COMPARED WITH THOSE OF AUSTRALIA, 73 
an immense formation of micaceous sandstones, grits, and con- 
glomerates, in which are seams of valuable bituminous coal, and 
this lower part of the formation is possibly the equivalent in time 
of the lower greensand group. 
same fossil plants are found associated with all these coal 
deposits, and even those of highest antiquity abound in the fossil 
remains of dicotyledonous and coniferous trees of closely allied 
Species to those represented in the existing flora of the country. 
In the Malvern hills, where the strata overlying the coal con- 
tain abundance of lower cretaceous fossils, the dicotyledonous 
leaves are associated with Alethopteris, Oleandridum (Tcniopteris), 
and other forms that are prevalent in the underlying Jurassic 
s. € same association takes place in the sandstones over- 
lying the coal on the west coast. 
It appears from this that the land surface preceding the great 
depression during cretaceo-tertiary times survived to a later date 
in the north than in the south of New Zealand, the beds overlying 
the coal there being generally of younger cretaceous age. : 
Unless it be in Queensland, no equivalent of this formation has 
n detected in Australia. 
VII.—Lower GREENSAND. 
a. Amuri group on east coast 
6, Bituminous coals on west coast. 
eds consist of green and grey incoherent eens 
Woo 
equivalent beds are also found on the east coast of the North 
Island in several localities, and they haye a considerable bere 
ment in the neighbourhood of East Cape, extending inland as 
— i. Very similar forms are described from Flinders 
River in Queensland, one very characteristic species, Belemnites 
Australis (Philip’s), being identical. 
VIII.—Jurassic. 
a. Mataura series. 
6. Putataka series. 
c. Flag Hill series. 
These beds, which are the youngest of the lower secondary 
formation in New Zealand, require mention under their several 
Subdivisions, although on the map no distinction has been made 
een them. 
