HuTTON. — On the Geographical Relations of the N.Z. Fauna. 253 



An interval then occurs, and tlie next formation probably belongs to the 

 Jurassic period. In this we find Belemnites aucklandicus, which can hardly 

 be distinguished from B. canaliculatus, and Astarte woUumhillaensis. 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 CuGullcea 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 subm.erged. 

 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. Pep., 1872, 

 p. 182). Prom 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 J '* On the Date of the last Great Glacier Period in New Zealand." 



