21 



includes a species of Terebratula, a Trochus, and a small Voluta, 

 which I have not seen before. 



There is further evidence afforded by leaf impressions in 

 the sandstone, and fragments of lignite, to connect these beds 

 very closely in geological age with the extensive Tertiary 

 formation in and around Launceston, and on both banks of 

 the Tamar, which I have also ascertained to be anterior to 

 the great outflow of basalt, which extends from near Kerry 

 Lodge to Evandale and the North Esk. They are also thus 

 allied to the freshwater limestone which was formerly quarried 

 in the outskirts of Hobart Town, and that which is still 

 worked on the opposite side of the Derwent. These were 

 described by Strzelecki many years ago, as the highest 

 formation in geological sequence in Tasmania, and his des- 

 cription still holds good, the post-tertiary and alluvial deposits 

 which are common in the basins of modern rivers, and 

 on the existing coast-line, being of course excepted. 



The igneous rocks of Table Cape, specimens of which have 

 also been presented by Mr. Hainsworth, are exceedingly in- 

 teresting, but can only receive a passing notice here. They 

 present every variety from pumice-like scoriae to fine- 

 grained crystalline diorite, but may be classed under 

 two distinct heads, — basalt and trap. The age of the 

 latter and its exact relations to the sedimentary rocks 

 it is not easy to fix, but a reference to a geological chart 

 of the locality, prepared nearly ten years ago, when I was 

 accidentally detained for two days in the neighbourhood, 

 confirms the theory which I have latterly held of its being 

 more recent than the conglomerate last described. It forms 

 the projecting headland of Table Cape, and rises with a nearly 

 vertical seaward face to a height of 583 feet. It is undoubtedly 

 older than the Tertiary strata, and probably afforded a shelter 

 under the lee of which they were quietly deposited during a 

 long series of years ; where, too, they rested undisturbed until 

 the period of the tremendous eruption of basalt, which, 

 breaking through the previously weakened crust at many 

 points simultaneously, elevated a great portion of the land to 

 its present level, and may be said to have closed the geological 

 history of the North Coast. 



