34 Skeleton of the Oorilla. 



table lands, would proceed with accelerated speed, from the 

 growth of vegetation, and the storms bursting and breaking 

 down large masses of materials from the steep sides of the 

 newly formed ravines, each mass, in turn, assisting to 

 destroy not only itself, but the other materials obstructing it 

 in its course. 



In the earlier ages of such a period as that which we have 

 been contemplating, the flat coast known as the Ninety-Mile 

 Beach, and the coast lakes, with their surrounding low 

 lying land, could have no existence, whilst the waters of the 

 ocean would roll unchecked, up the long narrow valley of 

 the La Trobe, now occupied by rich alluvial marsh lands 

 and back waters, and in all probability the marshes of the 

 Morewell and the Moe, south of the La Trobe would be 

 brackish, if not sea-water lakes. 



The material worn out from the former undulating high 

 lands of the ranges, would be sufficient to reclaim the whole 

 of the La Trobe Valley and form the low lands around the 

 Coast lakes — together with the Ninety Mile Beach. 



Such are the views I have formed from the examination 

 of the physical features of the district, and although such 

 examination has been of necessity a very cursory one, I 

 believe the views put forward will be found to be supported 

 by a more careftil scrutiny of facts. 



This paper is in itself somewhat crude, from the want 

 of time for preparation, but such as it is, I hope it will be 

 accepted rather as suggestive of a question of great interest, 

 which deserves a fuller examination and profounder thought 

 than I have been able to aflbrd to it. 



Art. Ill— On the Skeleton of the Gorilla. By George 

 B. Halford, M.I)., Professor of Anatomy, Melbourne 

 University. 



[Read 24th July, 1865.] 



Owing to the energy of Professor M'Coy, Melbourne has 

 been enriched by the acquisition of skeletons and stuffed 

 specimens of the Gorilla ; and "we are further indebted to 

 him for permitting one of the former to illustrate our- 

 discussion this evening. It would not be right were I, 

 comparatively speaking a new arrival, to allow this opportu- 

 nity to pass without expressing the admiration with which 



