in South-Western Victoria. 229 



and at a lower elevation than these, a thin stratum of lime- 

 stone occurs, full of shells, exactly like those on the adjacent 

 beach. It is a kind of travertine, which while forming has 

 enclosed the shells left on the low-lying ground. The 

 localities where it has been observed are not now more than 

 80 feet above sea level. Though contemporaneous with the 

 sand-dunes, it is an independent deposit. 



In many places near the coast, where from local circum- 

 stances neither travertine nor sand-dunes have been formed, 

 similar shells are found in the soil or in patches on the 

 surface of the ground. They are chiefly interesting from 

 the additional proof they afford of the upheaval of the land 

 in quite recent times. 



It is necessary to notice also that in one or two localities 

 narrow ridges of the dune limestone jut out seaward for a 

 short distance, but their presence in such a position may be 

 accounted for, I think, by supposing minor alterations of 

 the coast line to have taken place subsequent to the con- 

 solidation of the strata. Near the Glenelg mouth, two of 

 these outcrops occur within a few miles of each other, only 

 one of which I have had an opportunity of examining 

 closely — viz., that nearest the river. In it the rocks com- 

 mence on the beach, and extend about a hundred yards from 

 the land, when they terminate abruptly. The ridge is not 

 more than 20 or 30 feet high, and a dozen yards in width in 

 any part ; nor is it continuous, bare spaces being left here 

 and there, where no signs of rock appear. The second 

 outcrop, as seen from a distance, looks very similar, and both 

 are probably the remains of low headlands, which the 

 waves have almost succeeded in demolishing. 



That the deposit is not deep-seated is plainly enough 

 demonstrated, when the volcanic country surrounding Cape 

 Bridgewater is examined, as its junction there with the 

 underlying igneous rocks is conspicuously displayed on the 

 face of every cliff*. These rocks belong to a lava flow which 

 issued from an extinct vent in the vicinity prior to the 

 formation of the sand dunes. The two sets of beds meet a 

 good way up the cliflTs, but not at a uniform level, the 

 surface of the basalt being far from horizontal, while the 

 thickness of the limestone in any place depends, of course, 

 upon the varying height of the original mounds of sand, of 

 which it is a consolidated remnant. The Lawrence Rock, 

 oflf Cape Grant, is an outlier of the same strata, now separated 

 from the mainland by a channel deep enough for navigation 



