298 Geology of 



next or Oamaru formation, of which a notable instance is f onnd in the 

 Otaio, where the lower calcareous beds are divided from the upper 

 more glauconitic ones by a layer, possessing a similar concretionary 

 structure, the same fossils being found above and below the division. 

 "Whatever may be the origin of this layer, in any case it is a proof 

 that important changes did take place, by which the mode of deposition 

 and lithological character of the rocks were considerably influenced,, 

 without, however, causing a break of any consequence in the continuity 

 of the beds. The lowest chalk marls have yielded hitherto no fossils 

 except a number of foraminifera, of which I have recognised several 

 species as being identical with those described by Karr and Stache in 

 the palaeontogical portion of the great Xovara work. The upper beds, 

 offering the well-known building stones in the "Waipara, "Weka 

 Pass, and Castlehill basin, contain a number of shells and other 

 exuvise, but the former mostly in the form of casts, generally difficult 

 to recognise. 



The following is a list of the genera and species, represented in 

 the Canterbury Museum: — Mammalia — Cetacean bones. Aves — 

 Small fragments of bones. Pisces — Teeth and vertebra? of Car- 

 cliarodon, Lamna, Oxyrliina. Jlollusca — Nautilus, cast ; JPIeurotoma, 

 cast ; Voluta elongata (Hutton), cast ; Scalaria rotunda (Hutton), cast ; 

 Struthiolaria, cast ; Solarium, cast; Imperator, cast; Cerithium, cast; 

 Cardium, cast ; Area, cast ; Lucina, cast ; Cytheria, cast ; JIactra, cast ; 

 Lima, cast ; Pecten Hochstetteri (Zittel) ; Pecten Williamsoni (Zittel) ; 

 Ostrea ; Waldheimia. Crustacea — Carapace of crab (Porcellana) ; 

 Balanus, two species. JEcliinodermata — Schizaster rotundatus (Zittel) ; 

 spines and portions of plates of Cidarites. Actinozoa — Turhinolia, 

 several species ; numerous fragments of Bryozoa. 



The Ceetaceo-Tebtiaby Pebiod ix Westlasd. 



As this formation presents some peculiar features I have thought it 

 more convenient to offer a short outline of it separately. The beds 

 begin also on this coast with coal-bearing deposits, and terminate with 

 limestones, proving that a gradual subsidence of the country during 

 their formation took place. They are of enormous thickness, surpassing 

 in that respect the beds on the eastern side of the central range, which 

 have been co-related with them. The clearest and most complete 

 section is open to our inspection on the banks of the lower Grey, 

 where we can follow the complete series from the Brunner coal mines to 



