RY THE REV. J. MILNE CURRAN, F.G.S. 181 



Prof. Stephens (Lin. Soc. N. S. Wales, Yol. VIII., p. 527) has 

 reason for thinking that some beds at the Clarence River are of 

 more recent elate than are usually supposed. He mentions fossil 

 trunks resembling pines and leaves not unlike some of the Pandanece 

 and a shell belonging to the Unionidce. The presence of a species 

 of Unio could hardly prove anything as to the age of the beds, for 

 the family has a long range in time. The Pandanece date from 

 Jurassic times, and it will be remembered that TJmmfeldia was 

 probably a conifer. It is only fair to state that Prof. Stephens 

 did not mention the fossils in support of the age. He mei"ely 

 recorded their presence. 



So far, no two geologists are agreed as to the age of the 

 Hawkesbury sandstone. But all are agreed as to the sequence of 

 the Mesozoic formations, as follows : — Newcastle, Hawkesbury and 

 Wianamatta, and Clarence River. Until I discovered the Ballimore 

 fossils, (which were at once described by the Rev. J. E. Tenison- 

 Woods) I was of opinion that the sequence just named was the true 

 one. Now, I can see no reason for separating the Hawkesbury and 

 Clarence by any great interval, and more, I think the Clarence is 

 the older of the two. The Ballimore coal field with its own 

 marked flora, I take to be older than either. In my opinion this 

 represents the true successions of our Mesozoic rocks, jjroceeding 

 downwards. 



1. Hawkesbury and Wianamatta — 



With Alethopteris australts, Thinnjeldia odontopteroides, 

 Phyllothecaconcinna, Macrotceniopleris Wianamattce, Podo- 

 zamites distans. 



2. Clarence— 



With Alethopteris australts, Thinnfeldia odontopteroides, 

 Sphenopteris sp , Tceniopteris Daintreei, Zeugophyllites 

 and Walchia. 



3. Ballimore — 



With Alethopteris concinna, A. currant, Sphenopteris 

 crebra, S. glossophylla, Merianojyteris major, Walchia 

 milneana. 



