During Post-Miocene Times. 23 



beach, were under the sea at the commencement of the 

 pleistocene period (Geo. Sur., N.Z., 1873-4, p. 58) ; and, 

 although Dr. von Haast disputes this conclusion, it har- 

 monises with the other evidence. Besides this, the latter 

 geologist admits that New Zealand was submerged to a con- 

 siderable depth during pliocene times (Geo. of Canterbury, 

 p. 373). 



From South Africa we learn that pliocene shells are found 

 in deposits high above the sea level throughout KafFraria, 

 but the exact height is not given (Stow, Q. J. G. S., XXVII., 

 p. 544). 



Turning to South America, we find that on the east coast, 

 from Cape Horn up to 33° S. latitude, there are old sea 

 margins at seven different heights, the highest being 1400 

 feet above sea level, and these are of pliocene or later age. 

 Darwin is of opinion that during this period this part of the 

 country was an archipelago, a conclusion strangely similar 

 to that which we have already arrived at concerning Aus- 

 tralia at about the same time (Geo. Notes S. Am., p. 10). 



On the west coast there are margins up to considerable 

 elevations; but their evidence is unreliable owing to the 

 volcanic disturbances on that coast which have interfered 

 with the levels. 



This is the evidence that I have to offer in favour of the 

 view that within post-miocene times Victoria has been dipped 

 beneath the waves. The exact depth to which she sank it 

 is difficult to fix, for there have been several rises of 

 the sea, and each should have left its mark. As it 

 is unlikely that any two were alike in height, and 

 as most of the traces have disappeared, those remaining 

 probably represent the relics of not one, but of several 

 rises. And further than this, there are slow earth move- 

 ments which ought to be taken into account, if they 

 can be ascertained, when we endeavour to fix the exact 

 amount of alteration in the levels. The broad fact remains, 

 however, that the geological evidence fits still further into 

 that drawn from so many other sources, and it points to a 

 general submergence of the land throughout the latitudes 

 south of 33° S. 



The last evidence that I shall submit to you is that of the 

 seven or eight warm periods which were intercalated between 

 the seven or eight cold ones which occurred during the last 

 epoch of high eccentricity. "We saw that each of these 

 periods had a length of a little over ten thousand years. The 



