110 
at the general level of the country on the top of the cliff there 
is no sign of a stream. The water, in fact, issues just under 
the dune limestone, which is a porous rock, and then flows 
over the dense secondary strata. It flows freely all the year 
round, and is probably derived from some of the inland water 
courses, which are numerous enough in the forest country a 
short distance from the coast. Even the clay of the tertiary 
mounds is traversed by small runlets of water having the 
same origin. It was an unusual luxury for us as fossil collec- 
tors in the hottest time of the year to have an abundant 
supply of cold water close at hand. Were it more accessible, 
this pretty spot would no doubt pruve very tempting, being 
the very model of a picnic resort, especially to those of a 
geological turn of mind. 
In addition to the fossils gathered personally this and last 
year, we have had access, through the kindness of Mr. Crouch, 
to a collection made by him while residing at Cape Otway. 
The total of determinable species of Mollusca recorded in 
the appended list is 123; of these 38, or 30 per centum, are, 
as far as known, restricted to the locality; whilst the occur- 
rence of three species of Lorsonia, having the whole aspect of 
Surcula, two of which are among the commonest species pre- 
sent, impart a local peculiarity. Moreover, two genera, Atlanta 
and Woodia, are added to our Eocene fauna, and are therefore 
peculiar to the Cape Otway section. The Aldinga, Spring 
Creek, and Muddy Creek faunas are represented respectively 
by 40, 41, and 44 species. The most noteworthy fact is the 
comparatively large proportion of Aldingian species which have 
hitherto been largely unrecognised among the species of the 
other chief fossiliferous sections in Australia. Thus of the 40 
Aldinga-species present at Cape Otway 18 are restricted to these 
two sets of beds (in this connection one coral may be added), 
whilst five of the species indicated are common also to the Spring 
Creek fauna. 
The Aldinga-facies is further intensified by the occurrence of 
Plesiotriton, Conorbis, Mesalia, and T’riploca, hitherto restricted. 
The two former genera are represented by distinct species, and 
the two latter each by a species in common. 
By contrast the number of species in common with the neigh- 
bouring section at Gellibrand is 30, which are extralimital. Hence 
the most reasonable explanation to reconcile these discordant 
facts of distribution is that the Gellibrand and Cape Otway 
sections belong to distinct horizons. But before this important 
question can be adequately discussed a review of the Aldinga 
beds and those at Table Cape in Tasmania is essential, and for 
the present we are reluctantly compelled to postpone it. 
