LIST OF
THE PUBLISHED WRITINGS OF ELKANAH
BILLINGS, F.G.S., PALEONTOLOGIST TO THE
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA, 1856-1876.

4

Prepared by B. E. WALKER, F.G.S., Toronto, Canada.

Previous to 1854, the date of his first serious contribution to science, Mr. Billings was the editor of one of the newspapers, the Citizen, in Ottawa (Bytown), Canada, and it is stated that he contributed to its columns articles on geology of a more or less popular character. No record of these articles is made here. In 1856 he published the first volume of the Canadian Naturalist and Geologist. The title page of this particular volume bears his name, and he is supposed to have written all the articles not specially indicated as from other contributors. Only one paper contains an original description of a fossil, and in the majority of cases they are articles about the wild animals and the geology of Canada, such as might have been contributed to a text book. The second volume was edited by a committee, and does not bear Mr. Billings' name. He apparently contributed at least twelve articles, some over his initials and some not, of which only eight appear in the index. Other articles, not indexed or bearing name or initials, may, of course, be by him. In any event, no article by him in the second volume contains an original description of a fossil or other natural object.

In 1856 he was appointed Paleontologist to the Geological Survey of Canada, and from 1857 to the end of his life his published works are almost entirely devoted to the description of the great number of new genera and species with which his name is associated.

In this list of his published writings the titles in almost every case are given literally as originally printed. In the series of articles devoted to natural history in Canada, the generic and specific name of the animal described is often part of the title. Sometimes this name is in brackets, sometimes not; the specific name may begin with a capital or not, without reference to any system of nomenclature. In the early volumes of the Canadian Naturalist and Geologist the entire title is always in italics. Words which in this list appear in brackets thus [ ] are part of the title. Words in brackets thus () are not part of the title, but are notes by the compiler. Attention is particularly directed to this, because the notes of the compiler frequently intentionally contradict statements conveyed by the title. In the compiler's notes references are as a rule not made to illustrations unless they accompany descriptions of new fossils.

A biographical sketch of Mr. Billings by his successor, Mr. Whiteaves, will be found in Vol. VIII., new series, of the Canadian Naturalist.

LIST OF PUBLICATIONS IN WHICH WRITINGS BY MR. BILLINGS HAVE APPEARED, WITH THE ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE BIBLIOGRAPHY.

Publications.

Geological Survey of Canada...

The Canadian Journal-Proceedings of Canadian Institute,

Toronto, Canada..

Abbreviations.

.G.S.C.

.Can. Journ.

The Canadian Naturalist and Geologist-Proceedings of
the Natural Historical Society, Montreal, Canada.. .Can. Nat.
The American Journal of Science and Arts, New Haven,
U.S...

Proceedings American Association for Advancement of

Science...

Report of the Geology of Vermont.

A.J.S.

...P.A. A. A. S.

Geol. Verm.

Portland Society of Natural History, Portland, Maine, U.S.. P.S. N. H.
Annals and Magazine of Natural History, London, Eng... A. M. N.H.
Geological Magazine, London, Eng
. Geol. Mag.

Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society, London, Eng..Q.J.G.S.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

Year.

Month

Title.

1854.. April and May.. On some New Genera and Species of Cystidea from the

Publication

Volume.

Page

Trenton Limestone. Read before the Canadian Insti-
tute, February 11th, 1854. (Describes and illustrates
the new genera, G'yptocystites and Pleurocystites).......Can. Journ..Ser. 1, V. 2.
On some new Genera and Species of Cystidea from the
Trenton Limestone. Second paper. Read before the
Canadian Institute, April 8th, 1854. (Describes and
illustrates the new genera, Comarocystites and Amyg-
dalocystites).
Elevation and subsidence of Land - Various Theories of
the Earth-Origin of Stratified Rocks-European and
American Formations- Geographical Distribution of
the latter in Canada

........

39

Can. Nat.

1.25

..On the Nomenclature and Classification of the Animal
Kingdom

Fossils of the Potsdam Sandstone; Sea-weeds, Shells and footprints on the rock at Beauharnois..

. On some of the characteristic fossils of the Lower Silurian Rocks of Canada

.....

On the Crinoidea or Stone Lilies of the Trenton Lime.
stone, with a description of a new species. (Describes
and illustrates Glyptocrinus ramulosus).

... Fossils of the Upper Silurian Rocks, Niagara and Clinton Groups.

Natural History of the Moose Deer, Alces Americana.

"

::

..On some of the technical terms used in the description
of Fossil Shells.

....

..On some of the Fossil Shells of the Niagara and Clinton
Formations

131-139

. On the Robin, or Migratory Thrush [Turdus migratorious].

..On Black Duck [Anas obscura]

1.

.146-149

On the Pigeon [Ectopistes Migratoria]

168-176

On the Species of Woodpeckers observed in the vicinity

of the City of Ottawa.

A Chapter on Earthquakes.

On some of the Common Rocks of the British Provinces...
On some of the Lower Silurian Fossils of Canada..
Natural History of the Wolf [Canis Lupus] and its
varieties..

On the Foxes of British North America..

. On the Canadian Otter [Lutra Canadensis]. .

On the Bob-link or Rice-bird [Dolichonyx orzivora].
Natural History of the Wolverene or Carcajou [Gulo
Luscus)...

On the Loup Cervier, or Canadian Lynx [Lynx Cana-
densis] and the Bay Lynx or Wild Cat of the United
States [Lynx Rufus].

Natural History of the Raccoon [Procyon Lotor].

On some of the Game Birds of Canada.

On the Insects injurious to the Wheat crop.

Description of Fossils occurring in the Silurian Rocks of
Canada

On the Tertiary Rocks of Canada, with some account of
their Fossils

On the American Buffalo [Bison Americanus].

On the Musk Ox [Ovibos moschatus].

The Rocky Mountain Sheep [Ovis montana]