BY JAMES STIRLING, F.G.S., F.L.S. 485 



the old lake basins near Orneo might suggest the action of ice, (1) 

 I thought it very probable that any pre-existing evidences at the 

 lower levels might have been scoured away by a subsequent 

 pluviatile period (2.) 



The publication by my friend, Mr. G. S. Griffith, of a paper on 

 evidences of a glacial epoch in Victoria during Post-Miocene times 

 (3), induced me to re-examine the evidences at the higher altitudes, 

 and to endeavour to follow the traces to lower levels in the Indi 

 and Mitta Mitta Valleys, with the result that I felt justified in 

 making the announcement previously referred to on 11th Decem- 

 ber, 1884, even though some of the phenomena therein ascribed to 

 glacier action might be found on closer scrutiny to have been produced 

 by other causes. The indications taken as a whole were sufficient 

 in my opinion to justify the hypothesis of glaciation, for on no 

 other conceivable theory, as it appeared to me, could the facts as 

 a whole be accounted for, while refrigeration of the area and the 

 consequent production of glaciers in the valleys of the Australian 

 Alps over wide areas would harmonise with conclusions de- 

 ducible from an examination of the flora and fauna. In the 

 beginning of January 1885, Dr. von Lendenfeld ascended Mt. 

 Kosciusco and photographed some glaciated surfaces. From the 

 absence of any reference to my previous announcements save a 

 mere reference from " Southern Science Record," to the snow 

 patches at the higher regions of the Australian Alps, I inferred that 

 Dr. von Lendenfeld was unaware of my previous writings and 

 discoveries, or he would not have stated in his interesting paper on 

 the glacial period in Australia, read before the Linn. Soc. of N.S.W. 

 during January 1885, that the glacial area was limited to 100 

 square miles above 5,800 feet altitude. (4) On 9th July I published 

 in the Trans. Roy. Soc. Victoria, the first of an intended series 

 of papers on the evidences of glaciation in the Australian Alps, 



(1) A. W. Howitt, F.G.S. Geology of North Gippsland. Q.J.G.S. Lond., 

 vol. 35, p. 35. 



(2) J. Stiiiing, F.L.S. On a Geol. Sketch Section through the Australian 

 Alps. Trans. Roy. Soc, S.A., 1884. 



(3) G. S. Griffiths. On Evidences of a Glacial Epoch in Vict, during Post 

 Miocene times. Trans. Roy. Soc. Vict., 1884. 



(4) R. von Lendenfeld, Ph.D. On the Glacial Period in Australia. Proc. 

 Linn. Soc, N.S.W., 1885. 



