GS 



the ice producer, that the general ice-sheet has descended in 

 either hemisphere far below the 45th degree of latitude — and 

 we have no data to warrant the supposition that Australia has- 

 passed through any elevatory ordeal since long anterior to the 

 era of the Drift. Nevertheless, apart altogether from eleva- 

 tion having anything to do in the matter, whilst the cold period 

 was approaching to and receding from its maximum value, for 

 countless ages probably a continual frigidity prevailed over 

 the southern hemisphere at no greater distance from our 

 southern shores than ten degrees. Australia then must have 

 witnessed a very different climate than she now enjoys. 

 Though we have no reason to infer other lands in the southern 

 hemisphere then existed than do at present — and these, accord- 

 ing to Dr. CrolVs theory, would then attain a proportionate 

 lower altitude above sea level as their situation approached 

 the south pole — yet it might be reasonably inferred that 

 sufficient dry land did then exist to produce icebergs of 

 enormous proportions. Existing lands are the South of New 

 Zealand, Sibrina Land (situated about 1,600 geographical 

 miles due south of Australia); Cape North, in South Victoria 

 Land, though situated fourteen degrees east of Adelaide, is 

 only 35 degrees, or 2,160 geographical miles south of the 

 parallel of that city ; besides other minor islands to the south- 

 west and south-east of Australia. Likewise we must bear in 

 mind that though no land nearer to Australia than New 

 Zealand would present an actual ice cliff from which mountains 

 of ice would be discharged. Nevertheless, at least down to the 

 45th degree of latitude, the surface temperature of the ocean 

 for something like eight months in twelve would be, if not 

 quite, pretty near that of the freezing point, which would tend 

 in a much greater degree than at present to facilitate the 

 passage of icebergs discharged from southern lands much 

 further north than now transpires. To my mind, in those days 

 the stranding of icebergs on the southern shore line of Australia 

 would frequently happen, and to that cause I venture to ascribe 

 the phenomena of the presence of erratic boulders, and probably 

 also the volcanic bombs found strewn along our present coastline 

 and elsewhere throughout the Drift. 



Though I cannot fully hold with those who are of opinion 

 that the South Australian drifts are purely of fresh water, or 

 purely of pluvial origin — and also I may here state I by no 

 means disregard the potent fact that depressions and elevations 

 of the earth's surface in various degrees beyond our conception 

 have and may still be caused by the action of internal agency — 

 nevertheless a careful investigation of the various points at 

 issue in the ease before us leads me to conclude that the con- 

 ditions under which our Drifts were laid down were brought 



