62 
shales and reaches in its talus within a few yards of the edge of 
the cliffs. This view supposes that the morainic matter was 
marginal, and that instead of passing beneath the Miocenes was 
banked up against the face of these beds. If this could be 
demonstrated it would follow that the glaciation had taken place 
after the Miocene deposits had been laid down, and, hypothet- 
ically, synchronous with the great glacial age of the Northern 
Hemisphere in Pleistocene times. Other of the visitors held 
this hypothesis to be improbable, (1) on the grounds that the 
geological interval was too brief to account for the enormous 
change in the physical features of the country which must be 
assumed in the extinct glacial valley, and that the direction of 
flow, which was opposed to the present lines of drainage. (2) It 
was considered that the soft clays and sands of Miocene age must 
have been swept away by the erosive force of an ice sheet that 
had the mechanical energy to plane down metamorphic shales 
and quartzites. 
The question was considered of so much interest that the 
Council of the Association determined to set aside the sum of 
£20 as a fund to be devoted to works of exploration, and by this 
means demonstrate whether the glacial features were Pre- 
miocene or Post-miocene. Professor Tate and the writer of the 
present paper were entrusted with the duty of carrying out the 
explorations for this object. Valuable aid was given by Prof. 
T. W. E. David, the General Secretary of the Glacial Research 
Committee, who in December last visited Adelaide with the 
express purpose of assisting in the investigations. Mr. L. Birks, 
B.Sc., of Adelaide, was also present throughout the examination 
and rendered important help. 
The first practical step was to obtain permission of the pro- 
prietor of the ground, Walter Reynell, Esq., J.P., to carry out 
the necessary operations. Mr. Reynell not only readily gave his 
permission, but supplied several workmen and tools to do the 
pick-and-shovel work. Three days were spent on the ground. 
The first was devoted to a general survey of the features under 
the guidance of Prof. Tate. The second and third days were 
spent in working up the details and in mapping the boundaries of 
the glacial deposits on the north side of Field River. Prof. 
Tate was unfortunately called away by urgent business and was 
unable to remain for the last two days’ work. 
EXPLORATION. 
The point to be determined was—On what do the Miocene 
beds of the locality rest? Do they lie immediately on the de- 
nuded edges of the Archean metamorphic shales? Or are the 
