50 
recognisable — even where denudation has covered it with 
Eh and sand—by level, disconnected tracts of land ending 
abruptly on one or more sides in a scarped face and a talus ` 
auge abutting against the base. Characteristic vegetation 
growing on the surface of the formation is Banksia and 
Casuarina. The sandstone, composed essentially of rounded 
to subangular grains and pebbles of quartz, varying in size 
from submicroscopic dimensions to one or two inches in 
diameter, is cemented by protoxide of iron. A local leaching 
out and reprecipitation of the iron oxide has produced 
masses consisting of uncemented sand-grains (the so-called 
"quicksands" of the quarrymen) in the one case; and 4 
variegated aspect of the rock in the other. In certain parts 
of the country large surface deposits of loose sand have thus 
been produced from the sandstone. Small accessory crystals 
of fluorite and "pockets" of glauconite are distributed through 
the rock. The formation shows no definite planes of stratifi- 
sation, but here and there a distinct “current” or “false 
bedding" is visible. Fossils have so far been found only at 
one spot in the upper sandstone: at a point some hundred 
yards west of the reservoir, in the exit channel of the by- 
wash ; but they are too imperfect for specific or even generic 
determination. In the upper zone of the sandstone, however, 
occur hard, siliceous, cylindrical masses, having the appear- 
auce of fossilised roots and stems of plants. If such, an 
exact determination might have thrown some light upon the 
somewhat doubtful age of the sandstone. Professor H. Gra* 
zu Solms-Laubach kindly undertook the determination of 
the "roots" for me. After preparing the necessary micro- 
sections, the Professor came to the following conclusion, 
which I give in his own words: — Die cylindrischen Exem- 
piare scheinen aus verschiedenen zusammengebackenen Wnr- 
zeln oder Stengeln nach Art von Japorta's Schizocaulon zu 
bestehen. Da sie indessen gar keine Strustur bieten, so kann 
ich leider nicht einmal sicher sagen ob sie pflanzlichen Ur- 
sprungs sind. Für die Bestimmung der Formation aus der 
sie stammen geben allerdings diese Fossilreste gar keinen 
Anhalt. " In a subsequent note he continues: 
"wenn es aber dergleichen (Schizocaulon) sein sollte; so kann 
es immerhin ebensogut aus miocenen oder eocenen Abla- 
gerungen stammen." : 
From these statements it 1s clear that no definite results 
сап be drawn from the examination of the “roots.” In the 
first place, it is still doubtful whether they are of vegetable 
origin; secondly, the generic identification is uncertain ; and 
lastly, if the identification be correct, there remains the 
choice between Eocene and Miocene for the age of the for- 
mation, as Schizocaulon may occur in either epoch. 
