254 JOHN BARLING. 
length of the ray equals the total rainfall for that year, 
and each ray is dated. Thus a comparison of the amount 
of rain in various places for any year is at once apparent. 
It will be seen that the lowest rainfall known in Australia 
is that in the vicinity of Lake Eyre. This lake bed, now 
mostly dry, is below sea level. In contrast to this low 
rainfall, you will see represented, by a long line, the 
greatest annual rainfall known in the world, that of the 
Khasi Hills in Assam, India, where more than 500 inches 
in one year has been frequently recorded. As to how the 
climatic conditions, and state of the country in the vicinity 
of Lake Eyre have undergone a marvellous change in, geo- 
logically speaking, recent times, let the abundant fossil 
remains found there testify.’ 
These remains are of extinct marsupial herbivores of 
different sizes ; Diprotodons, some equalling or surpassing 
a rhinoceros in bulk; near these are the remains of huge 
birds, kangaroos, and other animals. No vegetation now 
existing in those parts could provide sufficient food for 
these creatures, and yet, strangely enough, analysis of the 
supposed contents of the stomachs of these huge animals, 
shews that they fed on Salsolaceous plants,” and this kind 
of vegetation is still represented on their old runs, perhaps 
1 See Mem. Roy. Soc., South Australia, Vol. 1., parti, by E. C. Stirling, 
C.M.G., M.A., M.D., F.B.8., and A. H. C. Zietz, v.u:s, 
@ Salsolaceous plants in Australia seem to be a characteristic of its dry 
parts, and these plants have been shewn to be food for “ Diprotodon.” 
Our western pines (Callitris robusta) apparently flourished there also at 
that time, so that, perhaps, the scant rain conditions of the present time, 
also obtained in the remote past, in the Lake Eyre district. Professor 
Stirling has suggested that Diprotodon was a swamp-haunting animal, if 
only we may reasonably suppose that in time past heavy rains such as 
those referred to, were not infrequent, and also that they fell over the 
watershed of Lake Eyre, then periodical inundations of the lake country 
must bea consequence—thus producing swamp conditions and vegetation 
which would perfectly suit huge, slow moving animals, such as Diprotodon 
apparently was. 
