1. 



an argillaceous rock some fossil marine mussel shells." And 

 again, they " were kind enough to collect for me some valuable 

 fossils from the vicinity of Mount Margaret." From the 

 vicinity of the Peake I have received from Mr. Canham 

 Beleinnites and other Jurassic species identical with those at 

 Stuart's Creek. 



Of the fossils which admit of specific determination, five 

 occur in Queensland, whilst one only is referable to a Western 

 Australian species. 



List of Jurassic Fossils from Central Australia. 

 Belemnites australis, Phillips. 

 Belemnites Canhami, Tate (m.s.) 

 Natica variabilis, Moore. 

 Monotis Barklyi, Moore. 

 Modiola unica, Moore. 

 Modiola sp. 



Cytherea Clarkei, Moore. 

 Cytherea, or Chione spp., in casts. 

 Bhynchonella variabilis, Moore. 



Cretaceous. — The Cretaceous rocks occupy in Queensland, 

 at a rough approximation, 200,000 square miles, for the most 

 part good pastoral land. They present the physical aspect of 

 vast plains stretching westward from the main dividing range 

 to about the meridian of Central Mount Stuart. That this 

 portion of the Mesozoic system extends throughout the whole 

 of Central Australia is more than probable, hidden, however, 

 over large areas by the " Desert Sandstone." 



Though we have no internal evidence of the existence of 

 Cretaceous strata in this province, yet as those of Central 

 Queensland have been traced up to our boundary by Mr. Dain- 

 tree, it can only be a question of time that is involved in 

 substituting the presumptive by the positive. 



Mineral Springs. — There is one subject of practical interest 

 connected with the distribution of the Jurassic rocks, and that 

 is the occurrence of hot mineral springs, which suggest the 

 probability of obtaining supplies of water on the Artesian 

 principle over some portions at least of the Mesozoic plains, 

 and possibly over those portions covered by the " Desert Sand- 

 stone." 



These springs are situated around the southern and western 

 shores of Lake Eyre, and as they flow to the surface of an open 

 level plain in an arid climate they are doubtlessly natural 

 artesian wells. Some writers have attributed to them a 

 volcanic origin, from the circumstance that from their overflow 

 a crater-like mound of sinter has been deposited. 



One of the Primrose springs on the Neales River has a tern- 



