18 Victoria as a Field for Geologists. 



light in Canada. With these old fashioned forms, however, 

 are found other organisms altogether strange, some of which, 

 to quote, I think, Mr. Selwyn in the Journal of the 

 Geological Society, are not only of entirely new species, but 

 require, in order to class them, that new genera should be 

 formed. 



The former of these instances illustrates the harmony 

 referred to. The latter, in like manner, is no less typical of 

 the contrast. The one singailarly proves the unerring truth 

 of sound pal^eontological deductions. The other offers to 

 the votary of the science "fresh fields and pastures new " 

 wherein to prosecute his studies, ever gi^^ing promise of 

 discoveries which are the legitimate and sure reward of all 

 searchers after knowledge made in a rio-ht direction. In the 

 fu^st case we are startled to find that, at that distant period, 

 countries so widely separated as England, Canada, and 

 Australia, must have enjoyed an almost identity of climate. 

 In the second vv^e are delighted to meet v/ith fresh proofs of 

 that almost infinite variety, cha.ractei-istic of nature's works, 

 from the earliest geologic ages down to the present time. 



I had intended to speak of the somewhat remarkable con- 

 tortions peculiar to the foregoing rocks, and to offer a few 

 remarks upon what, to me, seems to have been the cause of 

 them ; but I hope, ere long, if you will allow me, to submit 

 to your notice an especial paper upon the subject. The 

 contortions in question have, hov^^ever, left traces of a bygone 

 physical conformation of country, which I am strongly tempted 

 not to pass unnoticed. 



Tlie scenery of the gTeater portion of the colony presents 

 but few bold features. Were it not for a number of 

 mammillated volcanic hills, the whole of the district south 

 of the Dividing Range would have the aspect of a widely 

 extended plain. This, however, could not always have been 

 the case. Near Johnston-street bridge, for example, there 

 is a deep cutting extending fi-om the Yarra, for at least half 

 a mile, into Studley Park. During the first few hundred 

 yards the beds, nearly perpendicular, lean slightly towards 

 the east. They then form a sort of anticlinal, the beds on 

 the side nearest Kew dipping in an entirely opposite 

 direction. Now the beds being at one time horizontal and 

 continuous, must have been broken over the knife-like edge 

 of the anticlina.1, forming, hereabouts, a valley of fracture, 

 bounded on the east and v,-est by two lofty hills, several 

 hundred feet in height. This will appear at a glance by the 



