482 Transactions. — Geology. 



15. Teredo heaphyi, Zittel. 

 *16. Leda fastidiosa, Adams. 



17. Pecten hochstetteri, Zittel. 



18. Flahellum circulare, Teuison-"Woncl=!. 



Of these 17 species, all have been fouud in rociis of Pareora 

 age except Leda fastidiosa, which is a recent species, onlv known 

 fossil at Waugauui, and Flahellum circulare, which, however, 

 occurs in both the Oamaru and Wanganui Systems. The nine 

 species marked with an asterisk are not known anywhere ia 

 rocks older than the Pareora. AnciUaria hehera, Natica gibbosa, 

 and Dentalium mantelli, are common Pareora species, but rarely 

 found in the Oamaru System. Aturia ziczac occurs in Eui-ope 

 and in North America in the upper eocene and lower miocene 

 only ; in Australia it is fouud, according to Professor McCoy, 

 in the oligocene, the miocene, and the pliocene. Consequently 

 the palasontological evidence is decidedly in favour of these 

 greensands belonging to the Pareora System. 



The stratigraphical evidence is not so satisfactory, for no 

 clear sections exist. It is possible — from a stratigra]ihical point 

 of view — that these greensands might pass under the marl of 

 the Oamaru System, although they occur at a higher level than 

 the marl ; because there is some evidence that the northerly 

 extension of the Oamaru Svstem lies in a flat syncline. But in 

 no case are they seen either to pass below the marl or to lie 

 upon it ; consequently the palaeontological evidence must be 

 taken as proving the superior position of the greensands. 



Mr. McKay, in making out his case, says [I.e., p. 72) that at 

 Elephant Hill these greensands are succeeded diieclly bj'' the 

 Pareora System, which would be quite in accordance with the 

 view that they themselves belong to that system ; but Mr. 

 McKay, in his section, shows an unconformity between them. 

 This unconformity, however, does not appear to have been 

 directly observed by Mr. McKay ; and his section is evidently a 

 hypothetical illustration of his views, and not a simple record of 

 observed fact. This is at once seen by looking at his section, 

 which is an impossible one. Mr. McKay says : "In the section 

 above sketched, the marly greensands terminate at a peculiar 

 fucoidal band, which in the Waihao Eiver is seen to occupy the 

 middle part of these greensands ; the succeeding beds are the 

 characteristic marine part of the Pareora formation, and uncon- 

 formity is therefore vianifeM at this paint. Not half a mile distant 

 from the point of unconformity represented above, the lower 

 part of the section is complete as high in the series as the 

 Waihao limestone, which is overlaid nnconfovmably by the 

 Pareora beds. On the south side of the Maercwlienua Eiver the 

 marly greensands and coal rocks underlie in direct sequence 

 the Maerewhenua limestone, and at no point do they come in 

 contact with marine tertiary rocks" {I.e., p. 73). 



