3fi0 on some post tertiary fossils from new caledonia. 

 On some Post Tertiary Fossils from New Caledonia. 

 By the Eev. J. E. Tenison- Woods, F.G.S., F.L.S., &c. 



I have received lately from Mons. Saves of Noumea, a small 

 box of fossils, which, are of uncommon interest. They comprise 

 bones and land-shells, and the following is a translation of his 

 letter concerning them : — "I found the accompanying fossils at 

 La pointe d' Artillerie, near Noumea, during the month of 

 February. There was a whole bed of these bones in extraordinary 

 quantities. The bed is in certain places from 10 to 15 centimetres 

 thick, and spread over an extent of about 20 metres. In one 

 very sheltered place which was perfectly vaulted over by enormous 

 rocks, these bones were completely uncovered and the small skulls 

 of many of the animals quite entire. How have they accumulated 

 in this way ? They could not have been brought by birds of 

 prey or they would not be so well preserved and entire. Land- 

 shells, especially Helix Lifouava and Cyclostoma Artense, 

 Montrouzier, are mixed up with the debris. You will notice the 

 abundance of rats' bones. It is said that no rat is indigenous to 

 New Caledonia, and that it was not known previous to the visit 

 of Capt. Cook. I shall be glad of all the information you can 

 give on the subject." 



The bones in question are of different ages, some evidently of 

 very recent date, and some, which by their dessicated state must 

 have lain in the spot for a long period of time. They are mingled 

 together with fragments of limestone and land-shells of the species 

 named above and Helicina mediana. Glassies, Cyclostoma couderti, 

 Fischer and Bernardi, and Helix vetula, Glassies. The latter has 

 been found in a fossil state previously on the Isle of Pines, 

 Koutoumo, and Alcmene. None of the bones were entirely 

 deprived of their animal matter, and those of the rodents seemed 

 to be the most recent in appearances. 



After a close examination, I find that the only mammalian 

 remains are those of rodents. They belong to a species of rat 



