46 



watersheds, and by its pebbles and conglomerate, which are 

 strewn everywhere over the plains. Plant beds belonging to 

 two separate formations are found in East Australia, and all 

 identical as far as the carboniferous forms are concerned, with 

 species occurring in Tasmania. There is abundant evidence, 

 therefore, to prove that the island of Tasmania is connected 

 lithologically and stratographically with the axis of the 

 Cordillera, an axis which has evidently been subjected to a 

 great deal of subsidence. Whether such subsidence is the 

 cause of the gap of Bass Straits can be as yet only a mere 

 matter of speculation, though a very tempting field for 

 theory. 



The Quaternary formations of North Western Australia are 

 replete with interest, and offer a clue for the solution of some 

 of the problems to which the plant beds of Hobarton and 

 Launceston have given rise. The occurrence of volcanic 

 cones, with ash and lava deposits, on the table land, has 

 changed the course of some of the ancient rivers. They exist 

 now in the form of swamps or lagoons, containing bones of the 

 extinct terrestrial fauna of the continent. Thus a rich series 

 of remains have been brought to light, and forms which were 

 doubtful or problematical are by the discovery of missing links 

 completely identified. Two or more species of Emu are thus 

 made out, also a species of Moa, about the size of the Dinornis 

 robustus. A large fermur was found in the Leichardt Downs, 

 and it is now in the Sydney Museum. The carapace of more 

 than one fresh water species of tortoise was found on the 

 Darling Downs, besides extinct crocodilian remains mingled 

 with those of existing species. It is an interesting fact that 

 now the crocodile is almost confined to the tropics, and never 

 any distance from the sea shore, but then they extended a 

 very long way inland, and as far south as the latitude of 

 Brisbane (27 deg. 28 min.) The fossil mammalia made known 

 from the Darling Downs deposits, bid fair to rival in extent 

 and variety our existing fauna. No less than ten different 

 species of Diprotodon are now known from fossil bones, with 

 two or three species of Zyzomaturu and one of Notoiherium. 

 All these gigantic mammals (some perhaps larger than an 

 elephant) are now proved to belong to the Phalanger, that is, 

 the oppossum, flying squirrel, and native bear tribe. In fact 

 the dentition of all the three above named fossil genera has 

 the closest resemblance to that of a native bear or Phascola- 

 rctus. This species is the only one known, and inhabits 

 about a third of Australia, as far as the tropics on the eastern 

 side. Neither this animal nor the Dingo are known in Tas- 

 mania. As far as I am aware, no fossils of these extinct animals 

 above enumerated have been discovered in this Island, 



