325 



pendant masses are produced. The consolidatian of this crust 

 of calcium carbonate may ultimately kill the roots that they 

 enclose. In many cases complete molecular substitution has 

 taken place between the organic portions of the root and 

 the calcium carbonate, whilst retaining the organic struc- 

 ture. The occurrence of a raised beach on Hindmarsh 

 Island is another proof of the retreat of the sea in recent 

 times, either by the gradual rising of the land as a whole, 

 or, what seems the more likely, by the formation of marginal 

 lakes now so common a feature on our south-east shores. The 

 sandrock mentioned above is water-bearing ait depths of six 

 feet and upwards, the supply apparently being drawn directly 

 from the River Murray. Mr. W. Howchin, F.G.S., men- 

 tioned that raised beaches are found at vai'ious points near 

 the coast from Euclal to the C'oorong. Salt Creek, which 

 flows into the Coorong, has cut its way through a thick mass 

 of seashells, forming cliffs six or eight feet high of shell matter- 

 Mr. Howchin also stated that stalactitic action is common to 

 most raised beaches, and may be seen at the Reedbeds, Brigh- 

 ton, Port Victor, and other places. He also stated that the 

 elevation of the land near Adelaide is about 12 ft., whilst it 

 has risen as much as( 80 ft. in the South-East. Mr. Sam. 

 Dixon stated that raised beaches are to be found along the 

 south coast in the neighborhood of Esperance Bay and as far 

 as Mount Barren. Mr. Edwin Ashby, referring to the shells 

 shown by Mr. Basedow, pointed out that they were estuarine 

 in character, but that on Hindmarsh Island, opposite Goolwa, 

 a true marine shell is found, namely Donax epidermia. Thi* 

 mollusc is found on Middleton beach, and is known as a 

 cockle. 



Paper. — "Further Notes on the Botany of the Willochra 

 Valley," by Chas. F. Johncock. 



A vote of thanks was ipassed to those exhibiting specimen* 

 and to Mr. Johncock for his interesting paper. 



Ordinary Meeting, June 3, 1902. 



Walter Howchin, F.G.S. (Vice-President) in the chair. 



Ballot. — R. H. LaB. Cummins, of St. Peter's College, as a 

 Fellow. 



Paper. — "Descriptions of New Species of Fossil Mollusca 

 from Miocene Limestones near Edithburg, South Australia/' 

 by Herbert Basedow. Mr. Basedow mentioned that the 

 specimens described in his paper had been refeiTed by him 

 to the late Professor Tate for description, but owing to his 



