from the middle of the body of the fish (Pl. I., fig. 4,) submitted to analysis, gave the following results:

By analysis of another portion of the same fish, it is proved that the fibrinous and albuminous matter composing the fish is still unchanged in composition, so far as its elements are considered.

The important element proving the presence of animal matter is nitrogen, which is separated by analysis into the state of ammonia. This, by two determinations, was found to be in one 15.56 per cent., and in the other 16.54 nitrogen; the mean being 16.05 per cent., which is the amount of nitrogen in fibrine and albumen.

Description of the scales of Palæonisci from the shales of the Albert coal mine.

Plate I. A. Portion of shale, with impressions of Palæoniscus' scales of three varieties, seen enlarged in a, b, c; a is one of the scales from the middle of the body of the fish, and shows the articulating process by which it is attached to the lower edge of the scale next above it on the fish. The striations of the scale, and the serrations of its right extremity, are distinctly shown. b represents one of the fulcre or scales near the fins of the fish; a group of three of them are seen in specimen A. c is a broad scale from the lower part of the body near the tail.

B represents two fulcre or fin scales from the back, at the dorsal fin. The enlarged views of them give a full explanation of their structure. They have been mistaken not unfrequently for teeth, since the larger scales bear some resemblance to the teeth of placoid fishes, and to sauroid fishes' teeth. C represents a specimen of another species of Palæoniscus scale. It is, in the original specimen, the most perfect that has been seen at the mine; above it is a correctly enlarged figure of this scale.

The reader is perhaps aware that geologists have adopted the division of fishes, as proposed by Agassiz, as classified by their scales, which are of four orders: 1. Placoid, (broad plate,) of which the sharks' scales are illustrative. 2. Ganoid, (resplendent,) hard, bony scales; example, the American gar-pike. 3. Ctenoid, (comb-like ;) example, scales of the perch. 4. Cycloid, (circular;) examples, herring, salmon, cod, pollock scales.

These divisions suffice for most purposes in identifying fishes; and it fortunately happens that most of the fossil fishes-all of those of an ancient type-belong to the bony-scale group; and the character of the scale of one of these fishes remains unaltered in the rock where it was originally imbedded at the time of its deposition.

Plate I., Fig. 5, represents the head and part of the body of a very

large fish of the genus Palæoniscus. It appears to belong to the same species with fig. 4 of same plate, and fig. 1 of plate II.

Description: Width of body of fish, 3 inches; length, probably from 15 to 18 inches; head, strong, firm, and more bony than usual with fishes of this group; length, from 2 to 3 inches; width, 2 inches; gillplates distinct, but crushed together, so that they cannot be dissected, since they adhere firmly together; pectoral fin, short, strong, and has a rounded and heavy shoulder of great strength, covered with a long armor, striated obliquely backwards and downwards. Other fins were broken from the specimen before I received it and lost; but those wanting are seen on fig. 4 of this plate, and fig. 1 of Pl. II. Prints of five of the great dorsal scales distinct in the rock-scales broken off. Scales of body perfect, seryated, and distinctly striated with wavy lines horizontally, and slightly curving towards the posterior upper angle of scale. A marked swelling in the place of the stomach shows that the organ is filled with the food of the fish. Color of the fish light clove brown, or a little more inclined to cinnamon brown.

This fish I propose to name in honor of the enterprising projector of the mine, who presented me with the specimen: Palæoniscus Allisoni, in honor of Edward Allison, esq., of St. John.

List of the Fossil Plants found in the Shales of the Albert Coal Mine.

The fossil fishes already described belong to the genera known to characterize the coal formations of Europe; but, as might be expected from other analogous facts, the American species are not identical with any known in the Old World, though they closely resemble them. They are of the same genus, but of new and before undescribed species.

The plants found associated with these fishes concur in proving the formation at the Albert mine to be in the true coal sefles, and thus set at rest those doubts which were hastily expressed by other geologists, who made a cursory examination of this mine, and who knew not the facts contained in this paper.

Plate III, Figs. 1 and 2, represent a specimen of Lepidodendron, analogous to the L. Gracile of Ad. Brogniart, though not identical with that species. Figs. 3 and 3 bis represent the fruit of the Lepidodendron, or Lepidostrobus, found in the shale of this mine. Figs. 4, 5, and 8 represent a plant about which some doubt still exists, but which was supposed to be some species of Spheraedra; but it differs from that plant in several respects, as will be discovered on comparing it with the plate in the work of Lindley and Hutton. Figs. 6 and 7 are broad flag-like leaves, supposed to belong to the palm tribe. Fig. 9 is the common calamite of the coal formation, and was found in the gray sand-stone below the coal bed at the Albert mine. These plants are similar to those found in the coal mines of Nova Scotia and of other parts of New Brunswick, and are like those found in the anthracite mines at Mansfield, Massachusetts, and in the semi-bituminous coal mines of Maryland and of Virginia. Figs. 4, 5, and 8, represent the only plant that I have not before discovered in our coal formation. This plant is evidently a succulent annual, as evinced by its con

torted and drooping stem, and was probably an aquatic plant, such as are found growing in marshy places or bogs. Its association with fishes indicates its being an aquatic plant, or one growing on the borders of a lake or river. It is not a fucoid, as has been alleged, for it has alternate branches.

The following is an elementary analysis of the Albert coal, made by C. T. Jackson:

And the coke leaves 0.47 per cent. of red ashes. The coal cokes readily, and cements closely, if compressed; but it does not melt, though it softens if slowly heated to redness in close vessels. It yields 20 per cent. of soluble bituminous matters to benzole, and from 12 to 15 per cent. to oil of turpentine. The solubility of a portion of its bitumen led most persons, at first, to suppose that it was a kind of bitumen; but the discovery of organic structure in the coal itself removed this error, and chemical researches proved the coal to be a little more bituminous than the cannel coals of commerce. There can be no doubt of the fact that this coal is in the true coal field of the provinces. The discovery of other beds of this valuable substance is highly desirable, and the field has been as yet but little explored.

Agricultural Resources of New Brunswick and of Nova Scotia.

Viewing the rocks which have, by their decomposition, produced the mineral matters of the soil of the provinces of New Brunswick and of Nova Scotia, we see that every mineral ingredient requisite for the formation of good soils must be contained in them; and the drift agencies, whether of ice or water, in olden time, have duly commingled the detritus, so as to diffuse the different mineral substances. Vegetable matters the foliage which drops from deciduous trees; the peat mosses, which grow in humid places, and decayed trunks of treeshave added the matters which produce humus, or vegetable mould; and thus we have formed, by the hand of Nature, the soils which we cultivate.

From geological considerations we should a priori regard the soils of New Brunswick and of Nova Scotia as capable of bearing any of our usual crops of cultivated plants, as well as the usual forest trees of northern climes. Such we know by observation to be the fact; and the only influences which prevent the soil of these provinces from bearing any and all kinds of plants are those of climate. The cold of long

winters limits the growth of crops to a few months; and only those which are hardy, and are adapted to the climate, can be raised advantageously. We have, then, to inquire what are the crops which experience has proved to be the best for the countries in question. It is known that the northern portions of America "possess an excessive climate," viz: one of extreme heat in summer, and of great cold in winter. Such climates produce a most rapid growth of vegetation; for the heat of a summer's sun hurries forward the processes of vegetable growth, and an early autumn brings the ripening to a close. Plants, which ripen more slowly in temperate climes, have to be gradually acclimated before they can accommodate themselves to the short seasons of the north. Hence the variety of zea maize (Indian corn) which grows in Canada differs in its habits of growth from the southern corn, and ripens, where corn of a more southern-raised seed would perish, in the milk, by frost. There are many of our usual plants that will bear this acclimating process above referred to; others we had not been able to subdue to our short seasons. The potato is much improved by being hastened in its growth in the way above alluded to, and the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia produce the best potatoes known in this country. The smaller cereals such as oats, rye, barley, and summer wheat-ripen perfectly in these provinces, and the grain is of excellent quality and of remarkable sweetness.

Turnips of every variety grow well, and pease, beans, and other leguminous plants are known to thrive admirably. In short, we may say, from observation of the fact, that all the usual culinary vegetables, which grow in the States of Maine and New Hampshire, thrive equally in the soil and climate of the two provinces we are describing. Fruit trees, also, with the exception of the peach, (which does not bear well the intense cold of winter,) produce good fruit in these provinces.

The most highly valued crop among the farmers of New Brunswick is grass, which, with the least labor, is the most profitable crop; for good hay is not only required for keeping of the stock on the farm, but is also extensively in demand among the timber-cutters of the forest, for the supply of food to their teams of cattle. Large quantities of pressed hay, in bundles, are also exported from the provinces to the cities of the United States. Four-fifths of the land on every large farm may be advantageously laid down in grass and be kept for mowing land, until it is so old as to require to be taken up by the plough; and this is done gradually, so as to keep but a limited portion of the land in tillage, for there are few farmers in the province who can cultivate more than thirty acres of tilled land to advantage, and therefore they have to keep the rest of the farm in grass, which it is also advantageous for them to do, on other accounts, as above specified.

It is well known that little progress has been made in agriculture in the provinces, for the forests, full of heavy timber trees, tempt the agricultural portion of the community to engage in the heavier and more immediately profitable enterprises of lumber cutting and sawing. This business, although not so beneficial to the character of the people as the more civilized life of farming, has its advantages, not to be over

*Humboldt Isothermal Lines.

looked. It produces a hardy set of men, and encourages, to some extent, the establishment of manufacturing operations, by familiarizing the people with the machinery of mills, and with the various mechanical operations connected with the business.

Thus far the demand for food in the provinces is vastly beyond the supply raised on the soil, and no exports of grain, or indeed of any agricultural produce, save of potatoes and of hay, takes place from either of them. Oats of superior quality are raised on Prince Edward's island, and brought to Boston, where they command a higher price than the kinds raised in the States. This is probably the only grain that we can expect to receive from the Lower provinces. Immense quantities of flour from the United States finds its way to these provinces; but there is now growing up in Canada West a powerful competition with us in this trade; for the soil of that portion of Canada is of the same quality as that of the neighboring State of New York, and will produce wheat equally well and of as good quality.

In the course of time the province of New Brunswick will become more successful in the cultivation of her soil. The improvements of science will gradually extend themselves among the farmers there, as they have done, and are still doing, with us; but still it may be more advantageous for the people of New Brunswick to obtain their chief supply of flour and corn from the United States, provided they can furnish, in the course of trade, other products of their own soil, as they do of their waters and of their forests. Mines of coal and of iron they have in abundance; building-stones, grindstones, roofing slates, gypsum, and salt, and manganese, they already export, and can supply in as large quantities as may be required; and the time will come when ores of lead and of copper will be added to the exports of the provinces of New Brunswick and of Nova Scotia.

C. T. JACKSON, M. D., Assayer to the State of Massachusetts, &c., &c.