78 



(Devonian) rocks absolute specific identity with European forms, 

 with rare exceplion. 



This being the case, it becomes most interesting to ask, in the 

 interests of the evolution theory, whether there are in our tertiary- 

 formations any signs of a persistence of the secondary types, so that 

 their preservation, in the existing state of things, can be accounted 

 for. To this, we must again answer " no." The secondary 

 tj^es in the tertiary rocks of Australia are few and rare. We have 

 two Trigonkf:, both very different from the existing forms ; but one 

 very similar to our Oolitic species, and a Pleurotomaria, which is a 

 Palseozoic type ! Some of the Brachiopoda have faint secondaiy 

 affinities, but the Echinodermata are certainly not Mesozoic in 

 character. In all other respects our tertiary formations have 

 very close affinities with the tertiary rocks of Europe, and, indeed, 

 with the rest of the world ; while there is the same singular and 

 remarkable break between the secondary and tertiary periods that 

 is found to prevail everywhere. Imperfect and incomplete as the 

 geological record miist necessarily be when it is interrogated as to 

 evidence in favoiir of evolution from what it gives in Australia, it 

 must say decisively " in Australia I have none to give," 



In this I am not putting any interpretation on the evidence. I 

 am merely stating the fact. Whether another interpretation 

 against evolution could be given is a matter of individual opinion, 

 and I withhold my own. My researches in Australian tertiaiy 

 geology have now extended over twenty years, and during that 

 time, as I have helped somewhat to create its literature, I may say, 

 probably without arrogance, that I have as good an opportunity 

 of becoming acquainted with its palfeontology as any one. It may 

 be, therefore, of some value to state that in all my examinations of 

 our fossil and living fauna I have carefully sought for any reasonable 

 evidence in favour of evolution or clue to its mode of operation, 

 and have found none — none whatever. I must add that Australian 

 geology, whether reluctantly or not, must admit that she can urge 

 nothing in favour of that theory being true, the true explanation of 

 nature as we find it. 



But in the supposition that in our land fauna and flora we have 

 a relic of secondary epoch, there is something not easy to reconcile 

 with the evolution hypothesis. Types remaining stationary during 

 such long periods of time appear, to my imperfect knowledge of 

 evolution, inconsistent with the necessary postulates. Possibly I 

 may misunderstand the question, but it must be of use to point out 

 that the evidence of the submergence of Australia since the Mesozoic 

 period is somewhat cogent. Not only are relics of the Cainozoic 

 strata found at considerable distances from the sea, but the northern 

 as well as the southern portions of the continent are covered at inter- 

 vals with a deposit which some regard as marine and some as 

 lacustrine, but all agree in referring to the most recent of our 

 tertiary strata. It would be, therefore, a hasty conclusion to assert 

 that any part of the continent has been preserved as dry land since 

 the Mesozoic period, and the weight of evidence is against it. 



