to 



that there can be no connection with the latter. What is it, 

 then, that prevents the formation of a marsh ? Most likely 

 the present dense vegetation, consisting of such small-leaved 

 plants as Mallees, Melaleucas, Acacias, &c., does that by evapo- 

 rating the greater part of the water supply through its innu- 

 merable leaves, and in its present state just sufficient to sustain 

 the balance between supply and demand. Should this be 

 cleared off incautiously curious results may startle the 

 occupiers in course of time. 



The present surface soil is simply the result of the decom- 

 position of the local pre-existing rocks distributed by wind 

 and rain. The sharply angular form of constituent particles 

 clearly proves this. They are even frequently embedded in 

 the travertine, forming in aggregated, most disjointed, sub- 

 globular layers in the subsoil, showing thereby that the latter 

 also has been formd m loco. Where the clay is very fine in 

 grain the lime, instead of being globularly disposed, surrounds 

 dead roots, &c., assimiing frequently very fantastic forms, 

 sometimes mistaken for corals by amateurs. This form of the 

 travertine is not of frequent occurrence about Ardrossan. 



The above sketch of the geological history would hardly be 

 complete if no illusion were made to the present. According 

 to nearly three years' attentive observation it seems to me 

 that the balance of evidence is inclining in favour of a slight 

 subsidence prevailing just now. The facts are that during this 

 interval the sea has gradually and steadily been encroaching 

 upon the sand dunes fringing the steep cliffs or raised beaches 

 to a great extent from the southern boundary of Muloowiu'tie 

 to the northern limit of Cunningham, a distance of some 25 to 

 28 miles, and has swept away vast masses of sand, in some cases 

 20 to 30 yards width of formerly permanent beach, as for 

 example near Ardrossan. This had the immediate effect of the 

 waves at high tides washing parts of the cliffs, which for many 

 years had been protected therefrom, thus causing falls of 

 undermined portions to occur more frequently than before. I 

 am certainly aware that other causes may affect coasts facing 

 the east similarly, but the previous accumulation of the sands 

 and other debris preclude them from offering a sufficient expla- 

 nation of the observed phenomena. 



