Hurrox.—On the Geographical Relations of the N.Z. Fauna. 253 
An interval then occurs, and the next formation probably belongs to the 
jurassic period. In this we find Belemnites aucklandicus, which can hardly 
be distinguished from B. canaliculatus, and Astarte wollumbillaensis. The 
ferns, too, found so plentifully near Port Waikato, in the Clent hills, at the 
Mataura, and at Waikawa harbour, are considered by Professor McCoy to be 
identical with Australian ferns from the same formation. At the close of this 
period movements on an extensive scale commenced in New Zealand, the land 
was upheaved, and an extensive mountain chain formed. A long blank now 
occurs in our geological record (see Geo. Reports, 1872, p. 105), the next forma- 
tion belonging to quite the uppermost part of the secondary epoch, later I believe 
than the white chalk of England. In it we find remains of dicotyledonous 
plants and large Saurians belonging to the genera Crocodilus? and Plesiosaurus. 
Here also we find three fossil shells (Dentalium majus, Lucina americana 
and Cucullea alta), similar to those found in South America, one of which, 
Lucina americana, is found in the lower cretaceous rocks of Tierra del Fuego, 
and the other two in the miocene formations of Patagonia and Chile ; thus 
showing that during this blank in our geological record an intimate connection 
had existed between New Zealand and South America. The disposition, 
however, of these beds shows that the New Zealand Alps were not submerged. 
A long interval now follows, during which New Zealand was again upheaved, 
and the next rocks that we find are of upper eocene date (Geo. Rep., 1872, 
p. 182). From that time until the close of the miocene period New Zealand 
was greatly depressed, and divided into several islands, but at the close of the 
miocene period it was once more upheaved. During this period we find 
several South American miocene shells not met with in the older formation, 
as well as several Australian ones. During the newer pliocene period it again 
subsided, and the Wanganui beds were deposited. From that time I can see 
no evidence of the land having ever stood at a higher level than it does at 
present, but as the later changes in the physical geography of New Zealand have 
a most important bearing on the present condition of its fauna, beyond the 
scope of my present inquiry, I propose treating the subject in a separate paper.* 
The geological evidence is, therefore, that since the jurassic period there have 
been three principal upheavals in New Zealand, in the lower cretaceous, lower 
eocene, and older pliocene periods respectively, and that these were divided by 
two insular periods, viz., during the upper secondary (Danien), and from the 
commencement of the upper eocene to the close of the miocene, thus agreeing 
completely with the zoological evidence. 
The dates assigned by the geological evidence also agree well with those 
derived from zoology. We have seen that it is necessary to suppose that the 
first great antarctic continental period was anterior to the date of the spread 
* Vide post, “ On the Date of the last Great Glacier Period in New Zealand.” 
