THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 145 



badly. By the time we got to the bridge a thaw had set in. This 

 helped us to get along much quicker. It was quite dark before 

 we arrived at Walhalla, and I must confess that I was very thank- 

 ful when we saw the lights glimmering in the distance. 



After delivering up our treasures at the bank, we made the best 

 of our way home, cold and tired, but cheerful, after our ad- 

 ventures. 



ON THE BED OF A DRIED-UP CREEK NEAR 

 COLERAINE. 



By John Dennant, F.G.S., Corr. Memb. Royal Soc. S.A. 



(Read before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, <)th December^ 



1889.; 



While examining the marine tertiaries of Muddy Creek and the 

 Glenelg River during the last few years, I heard frequent rumours 

 of fossil shells having been found in the area lying between these 

 two localities — viz., in the Wannon Valley, not far from Coleraine. 

 My own researches had led me to conclude that this region had 

 not been submerged in tertiary times, and as my informants were 

 unable either to describe the shells or to indicate the precise 

 spot where they occurred, I for a long time doubted the correct- 

 ness of their statements. 



A few months ago, however, Mr. Cummings, a reporter on the 

 Hamilton Spectator, assured me that some shells, lately gathered 

 near Coleraine, had been shown to him, and that the finder would 

 most willingly conduct me to the place where he obtained them. 

 On ray next visit to Coleraine I made inquiries for the shells, and 

 was at last gratified by seeing specimens of them at the hotel 

 where I stayed. They proved to be casts in ironstone of Unios, 

 and, therefore, totally distinct from the marine tertiaries of Muddy 

 Creek and the Glenelg. I was told that they were found on the 

 top of one of the hills overlooking the Wannon river, a locality in 

 which one would hardly expect to find Unios. 



Coleraine is situated at the bottom of a valley through which 

 the Koroit Creek runs. On the north low, rounded hills approach 

 close to the banks of the stream ; but on the south there is a 

 moderate space of level ground, on which the town is built, the 

 land then rising somewhat rapidly to a height of 375 feet above 

 the valley. An excellent road winds along the sides of the hills, 

 and from the top one gazes upon as lovely a landscape as can be 

 found in any part of Victoria. Rolling downs of rich pasture 

 ground extend as far as the eye can reach, while at the 

 bottom of a deep valley runs the beautiful River W^annon, traceable 

 for miles by the fringe of trees lining its banks. Amongst the 

 downs there are in places flat table-lands, some of small and 

 others of tolerably large area. It is noticeable that these all lie 



