596 PRESIDENTS ADDRESS. 



That contemporaneous volcanic eruptions took place during the 

 Star epoch is proved by the interbedded amygdaloidal dolerites 

 and porpliyrites, the latter containing large masses of native 

 copper. It is just possible that these eruptions may have belonged 

 to the same period as that of the contemporaneous melaphyres 

 and red shales in the Avon River rocks of the Victorian Leindo- 

 dendron Series. In Eastern Victoria the Lepidodendron Series is 

 largely composed of contemporaneous volcanic rocks, Lepidoden- 

 dron australe, Archceopteris and Ehacopteris occurring higher up 

 in the series. In New South Wales the formation in which 

 Lepidodendron has been found in the Northern Districts is pro- 

 bably on the horizon of the Star Series, as the strata, with which 

 it is associated, appear to be less folded than those of the adjoining 

 Gympie Series. In the Stroud District of New South Wales 

 Lepidodendron veltheimianum and L. volkniannianum are found 

 in association with. Rhacopteris on a horizon at least as high as 

 that of the Star Series, and the upper portion of this series, 

 which contains Rhacopteris and Calamites alone, associated with 

 basic and felsitic tuffs and basic and felsitic lavas, is perhaps 

 newer than any portion of the Carboniferous formations known 

 in Queensland or Victoria, except the Lower Bowen Series. 



In New South Wales Rhacopteris clearly survived Lepidodendron 

 during the volcanic epoch which closed the Carboniferous Period 

 in New South Wales. 



In West Australia in the clear water of a sea of moderate depth, 

 and shallow occasionally, as proved by the lenticular beds of gyp- 

 sum and traces of rock salt, magnesian limestone and ordinary 

 limestone were formed, the fossil marine fauna of which show them 

 to be homotaxial with the Carboniferous lim.estones of Europe. 

 Lacustrine and terrestrial conditions succeeded, attended by a 

 luxuriant growth of Calamites and Lepidodendron, but there, as 

 in Eastern Australia, the Lepidodendron Period was not marked 

 by the formation of any seams of coal. 



It is evident that in Carboniferous times the land area of the 

 Middle and Upper Devonian was })robably considerably increased, 

 and Western Australia was perhaps united to Eastern Australia, 



