BY B. M. JOHNSTON, F.L.S. 205 



combined effects of astronomical and ^geographical causes — 

 similar to those which brought about the glacial epoch in 

 Europe and North America — are not likely to have 

 operated intensely in Australasia. That this seems to be 

 the more reasonable view as regards Australia is borne 

 out by local evidences. 



In the first place, the Neogene epoch of Tasmania 

 corresponds with the Pliocene epoch of Europe, and, 

 consequently, whatever the local chmatic conditions may 

 have been, they cannot in all respects be referred to causes 

 which entered into combination in a succeeding epoch in 

 the Northern Hemisphere. In the second place, while 

 admitting the evidence of former glaciation in local alpine 

 regions, there is no satisfactory proof that the erratics 

 found in such regions belong to the period in which our 

 raised terrace drifts were formed, and neither in these nor 

 in the latter deposits of the extensive lower levels do we 

 find any clear signs of ice action, such as are exhibited so 

 widely in Europe and America, in the shape of moraines, 

 boulder drift, striated blocks, perched blocks, and other 

 huge ice-born erratics, Sec. On the contrary, the pre- 

 vailing terrace drifts in Tasmania are formed from 

 materials derived from the adjacent or underlying rocks ; 

 and, with the exception of huge boulders at the base or on 

 the slopes of mountain ranges, clearly traceable to gravi- 

 tation, there is not the slightest trace of rock masses which 

 would necessitate the agency of ice as a means of trans- 

 port, if we except also those evidences in alpine regions 

 in the Western Highlands, which are, more probably, 

 local effects due mainly to a much greater elevation of the 

 land in former times. The author is personally familiar 

 with the various evidences of glaciation in Scotland at the 

 higher and lower levels, and his knowledge of Tasmania 

 is sufficiently wide to enable him to state with confidence 

 that corresponding evidences in the latter place are entirely 

 wanting within the Tertiary and later periods. 



The Rev. J. E. Tenison-Woods, A. W. Howitt, and 

 others having a most intimate knowledge of Australian 

 Geology, give similar evidence as regards the absence of 

 unmistakable signs of glaciation other than those now due 

 to greater elevation, as in the Alps of New Zealand at 

 the present day. 



It is true, Professor Tate reports the occurrence of 



