Dr. G. Bennett's Searcli for Fossils in Qtieensland. 319 



likely that a complete skeleton will bo found at one place, not even 

 of the comparatively smaller extinct species of mammals, unless by 

 some extraordinary chance an excavation should be made on a 

 sandy diift, which is not very probable. My reason for stating this 

 is, that, when a large bone or portion of a head is discovered, on 

 examining about the immediate locality it is seldom or never that 

 any further remains are found, though perhaps, a few yards distant 

 some remains of a perfectly distinct animal are detected ; but se- 

 veral miles distant, or in another creek, such as Oaldey, Gowrie, 

 or King's Creek, more portions of a similar kind of animal would be 

 discovered, as if they had drifted miles away, and the decayed por- 

 tions of the animals, before becoming fossilized, had passed through 

 the soft aUuvial soil in various directions, aided by the action of 

 water. This may account also for the bones of various species of 

 the extinct animals being found about the same locality. Judging 

 from the fossil remains, the mammals now extinct must have existed 

 in great numbers ; for the quantity of small fragments of bones that 

 could be collected is enormous, and there is not so much difficulty 

 in procuring specimens in situations I have before mentioned as in 

 obtaining them in a perfect or partially perfect state. It often occurs. 

 when collecting fossils, that one observes a bone projecting from the 

 soil, and, on digging around it, the slightest concussion, although 

 apparently remote, will cause it to crumble into mimite fragments. 

 When excavated from the soil in a soft state, it is advisable to leave 

 them untouched and exposed to the air, when they soon become hard 

 and capable of removal. The height of the banks where the fossils 

 were found varied from one to six or seven feet. 



" On the 20th of November I left Gowrie for Dalby and Halli- 

 ford station, having made during my short visit a very interesting 

 collection of fossils, which are forwarded to yoii ; and on the 23rd I 

 returned to Gowrie, where a few fossils, collected during my ab- 

 sence, awaited my arrival, and were added to my collection. In the 

 evening I left for Clifton station, by railroad, where I arrived at 

 7 P. M. On the following morning, in company with Mr.W. B. Tooth 

 and his son, we explored ' King's Creek.' At this place, as at 

 Gowrie, I pointed out the most probable places in which fossil re- 

 mains might be found. King's Creek in many places is a noble 

 stream of water ; and it was only in the more shallow parts that we 

 could pursue our researches with snccess. After a drive of some 

 miles we observed an isolated conglomerate pebbly rock of some 

 size, with the creek running close to it ; we alighted and examined 

 it. This boulder appeared as if it had been detached many years 

 before from the adjoining bank ; and under a shelving portion of it 

 ' fairy martens ' (Collocalia Ariel of Gould) had constructed their 

 curious and elaborate bottle-shaped nests, in which white eggs and 

 young just hatched were observed. This species always builds in- 

 land, and congregates about the squatters' verandas and near the 

 water. This conglomerate rock (of which I have given a rude 

 sketch) appeared to be likely to have fossils ; and after some search. 



