coal of Nova Scotia. This publication was followed, in 1864, by a "Handbook of Scientific Agriculture." It was in 1864, moreover, that Dr. Dawson made what may be considered as one of the most important of his scientific discoveries—that of Eozoon Canadense. Previous to this the rocks of the Laurentian age were looked upon as devoid of animal remains, and called "Azoic."
In 1865 Dr. Dawson, at the meeting of the British Association at Birmingham, gave illustrations of his researches on the "Succession of Palæozoic Floras," the "Post-pliocene of Canada," and the "Structure of Eozoon."
While in England, in 1870, Dr. Dawson lectured at the Royal Institution. He also read a paper on the "Affinities of Coal Plants" before the Geological Society, and one on the "Devonian Flora" before the Royal Society. The same year his "Handbook of Canadian Zoölogy" appeared, being followed in 1871 by a "Report on the Silurian and Devonian Flora of Canada," and a "Report on the Geological Structure of Prince Edward Island." His studies of the Devonian plants were begun as early as 1858, and Gaspé, St. John's, and Perry in Maine, were twice visited in order to collect material to aid in their pursuance.
His "Notes on the Post-pliocene of Canada" were published in 1873. From them we learn that the number of known species of Post-pliocene fossils had been raised principally by his labors from about thirty to over two hundred. We also find that Dr. Dawson is still what he has always been, a stanch opponent to the theory of general land glaciation. "The Story of the Earth and Man," issued last year, was a republication of papers published in the Leisure Hour in 1871 and 1872. A report on the "Fossil Flora of the Lower Carboniferous Coal Measures of Canada," and communications to the British Geological Society on the probable Permian age of beds overlying the coal-measures of Nova Scotia, and also occurring in Prince Edward Island, and on recent facts as to the mode of occurrence of Eozoon in the Laurentian rocks, are still more recent labors. A course of six lectures delivered in New York in the winter of 1874-'75 has been largely circulated both in America and England, under the title "Science and the Bible;" and last fall there appeared in London and New York a popular illustrated résumé of the facts relating to Eozoon and other ancient fossils, entitled "The Dawn of Life." At the Detroit meeting of the American Association, Prof. Dawson, as Vice-President of Section B, delivered an address in which he vigorously combated the doctrine of evolution.
Dr. Dawson was elected a Fellow of the Geological Society of London in 1854, and of the Royal Society in 1862. He is a Master of Arts of Edinburgh, and Doctor of Laws of McGill; and is an honorary or corresponding member of many of the scientific societies on both sides of the Atlantic.
