Geological Society. 44-7 



dimensions also are very nearly the same with those of the existing 

 quadrupeds. The species, from the report of Mr. Clift, to whose exa- 

 mination the bones were submitted, appear to be as follows : Kangaroo, 

 Wombat, Dasyurus, Koala, Phalangista, the most abundant being 

 those of the Kangaroo. Along with the remains just mentioned were 

 found two bones, not agreeing with those of any of the animals at 

 present known to exist in New South Wales. The first and larger 

 (of which a figure only accompanies this paper, the bone itself having 

 been sent to Edinburgh) is supposed to belong to the Elephant : the 

 second bone is also obscure and imperfect, but seems to be a part of 

 one of the superior maxillary bones of an animal resembling the 

 Dugong j it contains a portion of a straight tusk pointing directly 

 forward. 



A pit was dug, by Major Mitchell's direction, in the surface of the 

 ground about twenty-five feet from the mouth of the fissure, at a 

 place where no rocks projected ; and the hill was there found to be 

 composed of a hard and compact breccia, such as that described above, 

 and abounding likewise in organic remains. 



Other caverns containing a similar breccia occur in the limestone 

 on the north bank of the Macquarrie, eight miles north-east of those 

 at Wellington j and about fifty miles to the south-east, at Buree, are 

 several caves like the first described above, which communicate with 

 fissures partially occupied with breccia containing bones. At Molong, 

 thirty-six miles to the east of Wellington, a small quantity of con- 

 creted matter has been found, containing numerous bones, of which 

 no specimens have been sent to Europe ; but the author remarks that, 

 from their size, they would appear to have belonged to species larger 

 than those which at present occupy the country. 



In conclusion, the author states that he can offer no explanation 

 of the facts he has mentioned j and he points to the great resemblance 

 between the bony breccia of New South Wales, and that of the shores 

 of the Mediterranean described by Major Imrie, in the Transactions 

 of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. 



April 27. A Paper was read, entitled, " On some effects of the 

 atmosphere in wasting the surfaces of buildings and rocks :" by John 

 Phillips, F.G.S., &c. 



The remarks in this paper are restricted to the initial or prepa- 

 ratory processes by which earthy materials are provided for rivers and 

 the sea to transport and deposit in new situations. These processes 

 are considered by the author under several heads, according to their 

 chemical and mechanical relations ; but he observes that it is not 

 always possible to distinguish accurately the effects of these several 

 causes, which indeed are commonly concerned in the same ope- 

 ration. 



The author, after stating some of the changes produced upon va- 

 rious rocks and buildings by the chemical agency of the gaseous ele- 

 ments of the atmosphere, illustrates the almost entire immunity from 

 such alterations enjoyed by substances buried in the dry earth, by the 

 remarkable perfection of sculpture, colour, and gilding, of the statues 



formerly 



