Probable Miocene Age of Conglomerate, Shdford. 175 



yet reveal them. Going up the road by the side of the fence, 

 the conglomerate commences near the cemetery gate and dis- 

 appears about 140 yards from the top of the hill. Further 

 details concerning the elevation and horizontal measurements 

 of the outcrop will be more conveniently given later on. 



The matrix of the boulders consists of ironstone with numerous 

 small, rounded, quartz pebbles irregularly scattered throughout 

 the mass. There is no creek or cutting where they occur, and 

 we noticed them merely as slight protrusions here and there in 

 the surface soil, much in the same way as blocks of lava appear 

 on the plains and hill slopes of ordinary basaltic country. They 

 are crowded with fossils, but all as casts only, the lime of the 

 shell being entirely replaced by iron oxide. When the cast is an 

 internal one, the fossil is not, as a rule, easily identified, but 

 with an external cast, or rather mould, where, as is often 

 the case, the ornament of the formerly enclosed shell is clearly 

 delineated, there is less difficulty ; and besides, the opportunity 

 is afforded of reproducing its outline and exterior markings in 

 some plastic material. Our own attempts at this were only 

 moderately successful, and we were very glad to avail ourselves 

 of the generous offer made by Mr. G. Sweet, F.G.S., to prepare 

 models from the fossil casts obtained. Our heartiest thanks are 

 due to this gentleman, as he has enabled us to determine with 

 certainty many of the forms represented. 



One of the commonest casts is that of Pecleti anti-australis, 

 the exterior ornament of which is often beautifully preserved. 

 Amongst other easily identifiable casts may be mentioned, 

 Zenatiopsis angustata, of large size, Pelicaria coronata, Chiotie 

 propinqua (mioc. var.), Myodora corrugata, Leda woods it. 

 Models of all of these have been prepared, as well as of the 

 majority of the other species catalogued. 



In the following table of fossils from the conglomerate, the 

 asterisk before the name signifies that the species is represented 

 by many examples. The dagger indicates that fossils from this 

 bed were also so identified by Professor Tate from casts sent to 

 him some years ago by Mr. Sweet. Having been allowed to 

 examine the same collection, we are able with the additional 

 material on hand and by the aid of the models pi'epared to omit 

 the query then placed against some of the names. 



