River A'j^o did nut culiiiiiiiit'' until the middle Tertiary timop. ;»>
nhown by the iributnrics nl' tlir miolt'nt MiHsinsippi.

In thi> Ice \'^v the outlit> ni' flu l;ik('« wen' close<l by drift>.
in Jiddition to ihr ;i;^'etiey of Ine.il o-,(;ill;itioti. Wliether the fill-
in<;H of the v.rlley- W(!ri' produced by L;,liu;ier ictinu. by the .imMicy
of iccbi'ri^s. or by tlmt of floutin',' \y,in ire, ;i ritionul expiiiiiiitiitn
ini^rht ho ;>iveri ; but a)" fhi> depend* upon unsi'ttled irhiciiil
j^oolo<j,y, I will not h'Te df^lay by entcrin..' into discussion How
over, th<To .ippcMi-s to be every evidenee of :in Iriter-i:;] leiul eprtch,
when the ijreater portion of the present Duiida^ vtilley. the
Ni.iij'ira river, by the old hurii •! ehaiinel ol' St. I).ivids. ;ind
niJiny other v.illey*. iverywheif iti thi' l;ik<' region, were either
re-exoavjfted in ihv. drift, ^r t.ri,i:;inally opened; and thiit tlie
second elosinfr or filliii.; of these v;illey.>,i \v,i> not .lecoinplished
throu;;h ;my jrlacier iietion, bu! )triiieipally throUL'h tli<' e^ijncy
of pan>ic"' ,in<l currents.

J/i/f)ijt/i*'tiriil (ilarirr Oriijiii uj ihi. Litkv.s. The bypulhe.sis
that the lakes were excavated by •jrlaciers will now be briefly ex-
amined. One cannot <1() betti-r then uive a suiniuary of what
Frot' Whitney (in Climatic Changes) says with regard to the
erosive power ol' ice. •' Ice fur ■•« li;i.- no erosive power. "
(ilaciers an; not frozen to their bed- Ice pttrmeatcd with water
acts as a flexible body and can flow aeeordiiis;ly. In neitlu'.r the
iilaeier rejrions of California nor in tlie shrunken glaciers of the
Alj)s will it be found thai ic' ,-eoops out channels with vertical
sides as water does.

•• N.o chanue of I'oriu can be observed at the former liiir ot' ice.
Aside from the morainic accumulations. Here, is nothiiiLr to prove
the fornusr existence of the lilaiiier, except the si;iootli. polish<;d
or rounded surfaces of the rock,-, which h.ive no more to d(> with
tilt! licneral out line of the cro,-s-sectioii of the valley than the
mark.- of the eabinot-miker s sandpa[»er have to lio with the
shape and size of the article of furrjiture vvlmse face lie lias iione
over with that material. "

The most imjtortant work ni a tilaeieT is the scratchinf; and
^foovinu of surfaces. This ui;'y iiowtvtr. be done by dry rub-
bini!, .itid therefore isolated -eratidied stones (u patches are uo

,

** <^'-ii»>iA »■;,*« .■-. ■ :

■j^y'*'ti»F)lJ.ftBJ"T.'# "

in

♦'■•;'

f
'I-

ir.

»

1

'XT' i

*.. ,.■'

evidencf. Thf utidrrlyiiit: rook snrlaiTs ni;iy losr their sharp-
De!=s, owing to cnnt!iin("«l (lotritns in tho !(',(>. ;tn(i hocomc- rounded.
The ground moraine is neither clinr.ioteristic nor important.
There is hut little detriuil material lieneath Alpine glaciers, and
this is the result of water more th;tn ice. Tlu; only characteristica
(if ice action are striation .md polishini;. All floating ice shod
with stones frozen in them will sorfiteh surfaces ovtir which they
rub. The only ghici.il lakes th;it are fftrmed an; those where the
pre-existing valleys have b''en closed hy mor.iinie matter, but the
waters will soon re-open these dams hy running over them.

Such are the deductions of the late OiriY^'or of the Geological
Survey of Californi.i, a in.'in who li-i.- had opportunities for study-
in" the action of "laciers Ix^tter than nicst aeolo^ists in America.
So far Prof. Whitney's inve.stig;ttinii« ari' :i]n)lie;ihle to our great
lakes.

Mr. George J. Hinde. F.G.S.. (mw n\' the few neolofjists who
has written from a Caividlan stan<lpoint i.-- :in uncompromising
glaciiilist. On the uncertain <videnep of ice scrntches iti the
north eastern (nd of Lake Ontario, and .ilsd on those of others
in a similar direction at th(> W'\'st> rn end of tlu; hike, he a.sserts
that Lake Ontario was exe;ivat( «1 hy a glacier. I)r Newberry
accepts his statement, but eonsiih is th it ;i Pre-glacial valley de-
termined the direction of th(^ continental glaci(!r.

Mr. Hinde also asserts his h(>lief that the buried valley of the
Niagara river (by the way of St. na\id'si a-; also tlie valleys at
Dundas and Owen Sound, inof nl.ioie.p ruioji, We have proved
incontrovertibly that Dundas valley is i buried river channel ;
;ilso Owen Sound and th(^ St. David'- valley .ir' hoth beds of
]*re-";la(!ial or Inter-'dacial rivers.

Let us analvzo the dinctind nf ih,- icr scratches in the
neighborhood of the western end of Like Ontario. I have not
>een any (out of very many sets,) which parallel with the axis
of either the Dundas valley (except pr»isi'hfj/ nu(.' polished surface
in the valley), or the axis of the lake, but always at considerable
angles. In the region of Kingston, the prevailing scratches are
S. 4r)<^ W. (Bell) and ."-ome other.- at S. "^f)^^ \V. neither of which
directions are piirellel with the 3xi> of the lake. Granted that
Mr. Hinde observed scratches that were parallel with the axis of
the lake, they of necessity vvinild liave been at an angle with the

^■yUMBW-

iliHIMM

■■i

( t

cs,-.

thu lake, tlie> of necessity would iuivu liueii at an aii-lu with the
submero-ea escarpmeut. If any ^lacier could have; seoopod out
the basins of Lake Ontario, it left the suuiniit edyes of th ••
Niagara escarpment as sharp tis possible and not planed off. Also
if it excavated the deep trough of the lake, it leit a suiumit of
soi't Medina shales over tiie iiarder Hudson Kiver rocks oi' the
escarpment, beneath which are lltica shales. Fmni Duudas t
the Georgian b.iy the f.ice of tiie e.^cari.nieut (Xiauara) is 1
abrupt, but even h.ri'. there h is not been lel't more than .')(i I'c.i
of drift at its foot, and this mostly, if nut altoiiether. str.ititied
(exceptiu,i: in channels ik.w buried, j

The observathms of Profc-t.r II. V. llinde. on the coast o!
Labradore. ;ire here interesting. \lc i,,is >hown th;it />.n,-;<; , at
the present time, is polishino the sides of cliffs, and ha> hrei;
eoutinuin- its action whilst the coast has been rising several hun-
dred feet. Even under th(; led-es of ov'erhau-inu roek> the actioi.
1-^ now ptiii-' on (a phenomenon which, il' in ihe \Ac reuiou.
would be attributed to -1 leiers). Also, he ha,> seen houlder-ela\
bein>i' formed at the pre>ent time by the action n[/„i,,.;,r (frozen
sea water;. This, with a thicknos of eiu'ht ur ten feet uets pile.l
up by the action of wave.v ruui wind, arid eousequeutly in the
bays of the coa.-t of Ji.ibradoi it [oli^hes rock bottom.^ to a demh
of fifteen feet or more, below the >urfac,> of the water, and minds
off rou-ii surfices. I have fie.iuently >ee-:. myM.il, i,, norilu'n,
reyhms, high boulder.- tran.-pMi-ted by the le- to which they were
I'rozeii in the margin or>Hiill hik. >.

From what ha-« l)e,.n writt 'n. it -'em- t . the writer that tin
-lacial origin of l^ake Ontario does not rest on a single ba>i>
further than that ice scratehings (|»roducible by eitiier glacier.-
or iceberL:>, neither of which need be great erosive auents) are
-een at various places about Lake Ontario, both above and below
the water level. The remark- applied to Lake ()ntari(. hold
good for the other lakes. The de.-Ltription .,f their tu[iography
strergthens the [iroofs that their ori-in cannot be accounted tin
by glaciers, because ue tind the i>luids at the western end o!
Lake Erie, or northern cud of J.ake Huron, polished and stri
ated.

One thing is certain, the valley of Lake Ontario is one of erosioi.
-pot of giacier-erosiou — in operation, during much of the time

'^'"L' -X- ,, V,, .

■W^'^'

1« *

J*^

^^'

\%

:-'J.

iliat ha> clap.-iud -iiur. at lea^t, tlio cIum.' uI' the Palxo/.oic timo?«.
vioscd partly )iy driit, but al:<() appiUi'Mtly liy uieat L!;eoloiiic-al up-
lifts, (.'itlui' alouu thv .Mowhawk-iluilsDii valley, ov else the
inft)nsiiiL-uuu^ broad valley nl' tlu' up})er ]iortlon of tho St. ^jUW-
iciK-c river, lorined a cuiitiimatioii ni' tlie. Uiiitavio plane, whieb
in it- inn'lb-ea>teru arc;.' bee.iiiie elevated, and now ooiistitutt's
*be sli-lliiw floor ol the lake and tbe adjaeenl low uplands.

.\<ji r,;' Xniri'ir'i III r, r . 'V\\M tlie Niai;ara riv^'i' is Vost-iilaeial.
:;r li'a<f I'roni thi> Wliitlpii il to (^uecnston. is apparent. It is
'<uo\vn thtit the Niagara riv(>r loruerlv left its rivtiseiit uourse

i''ar tile Whirlpool and flowed down tbe valley of St. David,
•vhieh is now tilled with diift. This \alK!y (throuub the lime-
stone e-eai'pment) is not so 'ji'eat a- 'be presiMit ciruui. This
biirie<I vaiiey of St. DaviU eould only have been ])rodue.ed al'ter
■)ie eli^iii- ot the Duitda- valby outler of tbe !']rie basin, for

mfil tleai rlie water- flowed a; a very Hiueb lower level. There-
'<ire. it '^eeins lu'ee^sary lo regard this eiianm'l (not ot very lireat
■iiaunituiU') as an inter-.ilaeial outlet i'oi' liake Erie.

Tbe -eoloojvts of tbe Western States point 1' tbe Forrest bed
a- a period of hiub elevation. ]preeed(;d by the Krie elay (strati-
fied) and suceei'<led by the yellow stratifie'l olays or loam, cor-
respondini: to the l^rown Saui^een elay of Canada, which is

nieonfiH tnabie to the underlyinLi' Krie I'fiys (or Boulder clays in
'be upper piMtion of tbe Dunday valley). So, fir tbe present.
ivc fjok upim tile <i\(\ rour>e of tlu; NiaLi'ara river as the channel
"Xeavatrd dui-inu' this ,varni inte'riilaeial period.

.by n/' /In. Xi'hjiii" /\s,;ir/)ii(' lit. -'V\,[< is manifestly of Pv' -
..:iacial ilate. and owes it>o)'i^iii lo \diiuri d und fiuviatible aetioti
'n'forr the advent, of the ler Al;''.

\'. — (1eNK1!\I- <;|,.\i lATMi.V OK I'llK ror.NTRV.

Tbe ;^laeiation <<[' ib'' ea-teru part of tbe I'rovinee of Ontario
i- lieuerally south-eastward in the liasin of the Ottawa river, but
iu the norlbein sitle nf iiaki' Ontario it i- generally south-west-
ward until we pa-> tbe re'.:iori of the Dunda.- valley.

The count ry nnrtb of J.ake- Siiperii.r and Huron, a< wt.'ll as
uioiiL: the' '■a.-tern portion oi' tl>>' latter lake, have the ice mark
ItiLis al>o in a Liemra! Miiitbwe'-l iliri ction. Hur iVotii tbe hei'j'ht

mMMIMIiUMglMWm

of land betwoon th. three um.t l.kr. (llun.,, ( )nt.-ino aud Krie),
\\\o striation,^ are more (Vo(,ueiitly towards tli.^ south-.-ast. Tbi^
direction contimio to tlu- Townshiiw ,,1' H^vrrlev and tlv ij,)rtb
.vu portion of West FlanilM.ro. It also eontU.uos aloou the.
(irand river vaHey, in the Nia-ara i:rninsula, as is shown at Yovt
(ii short distaneo east of Seneea ), B,u ah.n- th(> Niagara iv^carj,
uicnt. on the nnrtherr. side of Dundas (in thr township of Wes^
Klaniboro) w,. find several >et-. ..f striation>. the piwailin. dirw-
tion hein- westward, or a frw dc-rees south ol' wc^t. On th.^
escarpment south .,f Aneastrr ,-,nd llamiiton there are several
sets of icc--r(^oves, but these vary Generally frouj 8 10- W to 8 60-
W— bein- more to the southward than those on the north sid-.
of Dundas. The same ivmark appiir- to th^' eountry ti.rthe'
eastward, even to the .\ianara riv^r. [n manv places two r.p
.■von four or five different s,.t> of iee-m.irkin-s are se,.,i.

The following table represenl> x.nu- of the principal -lacial
markiu-s, adjacent to the western end of J.uke Ontario.

lilsT OK [cK (i|{(i(>\ !•;>.

^""' _ I.oeAI.ITV. hi.R,T,„.N.

VVi'st Fhimlior.i ('I'nw ii>lii|, ;

Nfar •• Prak.' at (iiiihI;i>, |.i cv.ii li,,- ) ...
,uruo\'es 1

Neai' ••['..•Ilk," at J'iiii(l,i>. utin r -lOdve- . .\. ;:;- w.

(( ,( ■' -^- '''■'• ,»• ■ > >-uuif ;ui'

„ ., '[ " ^- ^~" ^V. '. I'nive.l ill

^- '^"^ W. J same sot.
About ■: m. s. .siiai,;ni.-(i;,.ll; s, ejo jr.

IS. of Flauil-ere villa-.,. / 1>,^.|| , 1^- '' ^ ^V. rwitli etJe-i -

{ ^. •;;.' w.)

" i< .1

" •• S. 21'' W.

Ueverky : —
Near Slietiield (Dell) S. 72° Iv

" '■ ^ m. soutli-\v<->t (Drll;. ..s. -iijo j;;

*■ •• 2 111. south (jjcll; s. ,s<jo !■;

Near Troy (Bd 1 ) s. Ti';^ K

1 m. S. oCShefiirhl and '.'..■,, mm (r.,-ll;..S. 7;to \i

Aneaster : —
At AueaKter village (IJell; s. ,Vjo \v.

2 m. east of Aie^aster vilia.-r (f!cll ) . . , ..s, rp w.

"'■SFiS

z-^'rA-^'V/ fTrT:wi .p uniiiw n .m' .v .Jtj>i « mmimv,9mwmm

nmmmmamF.mm'ymm

■ i; •

so

A I lldss.itiiN (.)iian\. lilt- :; mimI I. ll. \'l l.s. in-- \V.

■■ t'liriu'Ht.TS •• Int7.1!,\]| Oliirr set S. lo" W.

N.n.T s,;t, S. 57'' VV.

,.,,,., I s. riT' \V.((loui)ly jir'vfil
•■ l-n.Mluln. In, !.,. liM. {,,„ns,„„ian.lst.iat.Ml.,

,, ., I S.i;,") W.((lt:'ci) unnoN'^s

Nr.ll .\v> lUin, nil llinlllit;ii|i.;it 1 1 aiii I I (nli, -, ,| .-_■) j,, widi' )

At Kiiss.'l > i,»ii;iny. lirad ul .hull-'- JSt.. |

lliuuiltdii. nil ii ird-c ni Mc.liiiii sand- I

stniii'. on side (ll cscnilillii'lll. 2") I I'l'i't ^ S. ^0 \\ .

mIhivc l;iki' and 1 :: I l''i't liidnw -.iini- |

iiiit )

At Vnrk. nil llii' <;i-atid livci- ( lldl ). . . . S. ds" K.
At \\'liirl|inn|. Niaizarii river (din-<finn "( ^^ mMV

nl ri\(:I' almin S. 7."i v.. I'l N. T") \\'.).. J

At Nia-afa Fall- (I'.rll) s. L's" W.

At ll.i.kw nnd (i'.rll) S. ;'.s'' K.

Ill -niuc ra-(> till' nK:k> jiii'soiUi-il a imlislicd siirt'acL' with
nmiuTnu- tinr -enitclio. in ntliers tlnic air nrodviii^.s ;i few
iiic-lio liniad. ami |uTlia[is (nic or two dvv.]\. \n otlun- places,
a^ain. tlii'i-t arc dccii troughs si-ooin'il out of the surface rock,
(hie nlthc nio>t iiiteri'>t iiiLi M'rii> ortnnmii-- is jusl north of the
'•Peak." at Duii'las (at .i hciu'liL o|' .IK; f''et aliove Ijuke Oti-
tivioj. Here thi' clayey earth has been reiiiovtHl, and the sur-
fice pre-i'iit> thi' appearance of a .-cries of crests and trouiiis
<d' wave.-, liaviiii: a distance between the crests of about eight
i'eer. with .a depth v.-irying iVoin lialf to one foot — the direction oi'
these is about S (i.')^' \V. Tlieir siiri'aces are smoothed and jjolished
.lid no aijiaiii r-iriatcd \>v several .^ets which cross them at small
angles in a niorc western line. These iee-iiiarkings continue in
-tr.iiu'ht iiiK-s. -evatchinu both the tnuiLi'lis and crests (of tlie
lar^:"' .irnoves) eipially. In -ome case.- 1 have noticed acute
VieiidiiiL:< of the -tri;ttion<.

i)\\ tlie iiortheni >ide n\' the ])iiiidas valley the Ijrow of the
e-eai|>ni'nr i- abrupt, not having the HiiLile at the <uiiiniit planed
off. (xcejit nil Hie western -idi' of (illen Spencer, when' 10(1 feet or
more have lieen ri'inoveil. by causes to be explnined below. The
Vrnw of the escarpment on tlie southern side of the Diindas val-
h'V and Haniiltiiti is e.junriy abrupt with that on tin; northern
side id' the 'own el |)uiida<. Vmt iIk immediate brow is about
lUill'eet lower. Nowliere in tic reeion about llamilto' ".n:I

mmmfmf.i ■ .-awt jipria

.SI

Aucastor do we tiiiil the luec ol' flu- cs-.-irjuinMit with it> ,umli'
jilaned off, ;iltliouj;h tlio top is in very many places icc-scratclicd
to tlie very iiiaviiin, in Jireotions varyini; IVdni 10 tlcLiVi-'cs or less,
to 20 degrees, with its general trend.

The general axis of the Pundas valley may he iilaeed at I'rom
N 70° E to S TO'-' W. Nowliert! hav^ T ohserved the -triatio'i-
parallel with its d.reetion, e.xeept at about two miles ea>t df An
caster, and at annther place at Hamilton; hut thi> l.ist, at
Hamilton, re(iuires I'urtl.er notice.

At Kussel's (juarry at the head nl' .]ame> Street, a large
amount of clay and ruhhle, derived IVoni the harder bed> n|' the
Clinton (and Niagara also) formation, was removed in lO'der to
(jUarry som*' ol' the u])per beds of .Meilina sandstone. This
sandstone is overlaid by a few feet ol' earthy dolomites of tln'
(.Million divisions, these forming a led-e 254 I'eet above tin.' lake
and 134 below the summit ol' the- mountain. 11( re I observd
that the surface had been polishe(l and scratched in the side of
the escarpment at a dei)th of \'A\ led, ahi.o,-t v<>rtically below
its brow. The direction wa- S. Sd"-^ W. or parallel with this
margin of the Pundas valley, or the •• .Mountain." It is furth(,'r
worthy of remark that although the surfiee wa< polished, the
t-triations were very faint.

VI. — I'OST I'l,l(iri:NK DF.I'osiTS.

Havini: notieei] the -eneral -laciated surfatie- of the hard pal-
joozoic rocks of the enuntry. it becouu's necessary to study the
comjiaratively modern dejiosits wdiieli rest on them in order to
understand the cau>es wliieh [iriMlueed the modern topouraphy of
the country.

Vm^r

^wnm mmmmmiMummmmi'

»i':

82

Till IwllowiiiL; t;i))K' >liou.> ;i chi.ssi ticitioii of tlie y.< .lugic:il
.■[■ochs newer tliiin the I'lioceiie Tortiury in Amcric.i, repi\ ■ iitod
in (loscendiiit; ordir :

IN WKSTiJIX oM'AKHi

l\ MAMKliN (.NTAinO, I K,^C| V A l.KNTS Kr.SK

i,ii;i:!;k('. ktc

SVJIKIIK.

Ilcciiit .Mii(|( II] I'));!, ic- I
urcsiMitcil li\ >l]i-ll-iii;irl. '
iihmIciii alliiviiiiii, etc.

(•IdtT MikI.th Em. (I'x- .Mml. n, Kia.
' ;iv.itiiiii> el vallivs in
tt-riacfs (lui'iim a soinr-
^\ hat iimic ilcvati'd coiiti-

lU'lil).

Miiddii

Ki

1 (..!■

Eu

IH.pt')

Uciiulci

r. (

r So

■(.II.'

Glaci

il 1-

111 (if

Ell-

rupu.

TcinK rsand 111 a(lH>.(.\i- .,, ,, , ' ,,,

tciiiisia mavrh. nia, ,■> ^v l.ca.dics.: 1 iTiaco and Bcaelu-j.

Ai,i;iiiiia >aiid I .'j Saii^i'ci] | Saxica\a sand
I'lcsli-wattT clays. l-"or<\st '
1"(1 (as (.f Oinii), I

I'>ri(^i-lav (with tVw Ik.iiI-

[..■(l;i rlav.

Uould.Trlay(iiv,|.:,i,.utly Bnuld. i , lav
aliment).

Strkaind pc'iiL

Striatrd 1(11 k.

•f ISrick rlay (with
~ Arctic .shells.

PlJ C- Scotland).
z z fvanics (Scotland

_£T Q Moiainit' debri.s,
2"'-r ] pcix hed bloek-s,
S ^ ^Tavids, witii

■P animal reniaius.

^ I (Scotlanil).

ISonldcr (lay, ot Eu-
ro[ie. Till. ot'Enioiie.

>triatcd ro( ii.

^ ft. ^rja£ Til. I., KRIK .\N(» OTHER c[,.\ys.

t^f^tnrn/ UisfrU-./don of the Ern and Sxagecn <'.7./_//.v._The
-narer portinu of the surfaces of the striated rocks of Ontario is
c(>vpr('d by AViV rhiji. This clay is always stratified, .sometimes
vvrtlfc sandy partinii^, and is more or less calcareous. It is uiue
•rhfflii wet, biict of an a.sh-color when dry, and the upper portion
\' of very tine textiire. Tt lre(|uently contains rounded boulders
and according ro Dr. Robert Bell, the lower portion includes a
trrfater or sm.iUer number of fraiiiuents which are ani-ular when
cemposed of paltcozoi* rock>. Tt eonta-'us no shells of marine
origin. 8nme of the immediately- overlying and clcsely associ-
ated depcwit.-^ are known to vovaain a con.siderable fauna of fresh
water shells. The Krie elay ha> been seen at various heitihts

. ,'.-,> ._.«i«,.;a3.^<fi *i.ti..fi\.'.W»»,'fea*"'*((.U.,.

w^^f^fSmmfKUllmmMmii

wtmam*

above all tlu' ^rcat lakef^, and -.vcii I'cac'hiiiL: in the v< ion nl' our
('pper Groul Lukes tu a lK'i,i;-lit >A' 1,(I0U leet above tlie sea. al
Magunctuwan river (Bell). It dccurs along Lake Ontario attlir
Diouth of Nia;^ara river, at Thorold and \V(\«t\vard. In thr (astern
part of the Dundas valley it has been pierced to Uh' depth nl' 7S
i>'et (GO of which are l)i>low the level of tlie lake. ) I ,nn not rci'-
tain of its ooeurrenet' in the upper part ot the l)iinda> valley.
South oi' Br.intford. Professor Hell e>tiinates that it niu.-t h:ivc a
thickness of To ieet, but in Walpole. some njili's ea-t oi' IJrant
ford, the eornil'erous limestone eonie> uenerally to within a I'rw
i'tX't oi' the suri'acc, who.se .soil is more or less of a clayey charae-
tor, filled with fraiiinents of oorniferous liinestonc (rielily fos>il-
iforous), brought to the surface by iVost. This day al.-o oeeui'>
hiri:ely about Jiake Erie.

The Leda clay of the St. Lawren(;e valley was more or less
itenuded bel'ore the deposition (»f thi' Saxicavi sand. So al-o
<he surface of the Kri(; clay wa-^ water worn or diimded !'y
subaerial actions. It is then overlaid (often uneoDfoiMnably) by
Ou! Snxgccii. e/'/y, which is brownish, in \ei'y thin Ijeils (one
inch, often separated by sand or ^iravel. or deposited witli inter
calated beds of sand, Tlii> clay forms a heavy -nil. In the
neighborhood of the Niagiri river and e]se\vjicr> it contains
fresh water shells. In the region almut the western eud of J.,ak(
< )ntario, much of the countrv i^ c i-.eved with this cliiv. or wlier. it
is removed by Erie day. Hut in tie' localitie-< imuiedi-ifi'ly in th''
.icinity of the Niaiiani ■ <rarpnieiit. ami oi'teii in -li- Dnnda.-
valley, we iiave the niil- iomied from i)i.e more mod' rn tains of
*he Silurian rocks.

In noticing the occuri'eiD«-e ol' the L:<*i!H'val depir-its in i'amida.
the boulder day of the St. L'i\r-cnce ippears t.p be -tantin,' in
the western portion of tlie Province of Ontario. The Rrie dav,
containing boulders, and aUv an-ular lVa<:uiet)t- in p.arr. has been
jirovi-ionally assigned .(^ the e(j)tiv;deiit ol' both the B»mider and
Leda clays of the St. Jjawreiie- \;il]e\. Tii. I>onl«t*'r day i-
unslratifii'd (oi there are- only \ery few feehle indic.irions of ^.tra-
'ification), while the Erie day i- always sir itidieil. *h"SiBiiHi: dirfer-
< nt conditions of deposits. ^''M tiie Krie (day -(.'nerally re-t- on
tlie striated I'.ihto/.ic rocks in Western Ontario.

In th*' l)urida< valley there is a (h'jMisit older ili ii rlie terr;;e(>->
(for terraces and sea-beaches occur ,■ hove it i. and p.—ibly older
than the Erie eiay uidess wr cni^idei' tlii- ■ hi_'liev ]nrtio;i ,rf ir.

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84

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but wliieli M'eius >t.'arccly |)iissible ;i.- it is tlinrougiily uiistnitifiLMl,
tilk'd with ;iiii;ul;ir IVimuioutss (if Niagara liiut'stoiies and cuii.sti
lutini: a true

77//.— Tl\i> t'drnis a iiussililc ('((uivaKMit lov the BouUlcr clay
itl'tlio St, Lawrenw valley. Principal Dawsdn remarks that the
Boulder ehiy, as fUr as it i- a uiarlno deposit, is older on liioher
levels than on the lower. Nnw, we tind that the western part of
the hundas valley is nnde u|i of great hills and valleys olUin in
the lorni nt' rcr/ns niniitntiiiei s. Cornied lai'gely by tlu' niodorn
denndatioii ol the >tri'aui>. Sonietinus these hills are eut down
to a depth ol iiearly l.")(i I'ret. Sections of several parallel range>
may )>i' scrn hy erossiiii:' tin.' (.'duntry I'roin Aneaster to the G. W.
llailway. uliout twn uiile>- <'a>t ol' Capetown. The esearpnient-
at thesi' two ]ihiees ;ire a)>niit .Idii d'ct above hake Ontario, whilst
the beds of .-.(.nic <<[' tlie valleys ( a>. for example, near the
'•' sulphur -{irings "' ) i> nor more than liK) I'eet above the same
water-li'Vrl. In this Till. a> cx-posed at the base of the hills, cut
away in road making, I >aw only IVaginents of Niagara limostones.
mostly of >uet\ thin slab> as tlu' uppei' layers of the Silurian rock>
at Dundas afford ; and the>r stones make up a large jiercentagv
o\' the whol uia>> of the bases ol' tlie hills. Again, it is possible
tiiat the>e un-tratitied deposits extend down to the Pahuozolc
rocks bene ath. wlueh may be absent for a great depth below the
level of Lake On' irio. ;is fhey are in the centre of the Dunda>
valley, niove than two mile.- I'rom the nearest p<'rtion of the
escarpimnt It i> only after pa-sing the ti inks of the.^e hills, far-
tiier eastward, that We' tind the Krie clay. Some of the.-e hillock>
near their -tunmits have old beaches, other- capped with clays
Their summits are mostly com)»osed of clays of the Saugeen
e(|uivalent or of alluvium. The source of this Till is the
ruins of tin Niagara formation, and could have been derived
from the \ipper beds of the rocks ot' that age. which occur on the
summit ol' the oearpment botli at Dundas and Aneaster.

Dr. Daw.-oii has shown that the Boulder clays of Eastern Can-
ada were deposited beneatli water and coii'tain remains (though
M\ abundant) of Arctic animds. The marine deposit does imt
ejri^.'nd westward of the outlet of fiake Ontario, but beyond this
mefld^iar, the Erie stratitie<l eliy. re.'^ting on glaciated rocks (gene
fidly), appears to occupy Us j)lace. and is often deposited at levels
belo'W the lake surface. However, there is (outside of the Dun-
da- valley), at lea.-t one place wheri.' a few feet of Boulder clay

mmmWHB'' -«l^w^1

iiiny bo socn--!it tlic O.-irrisoii Cnnniinns. just west ol' Toronto,
when! tlio stirt" cliiy contains aimular (Vaunjcnts and shihs ol' slialcs
and liardor rooks of tlio Hudson rivoi' iorniation. touotlier with
well-rounded and scratched Laurentiiin boulders.

The Erie C/<ii/ hi flir Diiixlus Vu/hi/, is ossentinllv of mode
r.'itely deop-water orisiin, with only the upper portion of tlu'
deposit exposed, and rather i'n'L' from pebbles. An intcrestini:
(diaracteristic ol' this clay is that it burns to foiiu butf-colored
bricks (popularly whitf bricks), while the ovoriyinu elay burns to
red bricks (Dr. Bell). It is finely stratiiied with rre(|uciitly thin
seams of sand. In the Dundas valley, the best txposurt's are on
the sides of the brancii of the Dundas marsh, which passes up to
Beasley's hollow, west of Hamilton. Tt is esjiocially wi'll shown
alonji' the side of tlu; marsh between the Protestant and (.'atholio
cemeteries. There is here an exposuiv about IJd i'eet thick. A
considerable portion of the terrace which extends from Dundas to
Hamilton, at a lieiiiht of about 70 feet above the lake, has its
marjiin, borderini>' on the Dundas marsh, underlaid by Erie clay
for about the lower HO feet of exposure. The upper portion of
the terrace is made up of a hitihly arerxsK-eous clay of yellowish
brown color, resting unconforinably on the surface of the Erie
clay, which had been denuded, and in places removed by streams
before the deposition of the clay, which when wet resembles a bed
of sand in strata from one to three inches thick. This latter clay
is probably the representative of the Smtyecn c/iii/.s. and is best
shown in section alonu the Hamilton and Dundas street railway.
An unconformable junction is exposed just near the •■ basin '" of
the Desjardins canal at Dundas. This lattijr clay forms the
loamy soil of one of the tinest pieces ol' farmiiiii' land in C'anada.
At the cutting- of the Hamilton and Dundas railway, between
the Half Way house and marsh, there is associated with the latter
deposit a bed of very fine oravel where the pebbles are less than
an inch in diameter. This may possibly be of more recent origin.
In Beasley's hollow, near Ainsley wood, these clays rest on the
Medina shale, and are represented by only a few feet exposed.
According to Dr. Bell (as we have noticed before), the Erie clays
extend to at least (!0 feet below the surface of Lake Ontario, in
the Dundas valley. To what depth it extends [ cannot say, but
it is underlaid by a Till to a depth of about 227 feet below the
lake, near the margin of the ancient valley described in former
pages. The '■'■Brown clui/s^' are also exposed on the northern
Toi,. X. s No. .5.

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ll"'^,?fyW-)P^,',>'

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side of tlic Duritlas viilK'V, mi the fcrr.icr, iit !tO Icct above the
water, on whieh the Dundus ei'iiie'tery is situated.

Whilst the Erie clays extend to a eonsiderable heiti^^ht above
I lie lake on the borders of the marsh, they do not reach much
higher than the water level at Bnrliuu,toii Heights. This fact
lias a lieariii'j; on the study of the Heights themselves.

Between the Dundas valley and the Grand river (that is, in the
western j)art of the township of .\neaster and the adjacent por-
ti(jns of Brant), the country is generally overlaid by a brownish
<lay. ol'ten loamy, remarkably free from stones, and the ecjuiva-
lent (on tlic .surl'ace) ol' the Saugeeji clays. Prof. Wilkins has
dbscrvcd this •' lu-own clay '" in stratified bods along the Fair-
child's creek.

T/ir F'iri.sf /)(</ of Ohio, rejin'sented in Canada by logs and

stumps, in the brown clays, at Toronto and elsowlierc (Hind),

iiarks the period of elevation of land during which the Erie and

Ijcda clays were denudfd bel'ori' the deposition of the Saugeen

I'.renaceous clays and Saxicava sand (of the St. Lawrence valley).

Vlll.

<T.\TE.ME.NT t>K TlIK OLATIAL AND lOKBERd THEORIES.

Before eonsideriiiLi iurther the Pdst IMioceue deposits which
occur in the "region al)out tlie western end of Lake Ontario,'"
lot us briefly examine the two theories that arc given in explana-
tion oJ' their origin. It is not my purpose to enter details except
♦hose that bear on the explanation nf the deposits in the region
of study.

Thn (j'/acl'i/ Thforj/. — During the later Tertiary days the con-
tinent stood at lea.st several hundred feet above its present alti-
tude, probably at the time of the advent ol' the "great ice age."
The two theories — the Glacial or Glacier, and the Iceberg or
Floating Ice— -difler f<sentia]iy in the earlier jiart of the epoch.
The former of these theories (or hypotheses) seeks to prove the
continuing elevation of the continent after the close ol' the Plio
cone epoch proper; that a great continental ice-sheet capped the
northern portion oi' America, and reached in some instances as far
of the oOth parallel of latitude; that the old rivers flowing
southward had a greater pitch than at present, and thi' waters
from the melting daeifrs running down the elevated old river
channels in a southerly direction (and also making new ones),
K'ooped out most of th(> basins now liuried to a depth oi'ten seve-
r;il hundred feet below their modern reprcsentativeSj or the pre-

,-iiS:;rf)*v:-"ieiiiif'it'l-i^U'

??f;^%^e*> ?,,

87

sent surraeo of tlu; Liud where the aueieut valley."* are entirely
obscured. At the same time the erosive eHect.-- were obscured
l)y the stones and ile/jfis de['ii>ited by tiie uieltin^i: ;^laeier, bein^
trau.sporte(l by the waters lu.-sliinji' down the -<teep jiitcli of tho
river beds. With an increased elevation of tlie land, the conti
MOUt would be more elevated to the northward, which would still
i'urther iucrvase the veloeity ol" tlie w.tfcrs flowing southward, and
retard or altogether stoj) those Howinu nortluvard. Other exea
vatinu' efi'ects would be produeed by tfii; ulaeiers shovini;' lor
ward the dcicomposed roek beneath themselves. The ixistiuu
valleys would to a ureater or less dei;ree determine the direction
of the glacier itself. The.se jilaciers, laden with stones and ilvbn'y,
moving over the land would naturally plane off the rocks below
them, and the stones and sand contained in the ice would pro-
duce their striated and polished surfaces. The glaciers would
transport the local material by the thrusts ; and the rocks and
other contained dehrls derived from the source of the' glacier it.sell'
would be deposited as it melted, thus producing terminal (and
also lateral) moraines. In order that the glacier could move
southward it is not necessary that the surface of the land should
have any slope, I'or if the ice were sufficiently deep, the weight to
the northward or towards its source, would cause it to flow like
•1 mass of apparently solid pitch, whieh when piled up is con-
stantly seeking a lower level. CroU has calculated that the ice
could flow if the suri'ace stood at half of one degree above the
ocean level. The terminal moraines produced would tend to duij
the waters beneath tlie glaciers caused by their melting.

After the cro.sion by glaciers (and the striations of the surfaces
if the rocks) was accomplished the continent began to be de-
pres.sed, and the subsidence went on until the land was more than
r)00 feet below the present altitude. (But we will subsequently
see that the depression continued till a submergence of 180(-'
feet at least, or perhaps several times that depression was attained/.
This subsidence and also the previous damming of lake and river
basins produced Immense inland lakes beneath the continental
ulaeiers, or floating icebergs de/ivcd from them. As tlie glacier»
melted, the transported dtbrls contained in them was deposited in
in unstratified manner on the land, or where it fell into water it
^vas partly stratified. This period of the glacier constitutes the
Diluviau era or Lower Champlain epoch. The preceding period
of elevated continent forms the period of glacial drift. But the

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^ifieater part of the uustratitied drilt, as stated by Prof. Dana,
was deposited iu the Lower Chaiuphiin epoch.

The boulder eh>y of the St. Lawrence was deposited in both
the Glacial Drift and Lower Chanipiain epochs (of Dana), and
a portion of the Erie clay of the region of the great lakes iu the
latter epoch, if not in that of the Glacial Drift of the present
classification. But as the Erie clay is stratified, it could not
have been deposited in the epoch of the Glaciai Drift according
to the tlieory of an elevated continent. After the Diluvian or
Lower Champlain epoch, the waters continued to be deep, but
with much floating ice, bearing erratics. This constitutes Dana's
Alluvian or " Upper Champlain era " of stratified clays and
gravels.

At the same time the Leda clay (stratified by water and of
marine origin) and the upper portion of the Erie clay (stratified
and of fresh water origin; were deposited. Then the seas became
shallow from the elevation of the continent; and, finally, in
some places a forest growth appeared on the uplifted land
Again, there was a subsidence on the production of a glacial lake,
and tlare were then deposited the upper beds of Dana's " Allu-
vian era," corresponding to the Saxicava marine sands of the
St. Lawrence, and the Saugoen clays of Ontario. There was
still boulder-laden floating ice. As the continent was again rising,
or the waters of the glacial lake subsiding, the elevated terraces
or beaches were made at heights from 17(10 feet to the sea level
in the region of the lower lakes. These terraces will be described
iu succeeding pages. This elevating process continued until the
continent stood at perhaps 200 feet above the present altitude,
marking an epoch known in Europe as the Reindeer or Second
Glacial period. Then came the subsidence which brought the
continent to the present general level with the modern deposits.

The Jci'U'fg Theorij. — The Iceberg Theory differs essentially
in the beginning and oarly days of the "Great Ice Age."

According to this theory the old channels now buried were
producid in days before the advent of the Glacial period, by
the ero>ive action of the atmosphere, and pre-existing rivers,
when the continent was at a higlier elevation, and date back to
very aueient geological times. At the commencement of the
Ice Age the continents were subsiding until depressed much be-
low tlio jtreseut sea-level. At the same time glaciers were
aeeumulatiug iu the northern highlands, aud even farther south-

89

ward, where therti were any elevated peaks or table lauds. These
highlands were coustantly seodiug off icebergs which, breakiug
loose, were borne southward by the oceanic or lacustrine currents,
and carrying with theni their loads of stones and lUbris from the
region of their foundation. The striations of the roek surfaces
in continental areas, remote from glacial-producing mountain^,
(or hills perhaps) was accomplished by the stranding of the bergs
in the comparatively shallow basins. This action is shown to-day
on the coast of Labrador and Greenland. At the same time the
melting bergs were depositing their loads as boulder clay. The
iceberg theory accounts for the boulder clay of the St. Law-
rence and the stratified Erie clay (with boulders) of tiic lake
region, both dating back not only to Dana's Champlain epoch,
but also to the epoch of his Glacial Drift.

There is no material difference in the explanations of the origin
of the middle and later deposits of the Glacial period, as rendered
by the more liberal view of the glacial and iceberg hypotheses,
both recognizing the subaqueous origin of the Leda clay, the
upper part of the Erie and other stratified clays, the Suxicava
and other sands and beaches. However, according to the glacial
theory, much of the stratification of the deposits took place in
lakes and rivers dammed up by the glacier itself, without so
great a subsidence of the continent as the extreme iceberg theo-
rists would have.

Distribution of the Xortheni Drift. — Let us now examine
what evidence, aiding the elucidation of the history of the Great
Ice Age, can be derived from the .«tudy of the region of Lake
Ontario. In doing this, however, it will be necessary to go some-
what out of the locality of our immediate study.

The so-called ice-cap of the northern hemisphere was con-
fined principally to the region of the North Atlantic Ocean. In
America, Professor Whitney states, as the result of extended
observation, that there is no evidence of an ice age at low levels
along the Pacific Coast, excojit along the sea, at sueh elevations
as could be glaciated by floating ice during a slight subsidoiiee
along the coast of Vancouver's island, on an adjacent coast of
the mainland. The southern limit of the northern drif"t on the
eastern side of tlie Rocky Mountains may be approximately
designated by a line drawn from the head waters of the Saskat-
chewan river to the mouth of tlie .Missouri river, thenee to the
centre of Oiiio. through Pennsylvania andNe.v York, tn northern
Now Jersey.

90

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In Europe the northern drift descoudcd i'roin the Scandinavian
niouutain.s towards Central Russia. It did not cover Eastern
Europe, nor any portion of Asia, Itut in the catjtern hemisphere
it was confined to the north Atlantic.

The greatest development of the deposits of the Ice Age ij>
:idjacent to where there would have been the greatest precipita-
tion of moisture. We sec to-day that much of Greenland i>
eoyered with glaciers, but Messrs. Fieldon and Kance (of the
Arctic Expedition of 1875-76) observed the paucity of glacier.-
in Northern Greenland, and that neither tliero nor in Grinneil's
Land, north of about lat. SO'' 20' were icebergs (derived from
glaciers) met with, but all the ice was considered asfloebergice
Capt. Nares explains tlie dift'erence between the ordinary floe
and Polar sea ice. The former is only a few feet thick, and
meeting with obstacles, it sometimes gets piled up 40 feet or
more in height, while the latter is S<> or 100 feet thick, and
dimply lifts any obstacle in its way. Now, our glacial friends, in
referring to the " American Ice ^aps " or sheet, can only refer
to the region covered by nortiiern drift before roughly outlined,
which did not even cover Alaska. It must also be remembered
that any such ice cap, as they require, would be lessening in
thickness ;«s it receded from the eastern margin of the continent,
with its Laurentian and Appalachiiiu Chains of mountains, to
cut off the Atlantic moisture, as we have just seen with regard
to the northern coast of Greenland. We are told that the drift
is found in the White Mountains at an elevation of more than
r>20() feet on the top of Mount Washington, with erratics (be-
longing to a lower topographical level) on the summit of the
mountain, and that all this debris was pushed up by a glacier.
Whilst there seems no doubt of the existence of <;laciers in the
White Mountain regions, it seems really too hypothetical to place
.'I glacier in the White Mountains at the high elevation, that in
moving would push up lUbris even 500 feet from the summit of
the highest adjacent mountains.

ThuknesH of la: dip. — When Professor Agassi/ tionoun«ed
his glacier hypotheses, re(|uiring a continental glacier to over-
top by 2,000 feet, the highest peaks of Mount Desert Island
(which are in the same latitude as Mount Washington, with
an elevation of more than 1500 feet) and project to Long
Island Sound — Professor Leslie calculated " the height of
the snow mass necessary for producing the supposed motion of

Hi

01

thi;5 glacier at 20,000 f'eof, at the pole) and the abstniction of
that amount of water I'roiu tlio sea would lower the sea-'evol
«>ver the whole globe about tiOO feet. The snow cap necessary
to lift d'-ift material over Mount Washington would so much ex-
ceed thiS thickness as to increase the in:prob:;bility. Nor does
it seem jiossible that any local glacier in t'lo White Mountains
could, even il' it had a sufficient thickness to produce its own
flow, lift drift materials several hundred feet higlier than the
place whence they came, and not sheer off on the lower icf and
pass around the high j)eaks — a constant re(|uircuient ol' the
glacier hypothesis.

It is )iot my purpose liere to attempt to discuss the ice cap
in the Whitf Mountain legions. Yet it is nt'cessaiy to refer to
this region on account of the great elevation of drift material, in
looking out the causes of the drift in the region ( f Lake Ontario.
The local evidence of moraine-lbrmed dams does not seem suffi-
cient to counteract the seeming impossibility above pointed out.

Tr(insjii>rt<it!on hi/ Count Ice. — The floating ice theory here
answers much better than that of the glacier, for on the conti
uent sinking tlic ruins of the hills of lower levels eouM be carried
upward by the action of coast or pan ice oi' successive years,
which alon<: the Hestigouche and St. Lawn nee rivrrs has been
IvDOwn to move enormous blocks "f rock to a considerable dis-
tance in a single .H'ason. The great precipitation of snow about
the North Atlantic, along the ranges of American mountains
borderinii it. would tend to depress the north-rastern portions of
the continent more than either those to the southward or west-
ward. This depression was nearly 2,000 feet, at least in the
later Terrace e]joch of the Tee Age, beyend the Western End of
Lake Ontario. Tn the mountain regions of the l^icific coast
the evidence of a ubsideuce to more th;m 4,<»0(> ftct i^ ap-
parent.

At the northern end of Skaiieatelcs l^aki' in New York we
tind, at an elevation of SOO fi'ct above tlic sea. Coruiferou> lime
stones, which belong to rock beds ni situ at only lower levels fc
the northward. These apparently wen* lifted upward by floating
ice durinu' tlie subsidence of the region. Airain, at the Western
End of Lake Ontario, we find ureat quantities oi' water-worn
pebbles, who.se original rock lies thirty or I'orty miles away, but
at only lower topographical levels, except a great di^taoce away.

Tcnniit'il Mnfuitf: I/j/jxitlnsis. — Another evidence strongly

92

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Jidilucod by tlu' irl'ifialists. in support of the contincntnl ^.'lacier,
is the so c!illo(l torniinal moraine, represented in Canadian North-
Wcst Territories and North- Western States by those ridges of
drift liills. known as Coteaii dc Missouri. Totcau des Prairies.
Kettle Moranios (of Wisconsin ). the rid_L'es about the southern
end of Lake Michiiian, across Ohio and Pennsylvania, the rantre
of drift hills of Nck Jersey, and the <lrift hills of Long Island.

The whole of liong Isliiiid is composed of stratified drift (con-
sidered by I'rof. Dana to have been deposited by the glacier ice
water). Several, at least, of the so-called moraines of New York
and Ohio, rcpresentetl by the ridg(>s south of Lakes Ontario and
Erie, are evidently old water margins. The ridgeg south and
west of Lake Michigan, constituing the so-called Kettle Moraines,
are rudely stratified, according to Dr. E. Andrews, of Chicago.
And the described structure of the North-western Coteau, con-
taining so much gravel and boulders, even if the greater protion
be not stratified, together with the flat country to the north and
north-ea.st (whence much drift material from the lower level of
the valley of Lake Winnipeg was tran.sported westward and
southward to much liigher altitudes) makes us look with doubt
upon much that has been written about these regions, in support
of the favorite Ice-Sheet theory.

With e(|ual propriety could we call the Artemisia gravel and
the Oak ridges (to be referred to under Terraces) as terminal
moraines of the Province of Ontario ; (at least the former of
these ridges rises to an elevation little inferior to the Coteau des
Prairies). These highest and most distant ridges, surrounding
the great lake basins containing unstratified boulder clay would
be just what one would e.Kpeet to find wliere the laden ice, from
northern highlands, after crossing this island sea, became
stranded, and finally melted as the old hills were sinking to,
or rising from the sea.

However, it is not my purpose to discuss the subject of the
Glacial Geology of America, but only to describe some of the
surface features in the '' Region About the Western End of Lake
Ontarion," and see what lessons can be derived therefrom.

Agents of Ghicintion. — Glaciation of rock surfaces can be
produced by the action of the glaciers containing stones, or by
that of floating ice shod with rocky matter. Ice of itself, unless
frozen to its bed has no important erosive action. In fact, the
principal erosion beneatli a glacier is produced by the action of

^f

^:

running wjitcr, hurling .•ilon- tin' ilihrix fn.ui tho nultiri.u ul.uMrr.
Again glaciers (lorivc tlioir iiriiiciiKii Io.kIs oi' ,f,;h)-is froni ovrr
lianging rocks, wliicli would scldoiu appear above .( -.'rand conti
nontal gliicior. Ico with even little or no loreign ni;iteri;d ina%
polish surfaces (not scorify) when hurled by the action of wav.'s
and tide, as seen r.;- I»rof. ri. V. Hind, on the coast of Labrador,
where tJie hard rocks have been polished for several hundre<l feet
above tide, durinc the time that that portion of tli.' continent b.n
been rising.

From various Arctic expeditions, we learn about the enornio)i.«
.|uantity of detritus which is aimually ren.oved by the floe oi
coast ice. though only half a dozen leet thick. This ice -et> piled
up. and by the action of wind and tid.> abrades \hr shore to nn
elevation of ;U» feet or more.

Our American geologists nf th.- -I.icial seliot)! x-em unwillinL-
to attribute the .scorifying i.r.wer to flo.-iting ice. which become-*
temporarily stranded. Kven the grindin- o{' the contained stone-
in flo.iting ice stranded at low tid,. in the trough of w.ives of
a rough sea. acting during lonu' perind< of time, wunld j.roduce
-reat effects. Fairly considerii.g the fpiestion, tlie ice-marked
-urfices of the region of our study tell us but little in favor ol
either the glacier or the iceberg hypothesis Kven the south
eastern striations in the highland counties of Ontario (character
izcd in part by the Artemesi;i gravel) at most could only have
been produced by local glaciers discharging small bergs into the
Ontario sea. whose general currents were drifting to the .south
westward.

Any continental glacier pa>sing over the region of our study
must have filled the basin of tho western end of Lake Ontario and
the ancient Dundas valley (more than two miles wide, and from
750 to 1000 feet deep) else the Niagara escarpment of preglacial
date facing the lake would have been planed off by tlie erodinir
I'orce which struck it obliipiely without having the direction of
the force changed (except in the valley itself; for we find the
summit angles sharp. Nor has this sharpness been subsequently-
produced by frost action as indicated by the talus at the ba.se of
the slopes. The ancient Dundas valley, as has been pointed out,
brintrs additional proof, that the region was not excavated by
glacial action. Even the removal of the upper hundred feet of
flie escarpment on the western side of Glen Spencer, which most
nearly resembles glacial action, was not effected by ice-action but
^'O*- ^ s 2 No. .0.

Ml

V

■n >•

'■<y >uliiii.ri!il :ii:(ii(ios, uliiili ri.'iiinM'd ihc uiipt,'!' suilaci's ul' tln'
larriAv sjinr of r<K-ks M'|iaratiii:; this ^l(•ll ami Ulcii Webster from
"lie riinnii ol' the Duiulas valley.

It seems imftossible that in the ret;iuii ol' the hikes any ^roal

TiKiviiiii ulaeier <]i<l exist, which measured Irtmi a depth ol" what i*

mw ."lOH I'ert below tlie sta to a heijiht sufiioieiitly ^'reat to pusli

(irwaiil tiie ilt'Jirix Worn that drpth to an elevation ul' Irom lOOtt

o 20(1(1 t'fei or more over the hiuiilamln ol New York, I'euusyl-

>aiiia and (Hiii'. The eniilii;uration id' the reiiioii would not

'.avor ^iieh :i eomlitioii ol iee- lor ilie mouiituiti.i ol' Labrador.

'r<^mlKe, and ol New KiiLiland. a^>isted by those of New York

Old l*enii>\lvaiiia. toj;etliei' witii thi' hiulilands (d' Ohio, would

iiave neees.-arily -ji;? off tlu! moisture and ]ireveiited the precipl

lation (Ml the interior of the confiiient. as we today see iu Hall'.-

liasin and tlir I'nlar sea in the far north.

(h!(jin "/' llimlilrr ('luij.- lJo\ilder elay may be produced
I'V floatiiiLi iee as Will as by Lilaeiers. I'rof. II. Y. Hiud
las iibxivi'd iis fdrmatioii at tlir |ne^ent time on the eoa.st of
Labrador, by the action of pan ice. In Arelie rei;ions the ooii-
'ortion of submarine mml by tlic jamminii of straiidiiij; masses
■if the thick ice nf ilic polai' si'.i>. Iia> been observed to produce
-well cH'eets ;i.- are often attributed to L:laeier^, and could (|uitc as
• asily by piisliiiit: alon^ the softened mud jiroduee the so-culled
:.:round moraine, a> a Lilaeier.

Tliii/i-i < ss iif' />////, -ThrouMhdut ilie I'rovinee of Ontario, the
average thickness of the I'ost IMioei'nc deposits is less than 50
feet, exeeptinu in buriecl channels :nid alont; eei-tain ridges. A.»
' xhibitetl in many sections exposed to llu' bed rock and iu many
bore hole,-, it seem- that the drill i> nearly everywlusre stratified,
tnd the nnstratitied drift i- the (Xception outside uf buried
■hannels.

(llociiil Liil.i ( lljiimllii tlnil ). — Accordinu to the i^lacial the-
ury, after the reee.-sion of tin; nhuier-ice which scooped out and
filled the Lireat lake basins, and moved over the hills ffrom 1500
to 250(1 feet abovt; their deipest l>i,'ds)to the south, there was
]iroduced a i:reat ulacial lake by the elosinu of the outlets with
ice, and in this lake the stratified drift was de,.,jsited. We have
already shown that the lakes are not of lilacier origin. If it had
been possible for the ice to have been ]iushcd up and over the
jreat elevations referred to, yel it ^eems biglily improbable, that
a remnant of floating iee could have dammed up not only tlu-

!•'.

I..wor outlets t(. thr lacMstriii,. >,a. I.uf ••(Im, rai>,.| i„.uiv of tl,..
lower ridires t., tli.' sn„tl, In mm ice Iw.rrler siifri.-ient f.." j.nv.M.t
the overflow of its waters. A^ remarkod l.y l>,„r. |)..,„a, „.,
iiiorJiines boar -vi.leupe (.IMicli a ilain at KlOd fW>t alx.ve tli.- m-;,
\u the Province of Ontiri.. tlie stratifie.l .Iril't in v.-ry tnaiiv
places is at a niuel. liioJier lev.l tlian Ion- stretelies of tli." h.rrie •
ranijes to the sr.uth. .Moreovrr, at the time wlwii part of the..-
.-tratitio.l deposits were hcin- pio-liiee-l tlie srn eonfiiiied little o-

110 floatin- iee wherewith to Hos.. tl ntlrts. nmeh Ie>> to i„

ereaso hei-rhts of the harrier-.

•nidothrr f'/<n/.s:-.\vvnvi]\u'^ to tle^ -hteial th.'ory the eontinetit
stood at a umeh hi-her elcvatim, in the ie.- a-e than at the present
time, yet it does not demand atiy very ureat ehaimvs of level. So
also in the ahove remark.^, the Mihjeet of local oscillations has not
hoen an element of eonsidnation. yet -rn-at (-han-es of level did
take place. The marine houhhr drift ol' the St. Lawrence valley,
eontaiidn- Arctic shells, reaclw^ an elevation of over :>0l» fi-ot,
irrespective of hi-rher tmd inorr inodcrn t.-rraces. AI.so the coasr
of Labrador has been i<nown to hav ri.xn to ure.at hei-hts ^inc
the ice tioe. Prof. Dana remark- that the continent was mor<'
••levated to the northwanl thiin the southward.

Diirin;; the ^reat accnmulafion ef iee alon- the mountains nt
Labrador, (^icbee. N,.w Knulaiid. N.-w York, etc. and in fact
■ iromid the north Atlantic, thcv would ||,.,v,> bceti a relative sink
inu- of the continent ari.-iiiu fi-.,ni the clianav of the centre ol'
-ravity of the earth. The sub-idenc,' would be-in alon- the
Atlantic coast and extend westward. We know that the lar-e
deposits of Houlder clay in the St. Lawrence valley are marine
and deposited beneath water. However, on mo\ in- up the St. Law-
rence valley the evidences of fh." marine eht.racler -radually disap-
pear as the Arctic sjiells Ciinnot be traced to tlw; western di'posits.
-Vor do any of the m.arine I'f.rt Pliocene deposits pass westward of
the east end of the valley of Lake Ontario (who.«e elevation is 247
feet above mean tide). The unimportance of the IJotdder clay
farther west in Ontario, or more frcfiuently its entire absence,
with Erie stratified clay containing a few boulders, especially near
its base, resting on striated rocks, points to the fact that the ice
•ige and the continental subsidence be-an earlier to the north-
eastward than it began iu the valley of Lake Ontario and the
region to the west of it. 'IMiis being the case, we have ati oxplri

an-

:•(;

•^!lv

'.it

4

M'

^

.itiuii li»r ilif clwiiinc of cIiiiiMrlcr ••!' tliu drift doposit.x from the
Jiiiriiic •• Boulder clay '" of flic St. li.iwroiici! vuUey to that of tin
lower ln»iildt'r bearing; (probably ) fresh-water Krie stratitied clays,
ior the eoiiditioti> favorable tit the deposition of the topoi^ruphi
eajly lower IJoulder day would e.vi.xt ♦■)r a loujicr period than
those of the Hri»' t;lHy haviiiy- been beu.uu and partly completed
ht.'fore tilt! formation of the latter elay. The inerea.sin^ accumu
lation iif ice about the barrier hills would elose the iSt. Lawrence
valley to marine eurrents, and eut off much of the precipitation
ot' nioLstiiri' from the interior ba^iii. leavinii, it freer to the action
of coast and bef.; iee from the adjaeent mountain!!.

IIi,uh«'r than the .Niagara isearpment, or T.'itt feet above the
M'a, the eountiy beyond the western t-nd of Lake Ontario aflord*
vrry little Boulder clay cxeejit in old buried valleys,

'J'lie Lireater part of Erie elay appears tu be contemporary with
?l)c- later d»;positL 1 (tortious of the IJoulder clay and with the
l>eda elay of the 8t. Ijawrence valley during a time of contracted
ice sheets, when the sea was aiiaiii inakiii'j; inroad.s on the conti
iient. The Erie clay occurs at elevations ol' IttOO loot in the
I'rovince of Ontario.

TIti' I iijH'ofm (J}i<iriiit> I <>i llif (i/iiilnf lli/j»<>fln)it'n.-\{'tiir
eartdul study 'tf the subject ol the di ift deposits in the lakere^'ion,
and after readini;' an immense amount of literature on the subject
of glacial geology ol' America, wherein itne tinds many intcreresf
ing discoveries, yet an enormous amount of dogmatism unworthy
of scientilic observers, there is but <ine conclusion that I can
arrive at — namely, that the glacial theory is not applicable to the
explanation of the physical features of the lake region, either of
the moulding of the country, as citusidered under the origin (if
the lakes or ol' the glaciation. oi of the drift depttsits of the On-
tario peninsula. It is true that a great thetiry cannot be cou-
.siderod either as pritven or ilisjtrovcn by limited observation.
and that is all which this jtaper purports be — tint a consideratitm
of the whole subject, <>veii as far as America is concrned, much
less Kurope.

tJn'titu iij'ti'r the <'/i),si of' fin h'jiarli I'j' A'//' r/«fy.- After tli''
period of the deposit of stratitied Erie elay. there appears to have
been an elevation of the land, for in Ohio and other States it is
succeeded by a forest growth and dcnudatiitn of the surface of the
country.

During this time in Ontario the >url ice of tin' Erie day was

tmm

97

•IfUU.lcil. »., ||i;,l llu' MicwM-iiiim .Sau_Li,iii i-\ny. li,. ,,ii it utlituJUl
ly. The vailoy Ml llu- Dii.i.lus tiiai>li aii.i liurliiiutcn bay.
be^i(lc!, »ui-li iiibutiuy >tream> as the CoM Spiini; c-ivjek wore
rxt-avati-.l ill it. The Cuhl Sprinu cnvk txcavatod a ..-hauiuil in
the Kric day a R-w huiidnil Itvl wide (us sccu aloii- the Ifaiu-
iltoii uiiil l)uii(la.> strec'l railway, which (hj^ccu.ls to the ujai>h
alout,' thi.< civok;. bt'lim- th.- (K-jHiMtioii of tho arriiai'i-ou.s clay.
lu I'act, a furisidiMablf poitioii ..J' the Duiida.s valley was reexea
vated by the lar-e >treaui.«; o|' till.-, liiiu'. It was during thi.s period
ol'deuudatioii tliat the toie.<t trees were Hourisliiiiu wliieli are Couiid
under the clay,>, and sands about the eify ol" Ttuoiito and in th«-
iScarboro Ilei-hts. Then came the subsidence with if- depo.sit of
Sauueen -brown clay" (de>eribed before), which eoveis so mu.di
of the surface of the i)mi<Ja.v valley and in Jiict a ureat jH.riiou ol
the Province ot Ontario. Diiriu- this deposit then; appears to
have been little or no floatini: ice in the rej-ion ol' .study, as there
is a remarkable absence of erratic-. The erratics bclon- to lucr
date.

Tltf Sinrhuru /A/cyA/.s- Kast of Toionto. Mr. «Jeor-;e Jen-
nin<i.s Hiude lias written an iMteiestinu paper.-- I'lifortunately
• (.'aiiiuliau .ImiiiiuiI. !h7T.

the author is a member of the nmre advanced .sehuu] ol" ulaciul
thought. Over the stratilied el.i^s .ind sands there is a deposit
of what Mr. Ilinde calls Till. This lills a vrdley ..f a sireiu,
scooped out by a probably interuhieial stream. Il.jw-ver, the
writer consider.s it (which he ti-uresj as a glacial hollow (like
our lakes ^ tilled up. From the evidence as laid down, it is euii-
spicuously an old water course. ,ind there is no evidi uce -iveu tn
.show its i;lacial origin any more than there is evidence of the
glacier excavation of the lakes. Thi- so-c;illed Till is compuM-i
of far drifted Trenton limestones and I tiea -late-. The mo-i
rational description of the presence uf ihi, •■ Till i- it- deriv i
tion by coast ice from the Treiiinn .md Ttiei mek- wliieh
formed the shores to the nortli and east.

Closing li',n,n'h-H nil th, (.'/aria/ Tiiairi/.- -\\\ \\\v Dundus v;.I-
ley there are a number of sheej* backs or n.rhrii niatitninnW'^. Tie
.summits of these hills, at least, belon- to the Tenaco epoch, and
may be easily explained by the deinidation by .Mreaiu.-. owiu- te
the peculiar features of the country, which will a-ain be noticeii.

T/k; Co'iar of tlu Arr/ir W'inf'r i> a .juestion uiiiside of ihi-
.sliori deseriptiv(! study, lluv/ever. tlic theory nj' I'u • secular

98

•f

(•li;mi:t's nl' diiii.itc, ' aii^iiii: priiiiiirily IVom tli' ('('crntiiciiy <>f'
tin t'.irtli s ojhit. .'IS |ii()|tnsf»l l»y Mr. .I;iiiif'> Cioll iiimI ;iO(!f'pt(Mi
i»y Mr. .James (Jcikic in flu! two adminiMi* work^. "(Miinatc* and
TiiiH' " ;m(l "(Jn'iit let! Aiic" seems the most leiisible; and te
those wnrks I rercr jiiiy (n<(uiriiii: readers. With re<_'!ird td the
III .{(ji nf Siiitl'iixl ami north nl" Kni:hiiid Mr. (Jeike makes nut
a much hetter ease than (Uir Ameriean ulaeial I'riends. It nuist
he rememheretl that Senthind is in the lattitnde nl' I'rnm tlie mid-
dh' tit the northern j»art of La))ra(hir. ami were the t J nil' Stream
lo diaiiiie it> I'oinse. and witli a little increase in (|U.intity of
preeiiiitatioii and lo^, to day, ii, wonld auain lieeome a njaciai
re<iion. 'I' he drift which oeeur> in the lake n^ions of Atnerici
rL'scnd)les more nearly that ol' central Kuropc than that of Scot
land and Scandinavia, where the evi(h'ncc-> ol' "jhicial action arc
more apparent than on the continent. At the ]ire»ent time only
glaciers in the far north discharge icehcrtrs into tlie sea, yet those
arc driven t'artliur .'•(mthwar<l than the extreme limit ol' southern
drift in America. It mu>t he rcmemhi'rcd that t!u'>e )u'riL:s coim
from a latitn(K' not much farther nortli than tlie Scottish islands.
'I'herefore. the American n-ader mn>t not he unintentionally
led astray. On this continent there are hut few writers who are
unbiassed, .•ind it is .■^omewhat uiicnmmt)n for a student to mt;et
with a judicial production as ^eolo<^y lia> not yet produced the
irreat min<l who has been able to decipher all the valuable hiero-
iiliphics of i-urface •/coloi;y on this continent. A portion of tho
parti/.an writin<:r is unavoidable but very many more are unwor-
thy proiluctions of the servile obedience to tho memory of the
• listinu'uisln'd foiindcrs of the ulacial theory, who never exacted
the honniue b(>stowed by som«' of their disciples, attributinir to
i;lacicrs anv sort of features wlio>e oriuin is somewhat obscure.

IX

-'li:i{K.\rKS \SU UK.^CIIKS.

Ovcrlyinu' the '• Rrown olays." or where these are absent, the
lilue Erie clay>. there is a considerabh; number of terraces and
beaches, whose remains are to be seen at the western end of Lake
Ontario. Ksjiccially is this tlie case in the Dundas valley; but
even here the majority have been more or less removed by sv;bse-
(|uent denudation, so that at the higher levels there only remains
an occasional hill capped with stratitied sand or f»;ravel, or small
frairuients of the isolated beaehes >kirtlnu; the Niaj^ara escar^
tnent.

\m

//I'j/i /l.n.h H.<ir ir.</r ,■,/„//•,<..-. U,.Mi„„i„_, ^^j,|, ,1,,, l„,.,j.|n.,
t*. the liiL;li.'>t iiltiiu'ii!^. !il)()iit till' iiiiiiicdi.nc virioits n| J.ak-'
Ontarii), tluiir is an i'xl»;ii.s|vi! ileiMi.sit ..I" sand and linr -ravel wvav
the villa-c of Walcidnwii. ..ii tlu; lit|M.rt||f NKi-iH;, . M-.irpiiHtil.
at an rlovation «.i;,(M» \W\ ( I'siiniiitfd i \\\n^\v \\u- l:,k,'.

la^jk li,,hl, „,,,,• .Ih(v/.s/. /•. On a>c.'iidiii- ih- Dunda^ valK-y
'o till! watLT-bi'.l l..'l\vi'fn it and llic (iian.l riv. r. ul.out a milf
WL'sl olAn.M^t.r viilauv. tli.'iv aiv .-.•vnal drpoMi.. ..f >fiutilird
canfl and tin.' -ravfl un the ^nnmiit- .ir ndcs m|' \h,- |,ill> :,t ..,„
flcvatiun ..f I lU W-n (.•siiniair.l ) mIjmvc ili-' l.tkc At ..„.. ,,f il,,.
'■\l.(».surc> nf ili.s,. dc|Misifs. tliciv i^ .Ml nhli.nic lii'd.lini: ilipjiin-
'S.\ do-n-o to the snutli-i-astward. Kalx' b.'ddin- i> wn ru-iiuinn.
Tin-."..; bcaclu's arc noic nv !,■>< conii.u-.l n| wril wat.T \v..ni
jicMjK's Df th.. lludxin liver Innn.'tinn. At ilu' Ninir ,.k-vati<.n
l)Ut simtli ill' llic (Jnmil liv.r. n.'.-.r Scn.ra vilhiu,'. ili.-iv i, i,u
otlitT uraM'l d('|n)sil.

JUijhi)'' lUnrl, ,,l Dninhls.- ()\n urxl li.';,rll i^ ll„ >niall

roinain.s ol' a tcnac; fuund at tlic hci-lit .if ;;.;:, t,.,.i (|r\.ii,.d)
abovt! flic lake, on liotli sidcx.C tlic iM-iuh ..I' ( ;!rii Spmi-.T. Tlir
<']ovati«.n \va- irvdl-'d on tli,. cot, m >,idc ,i| i.l„. (jidi. A> unlv
a vui-y small IVa-incnt remain-. IVin'jiii- ilu; .dder ruck., it i'.
i»o,<si})le tliat, it mav liave H.rmerlv extended >,)me\vliat Iii^lier.
This is ihc I,,.,, I, in Dr. li,.]!\, ,,,|„„.i ,,, i|„. (',,„adian (ie.,l„uical
.Survey, I'stimate.l at .'!] s |,.,.t. Tlii- de|,(,>it cMi-ist- ..f rounded
Iiebbk-s of the Nia'^ara limestone, witi, wliiel, are a-ueiai.d |.eb
hies of the Hudson river peiiod and a few (uher- .if ervMalliiie
rocks. .MuL-h of thi- deou>it ha^ liea, artitieially reni.ived in
UKikinj:' the railway I'mbankm-'nt a<-i(i-.- (il^n '«|m neer. near th.
Duudas station.

Aiiofliur r>,.i,l, ,ii .\u<:i.-.i, r i> |,,und ^n ili, ^Ide- ,.| nne nt
(hose .so-(;alli!d •• >1hv]."> l.:iek " iiMrtliw.ird horn .\i)e;t-.lei'. |i i-
probably at, the s.-.me elevation .!> il„. 1,im i, rr.ic .lr>, i ii.ed at

Duudas (3;J5 tn ;;i;(l \\.v\ above ihe jdvei. h i- rnUl|iM„.d of

very line lirav.-l ;iiid smd, deriv.] mniv or 1> -- frum Imiji Hud
hou river and Nia-ar.-i roek-. lo-etlKi with many airjular lh:d> ..l'
Niatiara limestones a.ml shales. Tlir expoMiie .,1 tlii- de|.M>it i-
ou the south >ide ..fa >iMir or ri.ij.^ whieli ri>. - n. arjy KHi led
hiylier. As the ri.l-e i> e.ivere.l with >..il it i^ miN ,a tjir pit-
where the uravfl has been renn.ve.l U^\■ road purp.-.- that -ee
tious can be .<een. Al»ove th..- -ravei- flier.- i- a d.p..>it ui ciav
coutainiu'.: many ;iii-ular -lab- ol Ma-.ara liin.-I..n' - ..nd -hales

i^':

100

More carotul cxaniiiiation is nocessjirv to •Iftcriuiiio wliothrr this
"boulder clay " is oldor or newer than the or.ivei which flankn
the hill, for in some places it iippcars to overlie the iiravcl. but it,
luay have been derived by land-slides tVoni the higher h vel of tlie
.>teep hills. In this regimi. north-west of Ancaster tbe hills,
flanked with beaehes, are separated by ravines, often 100 feet
deep, with beds not more than 240 foot above Lake Ontario.

Tcrnn-rsaf flu hrcl --y' 20 1-224 /iv/— On the hills adjacent t(.
the beaches described, nenr the outlet of (Hen Spencer, there is a
terr.'ice with a rolling surface (on whicli is the Koman Cntholu;
cemetery) of sandy material, havini: a height of 201 foot above
the lake. The side of the .same hill, at a hriiiht of 224 feet, .'hows
stratified sand and fine gravel, which is exposed for fifty or sixty
feet almost vertically. This is on tin- northern side of tbti town
about three-fourths of a mile eastward of the railway station.
The sand cont,>ins layers of fine gravel, much of which is evi-
dently of the Hudson river formation.

Terrace lit -,[ Lrnl of ISM/Jf/, — One i>)" the most perfect of
the •' sheep's back " occurs on the .southern side of Dundas. with-
in the corporation. This is situated \tehind "<lartshores dam"
and has a height oi ISO feet (levelled). A gravel pit bas been
• ipened on the upper portion and stratified gravel has been ex-
posed for a depth of .'{0 feet. The lower portion ol' the bill near
the dam is compo.sed of blue clay, but a .section of the whole hill
has not been laid open. Most of the gravel is fine, btjt it contains
a considerable number of stones eight or ten inches in diameter,
with a few slabs as much as one and a lialf feet in diameter.
The.'ie larirer stones are mostly comno.sed of Niauara dolomites
and are semi-angular. T did not find Hudson river fossils in the
pebbles, but am of th • opinion that much of tbe gravel is com-
posed of these rocks.

The Grraf Tri'u-i af \]{i /)tf ahoie Lake Ontario is the
most widely spread of all the ancient beac.ies. At the Duncas
valley it occurs on the northern side of the town and includes tht^
higher portions of the terrace on which the cemetery is situated.
Here the surface is composed <if brown clay, underlaid by a sort
of quick.sand, which is probably Saugeen clay.

The terraces and beaches at about this height are .seen on the
northern side of Burlington bay and farther eastward south of
the lake. Tbe Burlington heights (108 feet) belong to this sys-
tem. Eastward from these heights it runs diagonally with a

101

.

slight curve through the city of FLiniiUon until it abuts ntiiiiiist
the foot of the uiountain, near the head of John street. Again,
in the vicinity of tlie city reservoir (at the same height) it com-
mences .its course again and extenJs eastward. Ocoasionilly
where the older deposits are higher, or the escarpment sends out
jutting ridges this terrace suddenly stons, but beyond, where
the same contour line is met, the beaf^h is found. A terrace
northward of Toronto also occurs at a height of 108-11 1 feet
above the laice. and near Burlington at 118 feet. This terrace
ibrmed an old beach, as is sliown by the sorted and stratified
sands and gravels everywhere in the localities mentioned except
on the northern side of Dundas, or on the south-wi^tern side ol
the Burlington heights. The pebbles of this beacli contain a few
JjaUi Mitian rocks, but with this exception the whole of the mass
is made up of ruins of the rock oi" the Hudson river epoch.
These pebble^' ;'re well rounded and usually not more than six
i'lches in diameter, tilthough in .-ome places there are large
rounded .«labs from one to two foit long. I have closely exam-
ined these deposits and have never seen any pebbles that appeared
to be of the Niagara formation. Though all the stones are not
fossiliferous (some arenaceous and some calcareous), yet a very
large tiumber show the characteristic Fludson river ibssils. In
this terrace, at Burlington heights, remaiiis of the mammoth
wapiti and beaver have been ibund.

IWrai'" (It /Itr Lccd of ~i\ /fit. — Our next terrace is most
apparent in the Dundas valley, although occurring on the nortii-
ern side of the lake, and li;ss conspicuously or more gently sloping
in Hamilton and eastward. This terrace occupies most of the
country beneatli the escarpment i'rom Beasle}'s hollow, at Ham-
ilton, westward, to near Dundas. Its northern side slopes
abruptly to the southern niiirgin of the Dundas mar.>;li. There is
also a terrace on the northern side of the town ol' Dundas, at the
same heiglit (in the region of A'ictoria street and the driving
park). The central portion of the city of Hamilton is on the
same terrace which, however, more gradually slopes to the lake
level than at Dundas. The height of this terrjice is 7<» feet. It
is composed below (where exposed > of blue (Erie) stratilied clay.
Above, it is composed of a yellowish brown clay (the Snugeen
equivalent) which is inconspicuously stratified, but in the cut-
tinirs of the Hamilton and Duudas railway, \\e ' ave seen that
the sand washes out and shows the stratilication. Along the
Vol. X. r >*'"• •*■

■•' ':•'

102

*?

■m

h.uiu' niilway nittiiii;;', ikmc its ut'itlKTii iiiMiLiiii. fJien; is a bed of
Mtvy tiiio gravel wlioso ficbblos n-.st'iiibie fln)8e of Hudson river
form;! t ion. but no fossil roiiiains prove positivt^ly that origin. A?
the c'xposurt! of he limits of this jiavel is not made, I cannot
t<i\y eerfiinly whcthor it is flie same ;,i:v or not, but am inclined
<<» ret^.ird it .is ;i iiiarij;inal dejxisit on the side of the hill facing
the l)uii<l.i.> marsh at a hrinht .,f';ibout 45 feet.

/'riK-Ji ,if tlr I., nl /;/■ 1 7) /i,t. — {)[' our next beach only a small
portion niiiiiins, It has ;i heidit of about ]') feet above the
Dunil.is marsh om the s!<le ol Hcaslty's holjovv. just below the
<'athoIi(' <-cmrtrry. at Hamilton. It is composed of shell marl
juailc Mj) of masses nl' limki'r. >h('lls. wiiost,' components will be
rubse(juently noticed, under mode, n dcpi»sits.

/'I'.scitf Ijiih, /j'«v/<A.- Our lowest :ind last licach is that of the
j>rc.-cnt hike hjvcl. and extends a lew Wwt above its present shores.
The componi-nt- of this bc.ich iVnin Toronto to Hamilton and
« 'istward t(» (irimsby. Heamsvillc and Niaiiara river are of Hud-
son I'iver pel)bl(>s with a few Jjnurentian stones. In the region
of Ihimilton the jt'bblesat the lake level in [)art have been
•derived from the older beach of the snnic imiterial at tlie level of
lit) feet. But the Burliii-toM beach, M.'paritiuL;' the waters of
(he bay of ili,> s:imc name from Lake Ontario, cnild not have
been dcrivec] from these deposits by any a-i'iicy workinii' at pre-
>enf, 'I'he Ijurlington beach i< less tlian iialf a mile wide with
a mean lit;iuht ol S feet and deposited \\\ watci- about 80 feet
•<1eep. The prc.-ent Burlington beach and the bed of tlie bay are
exactly a counferiiarl of what wa< happiaiiiiii when th^. lowm-
portion of the Dunda- valley wa< submerged :ind formed a bay.
<'Ut oft" from the lake by wli.ii 'low lorm«i tli>' narrow ridge ot'
Burlington Heights.

(Jtlii r Uriiilirs ill (Jiifii li'i.- - \\\ ]s:;7. Mr, Thomas llov mea-
sured the beaches betweiMi Toronto .md Lake Simcoe. Iiavin" the
following elevations above Lake < )ntario :~- ] ](>. lMO, 2S2, 310.
:;4(;, W2, llil', oDl*. .•),'>y. .-)L>(; *;>•_'. T.U. TCI leet respectively.'^^
.\dditional gravel Iteaehes occur along the Northern railway a^
'too feet, and on desceiclinL; towanls (icorgian bay at 520, .'l^S
and ']54 feet above Lake Ontario. A -till tiner .-eiies of beaches

I

"I

• 'i'lic elevations were coiiicd (Voni llie (icrilo;:; of Canada, wlieir
fliviitions well' i;'ivi'P aliovt; sea ; the (.lcolo;:ieiil Survey plaics Lake
niitaiio at ■J;.;'J feet aliove }ii-li tide.

lor.

iiiiiy bo scon from Torontc) vvi's.tw;inl ;iloiiu tlu' Toronto, (inv an. I
IJruco r.iilway. The clovatioDs and locatioiis wcrt; kindly fur
iiishcd ni(; by Edmund Wrnizyo, E><|., the diief ontiini-cr (if the
railway. Those sand and travel deposits occur at the f(>llowini;
.'Icvations abnvo liakc Ontario : — H;o, L'8(». 37(». 71 (t, '.MM), 1;{40
Ibet respoirtivcly. Af'tor i>assini: the summit ol' tlu- road (I K!'i
I'oet above Lake Ontario) and deseendini; towards I^ake [luron
there are irravcl bods at lolK and 100(», and si-veral beds with
ilevations down to (l!t7 lott above Lake Ontaio, Aloni;
the western branch ol" the road there are also gravel deposits at
I-'!>9. li:;0. lO.')*). 87(1, 8:)<> and 8:i(» feet above I^ake Ontario.

/iiiit/us .{(fjurriif In Liiki.t Siijitrlor ntul J/nrou. — The '"(Je-
oln^y of (Vinada " contains the i'ollowin<; list of boadies adjacent
to Lake Superior, n.ar IVtits Escrits, at 3'.t8. K)8, 4r»s. .'jirj, r»L*7,
til'.') and OJKi feet almve I^ake Ontario. At Owen Sound there
are beaches at 120. laO and 20(1 feet abovi' Fiake Muron, oi
Itjr), 4!>() and ')U> feet .diove liake Ontario.

Hnir/ies Souf/i of l^nkt Oiiturin. — ^Alon;:' the (ireat Western
railway, adjacent to the valley of St. David's, (filling a portion of
the rafiini of the interLilaei.il Niaizara river) there is a beach at
:;8(5 (to about 25l>) feet above L ike Ontario.

I have not been able lo obr.iiii the list of any serie.-> of terraces
and Ancient beaelas in New Voik State. l*rof. Flail places the
highest 'lake rid.:e " at ll'O fei't. F have observed the old beach
adjacent to the Seneca lake and at the north einl of Skaneatles
lake, wiiieh nach to ,in elev.ition >()0 feet above tlie sea, and liave
placed the top of this ea<i bead. ;ibout (()1;5 i- 12) 02') feet above
(jake Ontario.

(iriivel IHihje.'i Soiifli-\\'(s( <>/' Luki: L'rlij, have beer) observed
by Messrs. G. Fv Gilbert an-i Winchell at 4!)0. ;{8(;, 408, 'jriO,
220, 19'), llii'), and 00- (I.') feet above Fiake F'lrie.

Arteiiiisi<i (!rin-('l ninl On I: Rlihy. — All the higlur beds of
>lr;itified satid and uravol alonu tin.' Toronto, Grey and Bruce
railway are within the aiea of j)r. Fiell's ArfcmcMa grniil, wlucli
forms a slii;htlv curved belt 1 00 nilles loiiu and about 2i> miles
broad, facinj; the Ontario vuUey. The belt extends from near
(Jwcn Sound, on Georgian bay, to near tlie city of IJrantford.

Dr. Bell describes the Arteinesia Li,ravel as follows: — " Tiiis
i:reat belt of gravel has a general parallelism with the Niagara
e^arpment. and follows the highest ground of the peninsula. The
materials couiposing it consi.'^t principally of the ruiu.s of the

I ■: ■;

tj '¥

104

Guelph tbrniation. on rhich the iireatcr part of it lies except
towards the southern extremity, where the Niagara formation is
hu-iiely represented. Pebbles of Laurentian and Huronian rocks
are everywhere mixed with the others and sometimes form a con-
siderable projiortion, while rounded frauments from the harder
beds of the Hudson river formation occur locally in some abun-
dance." (Note — These last rocks are obtained from lower levels.)
'• The ,<>ravel is all well rounded and generally coarse. It often
constitutes what might properly be called cobble stones, being
loose and free from any adnnxture of clay, and it is distinctly
stratified. Well-worn boulders ot Guelph, Laurentian and Hu-
ronian rocks are disseminated througli the whole mass. At
Brautford and Mount Forest (?) it overlies blue Erie clay."

1

TAKLE OF ELEVATIONS OF TERRACES, 15EACHES AND RIDGES.

The following elevations of terraces and beaches are here tab-
ulated with reference to elevation above mean tide. This, how-
ever, can only be approximately done as none of the series is
complete. Some of the elevations refer to the highest exposures
and others to pits cut into the gravels: —

Kijfrciu-ca qt lahl( vn n/'/ioi'tli jhi^

!/'■

n Oil liigii lauds of Micliiaaii.

// Snniniit of land.

(■ Bcacli also of tliis idcvatiou

on Mackinac i.sland.
<l Adjacent to Si. David's vallcv.

' Along W. (I. and Bnico lailway.
./' Along "Whitby liiaiich of Mid-
land railway.

1/ Along ]\Iidlaiid railway.
// Along T. (i. Si I!, railway.

h

lo:

TABLE OF ELEVATIONIS.

n

^.i.

>*

1

1

Gj

5^

3 ":

1

M £

CO O

_ O

s .

c c
^^

II

s

1
fc.1

B
O

55

" 1

v< U O

IF

d

.4-1

£

c

-5 .£

"^ 3

-3 —

c o

1 1

« , —
is O^

u a.

s -•

<-5

1,709 (/>)

1,700 «

1,5«7 (in)

1,557 (in)

1,540 (w)

1,377 (w)

1,307 (m)

1,297 (w)

1,247 (m)

1.237 (ni)

1.140

1,117 (w)
1.097 (w)
1.1177 (w)

f

1,003 tt.

1,011

l.OUl

1

{

959
981 to

981

923

9."i7 (in)

929

873
K05

s-17
707

944 (in)

.S18,

79.3

940
882
87-1

83.9 (■

872

79.3
708

738

900

7-18

747

749

1 •' 1

687

669
<;49

74 5
713

7o5

G33

d

035

055

r

0C3 to

001 1

582

593
557
529

00]

017

0 15

017 I
58 3C.')

i;3R

508

)

527

to

[

498

./

•171

J

457

<.->»- 4

505
479
4-18

427

407

401

43 ( to

432

405

3,7.'^

3(5:-!

342

U

:i27

325

255

to

247

km;

■•k-

.<'.

> .

At u niucli l<»wir K-vtl tli:iu thf liigluT itr nuilial jiiirtion oftLi'
Ai'tcuK'siji ur.ivcl n(.l<i(.' wliidi runs iii'arly north anJ houth ; there
i^ anotlii'i' rhV^r known us tlu' • O.//.- I*l<hji\" which loaves thu
Silurian oscarpincnt near I'aluiavc (on the \\. ii N. \V. railway)
•it a licight of Tlili I'ci't above I<ako Ontario. Ft extends eastward
to near tlic '-rireiit licnd " "I the Trent river, the .siuuinit of the
lanjre beinn about twelve or loiirtien miles nortli of the lake,
lifter passinu eastward of Torontt*. The Northern railway crosses
it at 7.')4 feet, the Toronto .ind Nipissiim at S!».'') fuet, Whitby
braneli at TSl I'cct and the Midland railway at {\(\\i feet above
Lake Ontario. It is I'roin "JOO to ."JtMJ K-et above the broad
trouuli from (ieori:ian btiy to the Uay of Quinte, occupied by
Simcoe. Balsam, Uice and other lakes drained by Trent river.
The ba.sin of this trouuh is underlaid by l'ali«'(»zoic and older
rocks. Several small lakes occur on this ridj;,e without apparent
I utlets. A spur of this ridi;e runs to Lake Ontario near Scar-
boro, and forms the " heiuht>." rising vJOO feet ;ibovc the hike.
It consi.-its principally oi" stratified fo>siliferous clay and sand with
two intercalated beds oJ' boulder-l)earin;4 clay. I*ortions of the
■Oak Ridiic" eastward ol' the meridian of Toronto, consist of
flay ridges — probably the exposed e(|uivalents oi the clay beds of
•Scarboro Hei<;hts," The hiehest portion of Oak ridge is only
i'.OO feet above the rocky floor of the trouiih, which forms the
immediate northern m;ir<:in. We are safe in concluding that
rhe stratified character of the lower portion of the ridge con-
tinues downward to the rocky floor on which it lies, or with no
important unstratified deposit bene.ilh to constitute it a moraine.

In studying these ridges, especially the Artemesia ridge, wo
eannot fail to be struck with the similarity of tho.«e so-called
Kettle Moraines of Wi.sct»nsin. Coteau des Fairies and Coteau de
Missouri. There is a general parallelism between all these ranges.
Even a portion of tlu' Artemesia gravel is nearly as elevated as
Coteau dcs I*rairies.

Other high terraces and beaches occur along the St. Lawrence
at 000 feet above the sea (Dawson); and ii» Tiabrador, at 1.000
feet, besides erratics at much higher elevation (Hind).

Tn Ireland and Wales marine beaches are found at from 1200
tn 1400 feet above the sea.

Origin of thv Tirrmua. — As before pointed out, we have no
evidence of any general morainic ch.iracter of the "Oak ridge."
( Ml studying the levels of the <;ountry covered with Artemesia

-

107

gravol, w.; M'c simply ;i lii-li riil^v i)\' laiiil wiih li,:„!, iniiilviii--
Jill the viiiy ditwii fmiii tlic suimnit (over 17<»0 livt iibove tlu' so.i
to an altitude of iihoiit ItJO 1'ect, -urntumleil by oik! *uceessi(»u of
(»1<1 water-tiiar^iiis. iiidicatitii: the -rjidual m-DWth by elevatiou of
a rocky or •_'etiorally rocky island, \\>v the "Artt mesia ^riivrl"
reposes ,as fir as 1 !iave been able to leaiii) on hard rocks or
titratificd clays, except iu th»? nld Imried chanin'ls of trilmtarifs of
the ancient <iraiid river ' prii)cipa;,y). Surrnuiidiiii: the old
island we tiiid in several ]ilar<'s rude tei raiM'> of about tlie same
altitude, at many miles apa''t. V. t the waters did not lin-^er a>
lontj to form Jiiarked terraces as at lowe,- levels. This '.iiMieral
deposit in no way partakes of the cbaraeter of a Senteb kame.
even thouiirb we e(»nsidered the -Oak ridiit; ' of that ejiaracter.
as the latter uiueb more nearly resenililes one in outline, rel.tfive
dir ion and cnmposition than the .\rtemesia highlands. The
whole series of beaches and terraces about hake Ontario marks
the slow (.'levation of the continent, causin;;- lainis at various ele-
vations to be covered somewhat uniformly with tin.' -ravel and
sand, and ai:ain somewhat intermittently, i^odueim; well marked
terraces. Nor did this subsnlence o|' the waters cease when the
present lake level was o})tained. is we hiu- a eiunparatively
modern ledgi', carved out of the >ol'i .Medina rock.- near the outlet
of the Welland canal, belov. the suilace ot the lake and e.xtend-
ing downwards lor a known dejith of more than forty feet. Thi-
fact would indicate local o>cillition ol rli«- iiiarnin of tie' jH'seiit
lake basin.

I fail to comprelieiMl how any glacial lake coitld have existed
when it was producing iirraccs over all the great lake leuiun at
au elevation of what is now 17"() fet above the sea. I'l.ir the .-ur-
face of the waters was not covered with an\ i:reat amount of ice
— perhaps not much more than the ice I'rinin'- of tin- pieM'iit >\:ty
Many portions of the southern liiLrhlands do not. ri>" to aii^ such
altitude to be easily barricaded with the :-ni:.ll amount ot tli»atiij^
ice indicated by the traii.-[)orted m aerial.

There seems a ditJiculty in e.\|)hiiniiig the a!j-eiic'; of marine life
iu this area when it is found in the bed of the St. J.iwreuce \al
ley, unles.s the whole period wa- on(> of comjiaratively >liort du-
ration, aud marine life did not ^et farlher we-iw.iid ihni the
present outlet ol' Lake Ontario.

yVtf:' Dfaiii<i(j>: inf tin I III" ml Ski .-'V\\\> inland body oj' water,
as the continent wa.- jradu-illv risin-- from )•'. netlh tin' -ea lev.-l.

iWMBMBMCm

108

.i'«,

t'-

oviilcntly had a large tiumbcr ol' outlets at ditleivut times by
which it connected witii the outside ocean. These old outlets
are indicated by a number of river-like valleys crossing the high-
lands of Ohio and New York (not to refer to those extending
from the valley of Lake Michigan and the presejit St. Lawrence
valley). The following are the most conspicuous ancient water-
ways: Through tiie highlands of New York; 1, by the Mohawk
river, at 4.'?4 feet above tide, '2, then by the valley of TuUy lakes,
at about 12(t() feet; o, by the valley of Skaneateles lake, at about
1200 feet; I. by the valley of Owasc(» lake, at 1282 feet; 5, by
the extension of the valley of Cayuga lake, at 10].') feet; G, by
the valley of the exteiisiou of Seneca lake, at Sli.") feet above
mean tide ; and several others at greater elevations. All these
valleys are from 100 to IJOO feet or more beneath the adjacent
highlands. In Ohio, Dr. Newberry enumerates the following
ancient channels: — 1, by the valleys of the (iraiid and Mahoning
rivers, at !>.'>() i'eet above tide; 2, by the valleys of the Cuyahoga
and T iscarawas rivers, at 9(18 feet ; '.>, by the valleys of Black
and Styx (a tributary of the Tuscarawas) rivers, at 00i> feet ; 4,
by the valleys of Sandusky and Scioto rivers, at 010 feet; and
.'). by the valleys if the Maumee and and Miami rivers, at 'J40
feet. The summits of all these valleys are more or less tilled with
stratified driit, and in some cases, as that of Seneca valley, the
summit forms a long, nearly fiat alluvial plane, I'ree from boul-
ders. All these valleys of New York, on the northward side of
the divide are deeply underlaid by sediments, whilst to the
soutiiward, exposures of rocks along their beds are much more
I'ommon. The remarkable connection between these old outlets
and the beaches is very striking. Thus, there are at about the
level of the lowest of these outlets, 434 feet, beaches on both the
southern, western and northern boundaries of Lake Ontario at
corresponding heights. Also, at the level of the next lowest
enumerated outlet (by Seneca valley) at 8(55 feet, beaches were
produced (only a few feet higher corresponding to the outlet
through which water a i'ew feet deep was passing), in New York
(north end of Skeneatles lake), in Ontario (north of Toronto),
and even in the region of Lake Superior.

Erratics and Origin of the (Iracd of (In: Beaches. — Almost
everywhere in the •• region about the western end of Lake Onta-
rio,' well water-worn boulders of Laurentian and Huronian
rocks are occasionally to be met with, and in some places they

10!»

■1

arc abundant. Tlioy tn-v a1iiin<l,int in such remnants of th,.
houldor clay as exist, an.l in portions of the lower beds of strati
lied clay. At tlio western end of Lake Ontario they are not
found in the Sauueen clay. However, in the hiter tornices thev
:ire found, tliou-h usually of small size. On the surface of tli-'
••ountry above the Nia<j;nra escarpment they are met with much
more fre(|nently tli.in below the escarpment (where they are very
rare unless derived from one of the beaches). On the upper
levels of the Dundas valley none are to be seen. Tlie " Arte-
mesia gravel" contains n uiy. It also in places contains larur
<|uantities of the water-worn remains of Hudson river rocks, all
derived from lower levels. Along llo.sscau creek, in Barton
township, there is a group of .semi-rounded boulders two feet
long, composed of Medina sandstones, whose outcrop is only two
miles away, but at au elevation of two hundred feet lower, be
noath the Niagara escarpment. The northern erratics are much
more abundant and larger on the highlands of New York and
Pennsylvania than at lower levels at the western end of Lake
Ontario, and occur on top of the terrace deposits. Besides
these dej osits and the Devonian pebbles of New York, carried
to higher levels, the materi,-.ls (»f the beaches arc derived more or
less from the adjacent rocks. There seems, as far as Ontirio is
concerned, but one explanation for the lifting of these water-worn
pebbles and boulders to higher levels, and that is their trans
portation and elevation by the slow agency of coast ice forming
in many succeeding years during the time of continental sub-
sidence, as we .see to-day the large boulders in many of the
north-western shallow lakes lifted from their beds, by the action
"f the thick winter ice, and drifted on some portion of the shore
by the prevailing winds, there to be left on the dissolution of the
ice, as reef several feet higher than the lake surface.s. Again, a,'*
the waters were receding many of the boulders along the coast
would again be picked up by the annual ice, and transported
to hills, and growing beaches which are now the highlands to the
.south, while tlie intermediate deeper beds received but few,
rarely dropjK^d by the passing ice. In regions less expo.sed to
currents and shore deposits but little stony material was deposit,
cd, as is demonstrated in the upper portion of the Dundas valley
and elsewhere. There does not appear to have been a large
amount of floating ice, as indicated by the fine material over tlur
beds of .some of the old outlets noticed already.
Vol,. X. J. 2 No. 5.

.■<'■■

i.r:^

The ht'iichc."' ill till) ljiu;li»;r levels ;iic eoin|(nsod of iiiueli more
lical 'A'7///.s thnii tliUM- at llii I'lct Jiiul at. the i>res<'iit water level,
jiltimt the wiihtciii end of l.,akc Ontario now tn bo described.

liiii'Hinjloii Ihlijlits mnf Ihu'l hiqlnii llmrli. — The lower part
of the Uuiidiis valley and the site of Builiiiuton bay were exca-
vated out of the Kri<: elay dm in.:' the period of elevation ol' land
that followed that iipoeh. and the inter^laelal (ii'and river flowed
down this v.illiy in the same way that the Niairara river flowed
down the St. Davids valhiy. The>e valleys beeauje closed, how-
ever, duiinu,' the depo-its of the Sauueen elay and the terraces
(the visible >urfaue foi' a depth <d' l!0(l feet in the St. David's
valley shows only stratified sand, and was not closed up by jrlacial
action as has been .'Hl: jested). Therefore the deposits of Bur-
lin:^ton heights land the 1 III feet terrace) were not brought down
the Dundas valley. ."Nloreuver. T liave never seen a solitary
Niagara pebble in this terrace, tliou'^h sou!:ht lor. Aj^ain, the
llud>on river pebbles in the J)undas beaches at iiiiiher levels are
ail very small, whilst both the lit! feet terrace and the present
lake beach contain some strata ol' cobble stones from four to six
inches in diameter, with oval (water-worn) slabs from one to two
feet louj:. The materials of these beaches have all been derived
from the (Uhris of Hudson river rm-ks and contain a small (juau-
tity of crystalline jiebbles of moderately small size. The nearest
exposures of Hudson river rocks is at Oakville (20 miles distant,
but at a lower level. However, at Weston (ijt) miles distant) west
of Toronto, the same rocks occur at 171I feet (and lower) above
Ijake Ontario. 'JMur shape of tlie pebbles is flattened oval, they
were evidently derivetl froni these northern exposures and trans-
jtorted around the whole western end of tlio lake to form tlie
conspicuous terrace of ll(i I'eet and tlie present beach. This
transportation has been iflected by the action of tlte waves aud
floatiiii:' coast ice when the wattM' was at the respective levels.
The present beach may have been in part derived I'rom the
<lenudation of that 11(1 I'eet.

Bu''lin<;ton Ileinlits I'orms the extreme western end ol'the bay
of the same name and tlie Burlinirton beach, the end of Lake.
Ontario. The Heii^hts, varyinu' from les-; than ii (juaiter of a
.uile to a few hundred yards in width. he))arates the Dundas
iuursli (at the same level) i'rom Burlington bay. The width of
the marsli here is about lialf a mile. At \\w northern end, it
was ibrmerly cotmected with the bay by a ravine ])artly tilled by

/

.

I

u
If

111

'. n.llwMy ,.n.U,.k,m..,t :,(>,,• tl.r luijas .-,.,■,. ...u thr..,„.h |i.,
^<^^.^•ir.l.ns oanal. Th.. .\v.uUuu nf tl... ll..i,|,ts is lOS Urt almv.
tlu' lake. ,„,.l is ,1,.. c.<m.i,.ai...r li,.k brtwcun .!,.■ torncos ,.„ I,.,,),
S.JOS of tl.o DiUMlas ,u;.rsl.. ul.os. valK-y was ..xcav.tni l,.t;.,v
tlu'ir ,K.|M,s.t. Murii.mtn,, bead.. In.i.i ;j(»(» t,. :,(.(. vanls ui.l,. j,
about Hvc. inilos lon^, a,„l s.-pa.vites H,. bay fro,,, thr lake i„ ,|„.
sam.. way a> tl,.- Iloidits s.,KU-at.- ti... bay lVo,„ th. ,.ru-sl, tb.

'!'.'" ''''"'- ''"• ^•"■•nt.Tp.M'f of tbr n,i„.,.. whn. th.. h.k." 1 ..„

^irtcrn.t l-v-ls. The bay inM-h. of ,h. b..ad. is 7. 1.., .i.vp
N.-.th..,- of ,h..,. b,-a.h..s has b.v,. pn.,luc..I by ..,li„.,,,;:
•"•"U-Jit ,lovv„ by stirauis an,I thnnvi. uj. in thr Urn of <a,M
>ars. as ,„ ,„a„y ,no.lr,-,. h:,rhn,-s. hrcau^o „,. iniporr,-,,,, st.va,,,,
i>.''vc. flown] down the Dnn.Ias vallry (.Mnce the epo,!, „f hi-h
•!lovat,o„s at the eiose of the fo,.,natinM ..f the K,-i,. Hav) o,- ~1
"o^rflow. Mo,-e ,,a,-tic.,laf]y i. this staten.enf ,,n,ve„' by th.
•'bs,.nce of all „,ate,-ia] belo„^iMu to the Dutuias vallrv o,- .v-ion
<lra,ne,l by its st,-oa,ns. In the {{u.'lin^ton lleiuhts there is often
«nw a„.l plunue be.hlinu^ .unl ^UMy obii,,ue sfatifieation seen
wh.c-h ,l,p towards th.' lake. |.;.k.. Ontario never fre<.zes „,o,.„
tban a \\w ,uiies from its ,nai-in. and even nio,-e than sho,v ice is
UMCom,„on. Winter storms of,,.,, pile th.' ice and eontained stone
ve,-y h.-h on the sl,o,a.s. Murlinuto,, b.ay always fre..zrs ov..r
Tt beconios appaivnt that !..„!, ol' th.se ri-l^es (t^h. latter ri<in-
only e.oht feet above the lak,) w.fe pioduced by tl,e lako
action from Ilndson riv.r prbbKs and .sand, tran'sported by
coust-K,,. and waves. Any >/rUis of Ilmlso,, ,-oeks fonnd in
the Dundas valley hdow 1] T, [Wt level is ve,-y small. Th.
L.-mi-entian pel)bl.'s are no more than the few .lep,'.>it.Ml from th.'
floatin- ice of the hi.J.er feriMee .■p.,eh upon th,. .-e-ioii IV.)m
which the detritus came.

Tiiecau.se which det.'rmiiie.l the po>iti.iii (,{' ilu'se ridi;cs i>
easily explained. The ext.Misi..,, of the lake into thes- n.m-ow
arms was frozen over durin- winte,-, ,iot necessarily any eol.ier
than th.at of the pi-esent time. As th.^ n..rth-..ast.Tn" wimls were
driviug the coast-ice a-.ainst the In.z.n b,.ni,.r. it became broken
up and dopo.sited it.s bu,alen of stoms an.l > md in th- same way
that the pre.-eiit coast-ice with its ontained ston.s e.,ntinu.-s to
inc-ease (though ve,-y slowly) the breadtli of Uni'lin^ton beach,
aided with the action of the waves.

Ifiahon I^irrr Fns!i!h in ihr last f,n, /Awr/o ...—Abundance of
ihssils occur in the pebbles of these beach.s, at llC fe..t .above

112

fhu luko and ut the l.tkc lovd. Tlicy ;iri! M'ltlom I'ouml iu tin;
jiri;nHC«:t)us |H'l»blfS, but iiio.-t ;ibuii(laiitly in lln' luoro Hattcufd
calcareous stonu. I liavi; obfaiinij tin; i'ollowiiij; Ibssils : — St'iiu-
/iiirn fifnunxi, ('ohnniitirin ti/iro/ntn, Aflu/n'n Itiiiilii, Stiopho-
iiuiiii ii/teniit(ii, S. iff/tiililci, li<i>tiiim mrii'm, Oiiliia trstudi-
iinn'it, (), mciili.iif'il is, i). /j/ii.r, Olmlifhi irnnsn, Miuliolopuls
iiiudioliiris, .]/t)ifin/iiftsis. (iiuuicidus uudt'tiTUiiuod sptcits), Ci/f-
tiidiintii /ill nil f til, OrfhniiiitK sj)., Chtuhnitn sp,, Li/rodcsnut
jiutifsfiliifd, Aiiifiiiiii/chiit I'lulliitu, Ai'iiiiln ilniiisHU, Murchliiouiii
(fi'iicilts^ ( 'i/rfi)fi/i s urn I Ins, (h'tliniii'ns /uiiuUosnnt,, Ot'i)ioci.'i'>t>i
rrihlsiftfiiiii, /jij)i I'difiii ('miiiili iis'iH and tails of (\ilyini iii\

Lift lii liiiiiitiiij ht fin Till nil Difio.sifs. — l)i'. Boll t^ivos a list'^
<il' Jiuniy |ilacos iu Ontario wlicrc tlii' »tratifital irravels and sands
contain I'loli -water >li('Ils. To bis li>t otlicr collectors have added
localities. However, about tlie western end ol' Laki^ Ontario they
arc very rare, and 1 have seen only one ov two localities whore
lliey are lound aliliuujih they occur near Niagara Kails.

The iirincijtal locality i> not in the lerraees, but will be
(li'scribed below.

However we have reniain> in liiirlini:lon Heiiihts more inter-
esting: than >helis. ."Nlany years a-o in niakinii the cuttiuii through
the beiuhts ol the Desjardins canal, at an elevation of 70 feet
above the lake (about ."l^^ feet below the suniniit), remains oi" the
mammoth J'Jiii/cjilins .hn-l.-smii : horns ol a wappti, (J'rms Cnu-
iiihnsis, and the jaw of a, beaver. ( 'nstor fihir, were found. In
If^Ttl, while makini; another excavation iu the Heiirhts the work-
men found a tui*k and one vertebra of a mammoth. At a depth
of o(l or -10 feet from the top of the terrace there could have
been no beach on which these animals miiiht have wandered.
Were the animals then union miatt; enoniih to be carried tiiithcr
on till! ice, were they dmwned in atlemptinu to cross from one
side of the ancient valley to the other, or were their b<Mies car-
ried thither by the Hicitini; ice?

In several of the swamps north of Jiake Eric; teeth and bones
of mastodons have been I'nuinl, but lh(!.-e beloiiu: to more modern
de))osits.

XT.- .MoDKIi.N DEI (tSlTs.

.Most of the deposits ol the pn'x'iit tinie consist oi the soils
carried down by the streani> into the huiidas mar<h and Jjake
Ontario.

?

• Cml. c.r ( 'all.-

ise,:;.

.

H.

113

Odc drpo!.it r.ow .o.,,!,!.!,,! ,l.„..s „„» U.Kmi^ to tlii.v fla.^>.
.Iu^twf.t..| III..- Catlu.lk- c.:i.iot.:iy at llauiiHoii ami LordcriuL'
«Ti a branch ni' the Dumlas ,„ar.sh we MimI a hr-d ..r shdl marl.
This is al,u.,>t oiuiroly uia.U' up .,(' Uukvu >\u'\U. ami .•o„tai„s
h1«o the Inllowiii- inodcin sptrics in a statr „r ,,p..t'iTatiou :-
r,Hula '>/f,ntaf„, Tn,„h,ims Iriihatal,,, .]/,s,„lou „//.„h,/,ri.
,Sncnn,„, ,,A//y,/„. as r(.-t;(.irtiiz.'(l by Mr. Whiteavos. This ik-posit
has a thickiirs> ol' about i:» r,ri .xfoidiMo t,, th:it hni-hf abow
(ho marsh.

Sonic int.M(;>tin- facts with n-aid to th.' modern dcpo.^its iu
our hike and tlic Dundiis marsh have nrci.tK ,...mc t.. li-ht..
'I'he area of the Duihbis marsh is rather njure tiian two mile>. It
is generally shallow and lillr.l with ree.ls. In the ea>t,.rn portion
there are .-iome deej)er place> where the reeds .lo not oj-ow, it i>
bein- rapidly liljed by iji,. .Mvumulations ef the sediments Vrom
Mie streams emptyin- int.. it. The deposits are now principally
made during the increaM,d How ol' water of the sprimr fre.sh-
ets. A constant source ol* trouble lias for manv yenrs been
experienced by the silting up nl the JX-sjardin "canal, which
pusses throui-li the marsh. As late a> iStitt or ISC;'. the western
end of the marsh was rre(,m nt.d im .katioi: purj.o.«cs; ihf same
portion is now turned into I'ertile meadows. For nearly a score
of years the proj.rietors have be.i, trying to recover tlie land by
luakiug dykes. One dyke after , iiother has b»'..n encroaehing on
(he marsh until a considerable .ma i> now drained. In makin-
one of these dykes a trench wa,- Mink to a depth of se-veral feet
and at six and one-half feet Inuii the .Hirfaee Mr. James ("lie--
wiu came on a bcl of saw-du-t >i.\ inches in thlekii.-.v Tiiis
was iu tlie y<ar ISTC. ()n makiii- iM(|uiry. I le.nn.'d that the
first saw-mill in tlio region began operation.- alioiit tliey.ar HI I.
Thus we see that from the time that the >aw-dum was luouglit
down from >ir. lJreen"s mill, in the J.indsay civek. a deposit"'of
mud six '11(1 one half I'eet thick .iccumulatt'd in a period ..f about
sixty-tivv years, or that the nite ,1' deposit i- ■i]H>n/^r4mik-i*{-.Hu
iuJi.,per anuum. It is probable that at ile piv.ent rime tin
accumulation is aiore rapid as the area nf il,e d. po.^ii has been
considenibly lesseuetl. The parts of the mai-h oui«id.' ,,nd a.lji-
ceut to the dykes are now entirely ab(.ve w.iter in tie later p.n-ti.m
of the .summer. This silting iq. is continuin- iiniii the .sj.rin-:
fresliets c;ui no lon-er .ncrflow the low land, wh-n ;ill the scdi"
ments are earric.l into ibvper water. SeaM.ns .,f hi;^], ^^a!.el in

/

A.

(1 <1

'l;;^'-

ry.

.':.»

l^

■■I i.i...

114

the lako, (if eoiirso, favor tlio tliic^kc iiing of the .--oil near the sur-
face, when perhaps tlie siiccoeding scasoi) will he accompanied by
low water, with the consequent distrihufion of tlie sediments in
only the deeper portions of tlie urea.

fjiil't F/iirf,i(iti'(>)is. — In order to iiscertain what proportion ot
the elevation of tlie b()t«-oni of tlie swamp was due to tiie sedi-
ments. I succeeded in j:'ettin<: some of the records of tlie fluctu-
ations of the lake levels. In a Smithsonian contribution Col.
Whittleseu has publisluMl a more or le>s complete register of the
tluctuiitiou of Lake Ontario at tlu' port of Osweuo between the
years 1815 and 1857. The earliest of these records be'.:ins in
ISloaiid is v-'ontinued i'or the next twelve years, durini:' which
time the annual fluctuation was very considerable, the extremes
beinu' as much as 1.') I'eet. From IS-MI to lsr)l> the maximum
diffen iiee ol" levels w:..' only t.vo feet; wliile that from 1859 to
187.'> (obtained from otle.'r I'et'rds) was 2.8 feet.

The question arose whether tlu liiMb- were risinu' (or water
sinkim:) or not. At ()swe;^(i the mean hei;^ht of the water
between 1840 and 185."j was about nine-tenths of ,i foot hii:;h(;r
than between 1815 and 1827. As the records obtain. h1 from 185!'
to 187;} arc not IVimu same datum I eannot compare them with
previous years. Hut if we take the heiiihts from 18511 to 180(1
inclusive, and thfise IVouj 18(17 to 187.'! inclusive we find that
durinii' the later period, at OsweL:o, the waters were about nine-
tetiths of a foot lower. The table of fluctuations (obtained from
(\aptain FaTrgrieve, of Hamilton; i'or Toronto Harbor shows that
the mean height of the water hi tween 1874 and lSo5 was one
foot lower than that between ISi'il and 1^51 inclusive, fn com-
putiuLi' these hei^li^s the records for two years in each period arc
incom]>lete, tiieretbre they have not been included in the calcul-
ations. The following are the mean heiulits of the laki' at Toronto
above ;i given datum mark for the years :^ —

feet.

1S.'4

\ ',5

IS"),*!

i.:!o

isi'r,

1. h;

1S,-,T

|,S5S

•'.•'.".

iS"i(» - " :'..".

1S(!0

1. 1"

iSlil

ISC"

J.l 7

isor.

1 .(;'j

18fit

'J . 7 ( 1

iscr,

1 .00 feet

1 Slit!

I8i;7

1.10 "

isi;s

D.OO "

isi;',t

is 70

21)0 "

1S71

IS 72

().h:i "

— 0.40 "

'm7:;

, 0.40 "

1 s 7 1

1.00 "

?

^.-

.*i;

■»»';

tWiiWIJIIWHWWHIiWIIIWIiHim

■'

>.«/%■*

11.")

The mvntcst fluctuation in the 21 years was 3.1 feet, at
Toroutd foiiiittiii-- the lour year, '57. 'til, 'UC, '{?.)). From
these fluetuatioiis of the hike it can be seen that the position of
the iM-eatesr, deposition in the niarsli will be somewhat ehan<iO(i
in different years, as much of it is very near the water level.
During; a continuance of years of h)\v water th(> sediments would
bo carried farther by the streams and cnn<;e(jueutly the hii^her
grounds; would not receive additions.

FiUliuj up fJiv MV.s/r/v/ Kiid of IhirJlngfoii Buj. — Grindstone
creek empties into the we.-tern end of Burlington bay, and the
currents principally pass close to the eastern side of Burlington
Heights. As this stream brin-^ d>'Wn i large ((uintity of mud
and, although emptying first into a swamp of its own), a consid-
erable amount of sediment is carried into the bay and is deposited
in the ((uieter waters near Carrol's ])oint. at which place there is
a long bar (submerged at hi-li water) where these currents meet
the waves of the ojumi bay. This portion of the bay is fast
becoming a swamp.

XII. — I \Kr, MK.ii.vn.

About two miles northwinl ol' Wat. 'rdown, there is a small
pond — Lake Medad— half a mili' Iihil:. In tlie western part of
Dundas valley there is a numb r n!' small ponds amotit^st the
hills of drift material, but thcsi! ar.' only Muall expansions of the
various streams at heights from ."ilO f.'et to 210 fVet above the
level of Lake Outai-io. On one sii'e of ]>akf Medad there is a
ru:>ged shore of deejily weathered dnjiMnites. extending more than
20 feet above its waters. Tlie shoia; bdKN'Mh is eomj'O^cd of a beach
of pebbles. The op[iosite side of tlie lake i-- shallow, ami is now
occupied by a marsh. Thisl.ikelet is iio( a.i e.vpinsion of any mo-
dern rivulet. A numlier of insiuniliea'ir stivams empty into it, but
not one of which could |possib!y have ixeivat. d rh',^ ]irescnt basin.
Tills lakelet is not on the uppermost portion ot tlie Niagara es-
carjmieiit, lui i\ a somewhat brnadly !'UL:i:ed eoiintrv. 'i'lie basin
of Jjake Medad is evidently a iilled uppoiainii of a lar^fr water
channel that became blocked by drift m il"ri il, which it has be<'n
unable to clean out for Itself in modern times, 'i'iie whole lake
could bo drained by cutting thivu-h the diift deposits which
occupy one of its extn'inities. I was informed by one of the
inhabitants that he had discovered an underiiround outlet, so that
a portion >''.' the waters discliar-e by a stream directly into Lake

^smemimmNmfft

■■iWNlBta:

(

r'l

■ ■ . f-.

■ ;'*

116

()nta,lo, while at present, the sn.all visible outlet is by Grind
stone creek, through Waterdown ^

Comparing, it with Lak. Ontario, it has its Niagara escarpment
on one s,de and on the other a gradually shallowinir shore towards
.n area ev.dent!y filled to some depth with drift material anab-
Tou^e T, ,^7^ -Silurian roeks north of Ontario, whilst
.ts outlet ,s blocked up, as the the greater lake is, in its south-
eastern extremity.

Thus I will close a fragmentary work, which will, T hope, assist
m the study of the surface geology of Ontario, and also give more
prommcnce tu the almost undeveloped subject of pi-'^iatile
' jreology .

(Having learned the value of accurate elevations, I have col-
ected the levels of most of the railways in Ontario and some
other hsts of elevations which will follow the present paper )

J-?

■' ■ ,■

■.!■

4

■*,-.,••» ra--;;- l.-C *tri*wi,.y^!tt..'^^^«,^^^

t**»llMB«iM>t^^»»,,«„.,.^^ _ _^

* I