318 Dr. G. Bennett's Search for Fossils m Queensland. 



to others, they have been equally successful, as the acquisition of 

 valuable specimens can testify ; and my friends both at Gowrie and 

 Clifton have promised to follow up the researches from time to time, 

 and forward the specimens obtained to me. The univalve and bi- 

 valve shells, before alluded to as found both entire and in fragments 

 in the strata, are still living in the creeks ; and I have sent one of a 

 species of Unio, or river-mussel, obtained in King's Creek, where 

 both living and dead shells could be obtained in any quantity. The 

 Darling Downs are plains of great extent, more or less undulating, 

 with a background of hills of various picturesque forms, and ranges 

 of mountains, some open forest, others densely wooded and in many 

 parts edged "with open forest, and diversified with dense scrubs of 

 various species of Eucalypti, Casuarince, Acacia?., &c. tfec. The 

 plains are rich in grass, growing in a fertile black soil, which ex- 

 tends to a great depth (to judge from some of the banks of the creek, 

 from 30 to 40 feet, and from the digging of wells, from 121 to 157 

 feet), imbedded in which are often found concretions of carbonate of 

 lime, many of which were shown to me. Dispersed through the 

 grass are a number of beautiful flowering shrubs and plants, which 

 enhance the beauty of the plains, especially after rains. Marl was 

 also obtained both on the banks of the creek and in digging wells ; 

 and as marl consists of clay containing a small admixture of lime, 

 binding it together into a loose crumbling kind of stone, it assumed 

 various forms when dug out or seen on the banks ; and it was often 

 mistaken for fossil bones. I am inclined to consider that the plains 

 of Darling Downs were originally lakes, simUar to a lake now ex- 

 isting on the boundaries of the Halliford and St.-Ruth stations, 

 called the * Broadwater,' which is said to be about four miles in 

 •circumference and two miles across ; but it is not of a great depth. 

 When I saw it, the surface of the water was covered with a number 

 of wild ducks swimming about, and at some distance I could per- 

 ceive several black swans. This lake is surrounded by large trees 

 of Eucalypti &c. ; and in the water close to the flat shore dense 

 •masses of the white and also of the blue water-lilies (Nelumbium) 

 were growing. It is probable that in the course of time this piece 

 of water will also be filled up, and become similar to the downs. 



" When sinking wells, after finding a great depth of rich black 

 soil, the clay and sandy drift is arrived at, and then again an 

 alluvial deposit (so it has been mentioned to me) to the depth of 

 ■nearly 200 feet. When fossils are found in the bed of the creek or 

 in the banks, they have no doubt been disturbed by the heavy rains 

 which occur in this tropical climate, and have gradually drifted with 

 the percolating water, together with pebbles, fragments of stones, 

 shells, &c., through the soft soil towards where the waters naturally 

 flow — that is, towards the creeks, where they have been found, and 

 in most instances in a very friable condition ; whereas when pro- 

 cured by digging wells, they are found in a perfectly dry condition, 

 or nearly so. Thus, from what I have seen of the soft nature and 

 scattered state of the bones when found, I do not consider it at all 



