26 Evidences of a Glacial Epoch in Victoria 



there when that fossil flourished, and that its occurrence is 

 not inconsistent with the prevalence of a cold climate shortly 

 before and shortly afterwards. 



In a South African pliocene formation a fossil (Veneri- 

 cardia) is abundant. The shell-fish has abandoned the coast, 

 and is now found only within the tropics. According to Mr. 

 Woods, this should be evidence that South Africa has never 

 been subjected to an arctic climate ; and yet immediately 

 below the limestone containing this fossil a deposit of till, 

 scratched rocks, and other glacial indications are found 

 (G. and T., p. 242). 



Again, the tropic shells of South Australia are in forma- 

 tions which have for neighbours glacial drifts and grooved 

 rocks. Indeed, we need not go further than Mr. Woods' own 

 writings to find counter arguments. That gentleman has 

 carefully described the crag formations of that colony, and 

 he has identified them with the typical crag of Norfolk 

 (Geo. Obs. of South Australia, p. 178). Now, this crag 

 indicates a cold climate. Lyall says that " the fauna of the 

 upper crag is very arctic in character" {Principles, Vol. I., 

 pp. 197-9). The only deduction which the evidence war- 

 rants is that the climate was fluctuating, and passing 

 quickly from extreme to extreme, as it does in every glacial 

 period. Dr. Duncan confirms this view, after a careful 

 examination of the fossiliferous limestone of the cliffs of the 

 Australian Bight ; for he says that its contents indicate a 

 change of climate, an alteration in the distribution of marine 

 animals, and an elevation of the land (Wallace's Australia, 

 p. 78). 



I feel, therefore, that the evidence which Mr. Woods 

 marshals in array against the occurrence of a glacial climate 

 here may be dismissed as inconclusive. 



IY. 



Let me ask, What interpretation can be put upon all the 

 different facts which I have thrown together if the glacial 

 theory is rejected ? 



We shall have to believe that since the pliocene era com- 

 menced Victoria has been elevated and depressed to a con- 

 siderable extent at least five or six times. Surely these great 

 movements would have involved a degree of flexure of the 

 earth's crust in these regions such as must have left behind 

 it great traces in the tertiary deposits. 



