Fingal and East Coast. 41 



subsequent examples : I refer to the singular contortions 

 exposed in its bed, where deep cuttings have been made 

 between Fingal and Tullochgorum, on the Avoca road ; 

 and to those who may have the opportunity of visiting 

 the localities, I may instance the many magnificent 

 natural sections occurrino- along the coast of Bass's 

 Straits, at intervals from the Forth River to Circular 

 Head, but more especially a few miles west from Emu 

 Bay. 



The very considerable difference of level apparent 

 between the various points at which the limestone 

 crops out in the South Esk Valley, and in that 

 of the Break-o'-day River, seems to be referable to 

 inequality in the intensity of the upheaving force exerted 

 on particular points during the period of disturbance 

 which immediately succeeded the deposition of the car- 

 boniferous strata, and which in many instances produced 

 the disruption of the coal beds, and led to the almost 

 entire disappearance of the coal ; while in other cases the 

 coal appears to have been almost as thoroughly destroyed 

 by the direct action of the eruptive masses upon its con- 

 stituents and qualities. Anthracite is very generally 

 believed to have acquired its comparatively incombustible 

 character through the close contiguity and torrefying 

 action of igneous rocks. 



The sandstone which is associated directly with the 

 bituminous coal occurs in massive beds, alternating with 

 an extremely fine yellowish white clay of a schistose 

 structure, in seams varying from a few inches to as many 

 feet in thickness, and more or less abundantly marked 

 with rude casts and impressions of leaves, &c. of plants. 

 Seams of shale of a bluish or black colour, which is 

 also occasionally somewhat bituminous, and upon partial 

 decomposition appears one mass of decomposed vegetable 

 matter, occur in this group from time to time. 



