FOSSILS AND ROCK-SPECIMENS. 589 



taining Fossils," which extends for so many miles towards the tropic, 

 north of the Gascoyne river. No outcrops of coal appear to have 

 been discovered ; otherwise the Surveyor would surely have found 

 room for a specimen in his collection. But where there is such an 

 extensive range bearing Carboniferous fossils, coal-seams of that age 

 may reasonably be expected somewhere along its flanks. 



It may be worth noting that the Carboniferous beds of Queensland 

 commence in lat. 26° S, and extend with some interruption almost to 

 lat. 20° S, on the Bowen river. Thus the latitudes on the east side 

 of the Australian continent, corresponding with the position of the 

 " Range containing .Fossils," are just those which possess the great 

 development of Carboniferous beds described by the late Mr. Dain- 

 tree *, who tells us that " whilst the affinities of the southern coal- 

 field of Queensland are Mesozoic, a northern field of even larger 

 extent has a distinct fauna, more resembling the Palaeozoic Car- 

 boniferous of Europe." He further states that in the lower strata 

 Producti, Spiriferce, &c, of true Carboniferous age, are associated 

 with imperfect forms of plants resembling the Glossopteris, Peco- 

 pteris, &c, of the upper portion of the series. Numerous outcrops 

 of coal had even then been noted in the group ; but up to 1872 

 no commercial use had been made of them, owing to the difficulties 

 of carriage. 



Having drawn certain inferences from what there is in Mr. 

 Forrest's collection, it may be permitted, though with more hesita- 

 tion, to draw certain inferences from what there is not. It should 

 be specially noted that no specimens of granite have been brought, 

 so that the crystalline rocks are represented by schists such as num- 

 bers 3 and 5. 



If the small rock-specimens are a fair sample of the country, 

 it is evident that quartzose matter largely preponderates in the 

 crystalline, subcrystalline, and plain sedimentary groups, whilst 

 both opal and chalcedonic silica are not scarce. Notwithstand- 

 ing the number of fossils limestone does not seem to be very cha- 

 racteristic of the district, and volcanic rocks are entirely absent. 



With regard to the palaeontological evidence, the only trace of a 

 truly Devonian fossil is the Pacliypora, which so. much resembles 

 P. cervicomis (Favosites polymorpha). On the other hand, although 

 it is the fashion to speak of the Australian Carboniferous as Permo- 

 Carboniferous, it may be well to remember that the representatives 

 and nearest relatives of the species occurring in the Fossil Range, 

 are found in the Lower rather than in the Upper Carboniferous of 

 other countries. That the rocks of the Fossil Range are homotax- 

 ialiy Carboniferous there can be no doubt, whatever may be their 

 place in time ; and it does not seem necessary to suppose such a 

 development of Permian beds, distinct from the Carboniferous, as is 

 shown in Mr. Gregory's section. 



* Loc. cit. supra. 



