74 



to those of the sassafras (Atherosperma MoscTiata). Others, 

 again, resemble the dogwood (Pomaderris Apetala). Many 

 specimens have occurred of a plant resembling a species of 

 Pimelea, known here by the trivial name of the cotton-tree, 

 from the toughness of its bark. The fossilized stems and 

 roots of a rush, now growing iu the neighborhood, are 

 frequently met with, together with many other vegetable 

 remains so badly preserved that I am as yet unable to decipher 

 them. 



Amongst the animal remains collected is one insect, un- 

 known to me, probably the larval form of some waterbeetle, 

 and five species of shells belonging to the genera Helix, 

 Limnea, Planorbis, and Helicarion. Of these the commonest 

 is a large Helix, now extinct in Tasmania, the others are rare 

 and comprise a smaller Helix, probably Helix Sinclari — a 

 Planorbis (unknown to me and possibly extinct) a large 

 Limnea not now found in our fresh waters, and a Helicarion, 

 probably Helicarion Milligani. 



"We may therefore safely speak of this Travertine as a recent 

 tertiary formation. 



Ten years ago I picked up in this quarry two small specimens, 

 one of which, from microscopic examination of a section, I 

 then believed to be bone, but which was so soft and mutilated 

 as to be otherwise useless ; the other is marked No. 1 amongst 

 those now before you. Since that time the workmen at the 

 quarry have kept a look out having promised to save anything 

 resembling bones for me, but up to a few weeks back no 

 definite traces of bone were found. Then, however, the 

 specimens now on the table were discovered. 



The bed in which these bones were found was exposed during 

 the opening of a new part of the quarry, and consist of a 

 deposit of arenaceous clay, containing coarse grit, and a few 

 slightly rounded pebbles, just such as might be carried down 

 any of our small rivulets by a moderate flood, and I have little 

 doubt that the mutilated condition of most of the bones is 

 due to the violence of the current which carried them to their 

 present position, for in no instance have I found two bones 

 occupying their proper relative positions, except in the case of 

 a few of the teeth which have remained in the jaws, — as you 

 may observe for yourselves in the specimens marked 2 and 3. 

 Masses of Travertine are found both above and below the 

 clay deposit in which the bones occur, apparently marking the 

 periods during which the deposition of lime went quietly on 

 without the intervention of floods. The particular bed in 

 which the bones were found is at a depth of thirty feet from 

 the surface soil. With reference to the bones themselves, all 

 the information I am competent to give you is, I regret to say, 



