112 



On the Geological and Botanical Features 

 OF Southern Yorke - Peninsula, South 

 Australia. 



By Professor Ralph Tate, RG.S., F.L.S. 



[Read December 2nd, 1889.] 



A glance at the map of Yorke-Peninsula, on which is delineated 

 the chief physiographic features, cannot fail to suggest to the 

 thoughtful mind that the southern portion, which has a general 

 east and west trend, has been connected in comparative recent 

 times only with the northern part. This is indicated by the broad 

 belt of salt-marsh-land, which stretches across from Hardwicke 

 Bay on the north to Sturt Bay on the south, whilst salt lagoons 

 abound adjacent thereto, more particularly on the north side. 



Standing on the high ground at Warooka and looking eastward 

 an extensive panoramic view is spread out before you, embracing 

 the whole of the depressed area and much beyond it ; one's 

 imagination is but little tasked to conceive that a strait once oc- 

 cupied the area of the existing salt-marsh, no inconsiderable por- 

 tion of which is covered by water for a considerable part of the 

 year. Indeed, it seems only necessary to remove the ramparts of 

 blown-sand, which girdle the forementioned bays, to permit the 

 sea once again to flow through and convert Southern Yorke- 

 Peninsula to an island. 



Long since I was impressed with this idea, which should it 

 prove correct, I was then led naturally to anticipate certain floral 

 peculiarities, probably having aflinities with Kangaroo Island and 

 Southern Eyre-Peninsula. The fact that this large tract of 

 country is for the most part unsettled rendered exploration by • 

 oneself rather too serious and arduous an undertaking, and it was 

 not till November of this year that an opportunity was presented 

 to me, through the kind services and companionship of Mr. 

 Matthews, of Y^orketown, and Mr. Phillips, of Moorowie, of 

 satisfying myself by personal examination of the main points of 

 interest regarding the geology and botany of this hitherto scien- 

 tifically unexplored region. The circuit of the coast-line occui^ied 

 a week. The value of the results exceeded my expectations, and 

 in the belief that my observations will be acceptable to those in- 

 terested in the subject of the migration of plants and of the 

 evidences of recent geological changes, I venture without further 

 apology to submit them to you. 



