Plant-bearing Beds between Lake FRO^rE and tlie Barrier 

 Eanges. Communicated hj the Deputy Surveyor- General. 



These leaves were taken from three wells situated between 

 Lake Erome in South Australia and the Mount Browne gold 

 diggings in New South Wales, in latitude about 30^. 



The first well is 45 miles west of the province boundary, 

 near the north end of Lake Frome. Section as under : — 



Surface soil ... ... ... 10 feet 



Clay ... ... ... ... 70 " 



Compressed wood and leaves in bottom 80 " salt water. 



The second is situated at Tilcha Station, near the province 

 boundary, about 35 miles north-east of the well above men- 

 tioned. Section: — 



Surface clayey loam ... ... 10 feet 



Sandstone ... ... ... 4 " 



Blue clay ... ... ... ... 76 " 



Drift sand and gravel intersected with 



clays ... ... ... ... 1G5 " 



AYhite quartzose sand with branches of 



trees and leaves similar to above ... 5 " 



250 '' freshwater. 

 The third well from which specimens of these leaves were 

 taken by Mr. Jones is situated about 35 miles within jS'ew 

 South Wales towards Mount Browne. After sinking 114 feet 

 through clays, &c., the stratum containing the wood and leaves 

 was met with. This well is at present in progress. It may be 

 mentioned that Mr. Jones possesses no information concerning 

 the thickness of this stratum ; no wells in the district have been 

 sunk through it; and that the same stratum has been met with in 

 well-boring on the upper watershed of the Darling. 



Supple:\[entary Xote by Professor B. Tate. — The leaves 

 which are embedded in a blue clay, belong to one species, as 

 far as can be ascertained from their fragmentary condition. 

 The largest fragment 3 inches long by If wide, belongs to an 

 elliptical leaf, coriaceous in texture, and surface rugose ; the 

 mid-rib is thick, and the strong lateral veins which arise 

 therefrom converge towards the margin and become confluent 

 with the marginal vein. 



Fragments of a similar clay highly charged with carbonaceous 

 debris contain casts of Area, sp., and of another lamellibranch 

 genus, probably Card htm. The formation may be referred to 

 the Miocene epoch. 



