39 



condition of the reef, show that this dead belt of coral is now 

 exposed to atmospheric influences, which are antagonistic to its 

 growth, with every ordinary springtide; while the living coral, as 

 before observed, is only visible above the water at the exceptional 

 or lowest springs At the period that the inner belt of dead 

 madrepora was alive, and which from its state of preservation 

 cannot be long ago, it must have grown at a similar lower level 

 as that now living, and nothing but the general upheaval of the 

 area on which it throve can logically explain the fact of its deca- 

 dence. The fringing reef off Magnetic Island, near 'J'ownsville, 

 presents closely analogous phenomena. Dead bivalve shells of 

 large size, such as TrUlacnas and Piniias, also occupv their 

 original positions here, in close contiguity to the dead corals. 

 Yet more substantial evidence of the upheaval in this district was 

 afforded me, by a station holder on Magnetic Island, and bv whom 

 I was informed that, within the time he had been located there, a 

 very perceptable change had taken place in the small bay facing 

 his property. In former years boats could approach the landing 

 place at all tides, excepting very low springs, whei'eas now it was 

 not possible to bring a boat in at even ordinary low tide. The 

 shallowing of the water could not be accounted for by the 

 silting-up of the bay, there being no fresh water flow into it, 

 while the rocky bed of the bay itself had apparently been raised 

 to a higher level. The instances now recorded might easily be 

 multiplied. Sufficient have, however, I think, been adduced to 

 indicate how extensive a field for exploration exists in Xorth 

 Queensland, with relation to the growth and composition of 

 coral reefs, and with regard to the geodic phenomena now in 

 course of progress and influencing their development. Thursday 

 Island, as previously suggested, would constitute a most suitable 

 basis for the inauguration of a thoroughly scientific investigation 

 of this very important subject. 



To enumerate one tithe of the forms of animal life of economic 

 or scientific import, as yet unnoticed, that would invite attention 

 in connection with a zoological station established at Thursday 

 Island, would be exceeding the object of this address, and the 



