j^32 PRESIDENT S ADDRESS. 



I have been unable through lack of time to carry out my 

 intention of completing the comparison of the tertiary fossil leaves 

 with those of the existing vegetation. Sufficient has, however, 

 been done with the assistance of Mr. R. T. Baker, F.L.S., to 

 confirm me in the opinion I last year expressed, that the fossil 

 Mora would find its representatives in the existing coast vegeta- 

 tion. Some of the fossil fruits of the Pliocene Gold Leads also 

 closely resemble those of to-day on the coast, but as structure has 

 been almost entirely lost, there is not that certaint}' that one 

 would like to find. It seems, however, quite clear that before 

 seeking for analogies in distant countries careful comparisons 

 with the existing flora should be made, and this is not the method 

 that the eminent paheontologist, in whose hands the fossil plant 

 remains from Dalton, Vegetable Creek and Oxley were placed, 

 adopted. Taking into consideration the difierence between the 

 Eocene and Miocene climate and that of the present period, we 

 might expect to find existing types a few degrees further south 

 in the fossil state, but that is quite a different idea fi*om going to 

 the other side of the earth for analogies. 



I can find little or no information about the fossil tertiary 

 floras of Western Australia, South Africa and South America. 

 This is much wanted, as also further information about fossil 

 remains of the tertiar}' beds of Kerguelen Island. 



Some months ago, when on a visit to South Gippsland, Mr. J. 

 H Wright took me to some leaf beds lying on a horizon above 

 the "Lower Basalt.'"' The most interesting finds on that occasion 

 were leaves in all respects resembling those of a species of Coprosma, 

 "domatia" and all. This is a curious indication of the antiquity 

 of these peculiar structures. Eucali/ptus was not noticeable in 

 these beds, and the vegetation appeared to have such a character 

 as would imply humid atmospheric conditions. Mr. Wright 

 showed me some beautiful leaf remains from the siliceous shales 

 below the " Lower Basalt," in which there were a good many 

 leaves of the Fag its type, as well as what might be taken for 

 an early form of Eucalypt. 



