arPEanx. xiii

he'thickness of an inch, and converted into friable hining coal, (lignite) coloured in some places with reen carbonate of copper.

The rocks at this place much resemble the upper arts ofthe coal formation of Nova Scotia‘; and al- hough no fossils,characteristic ofcoal measure rocks, ' xcept the coniferous trunks before mentioned, were iscovered, it is not improbable that they may be Contemporary formations, and in this case the great- er part ofthe red sand stone of Prince Edward Island corresponds with the upper red sand stone ofNova ‘Scotia. The geological antiquity of this Island is therefore not inferior to that of many parts ofthe neighbouring continent. lfthis view be correct, it is rather remarkable that beds ofgypsum and lime- stone, with shells similar to those of Nova Scotia have not yet been found in Prince Edward Island. Since my return to Charlottetown, I have been in- formed that on a part ofthe shore ofCherry Valley, nearly in a line with the strike ofthe rocks at Orwell Point. similar strata appear, and that pieces of coal are occasionally picked up on the beach. 1 had not time to visit this place, but would recommend it to the attention of future explorators. On a subsequent excursion to De Sable, I found the prevailing rock to be red sand stone. In this direction the hills are more numerous and higher than those near Charlotte- town, and on the summits of some ofthem the edges f the sand stone strata appear very near the surface. eds cropping out in this manner on the hills', being he hardest in that part ofthe country, would proba- ly afford stone suitable for building. At De Sable, and other places along this coast, pieces of silicified wood are abundant among the loose stones in the fields. They are similar to those found at Orwell Point, butare more compact, and without Sulphate ofBarytes. Not having many opportunities of ex- amining the rocks on the shore, I was unable to dis- . over any ofthis fossil wood in its original place in he sand stone beds, from which the fragments now

ound in the fields must have been derived. BB