320 TRANSACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS OF TIIK [Skss. Lxvii. 



viminalis (h), points to survivals from a time when the 

 climate'was much colder than it is now. The oscillations 

 of level which have affected tlie coast-line of the southern 

 half of this continent may be well studied in Gippsland. 

 These must certainly have produced variations of climate 

 extending back beyond the Cainozoic period. 



" The Gippsland Alps have not been submerged 

 beyond a contour line of some 800 to 1000 ft. above 

 sea-level, not only during that period of time, but 

 that land surface must have been continuous backwards 

 to the time when the Mesozoic coal measures of Gippsland 

 were formed. 



" The lauraceous and other plants which have been 

 found in the Miocene ^ drifts of Gippsland indicate, as 

 does also the fauna of the marine limestones of that 

 district, a warmer climate than of the present day. 



" Lake Karm,' at Mount Wellino;ton, if a moraine lake, 

 points, on the other hand, to an Alpine climate, descending 

 to within at least 3000 ft. of the sea-level. Such changes 

 of climate have evidently been attended by a corresponding 

 change in the Tertiary Flora, in which that element, which 

 is now characteristic of Australia, has gradually pre- 

 dominated. Such changes of climate may also account in 

 part for the great number of recorded types of Eucalypts 

 and their varieties, and of which no less than 35 occur in 

 Gippsland. 



" Geological formation, as producing variation of soil, 

 has no doubt influenced the present distribution of 

 the Eucalypts, but its effect cannot be made out so 

 clearly as those produced by climate ; but the broad 

 features can be readily seen by anyone travelling through 

 Gippsland." ^ 



Physical Features of the Main Watershed Line or 

 Dividing Range. 



The piiysical features of the main watershed line 

 present a diversity of contour : long sinuous ridges rising 

 into flat-topped mountains, as Mount Howitt ; to coned 



1 Now classed as Eocene. 



2 " The Eucalypts of Gippsland." A. W. Howill, S.S.C. Trans. 

 Eoy. Soc. Vict. 



