OBSERVATIONS ON SHELL-HEAPS AND SHELL-BEDS, oul 
extent of comminuted shell, sand and mud, with traces of charcoal, 
whilst the thicker layers are clean shell not injured by either fire 
or fracture, though boulders and chips of stone are found along 
with them, and one block of basalt was found, the position of 
which is indicated on section, and this was encrusted with shells 
and barnacles ; the heap must have been of still larger dimensions 
as it had evidently been eroded to a considerable extent on the 
side next the creek. The stratification shown in this section is 
unusual, I have never noticed it in any similar heap, but on the 
opposite side of the creek a little down stream of this one, I 
observed a well defined instance of false bedding, a layer of sand 
‘being interstratified with the shell, and extending from top to 
bottom of the exposed section. It may therefore, be that these 
layers are of the same nature, the probability of which I infer 
from the fact of the heap down stream of this section tapering off 
as a wedge, whilst it may be seen from the longitudinal section 
that the upstream end and intermediate gap rise abruptly. The 
heap is superimposed on the muddy banks of the creek, and has 
not been piled up on a natural oyster bank as I have noticed in 
other instances, particularly in the one mentioned as occurring on 
the opposite side of the creek, which either merges or has been 
washed down into the bed of the creek which is clean shell. Out 
of this deposit we took some 3,000 yards of shell for road purposes, 
and during the progress of the work the remains of an aboriginal 
were found, with his stone axe and a quantity of paddymelon 
bones. I do not however attribute a high antiquity to these 
remains, as among them were the fragments of aclay pipe, indeed 
no particular importance can be attached to any aboriginal 
remains found in these heaps, as it is known that well defined 
mounds, especialiy such as are easily excavated by means of a yam 
stick, are favourite burial places with aborigines, and when known 
to exist for such purpose, they would be avoided as a camping 
ground. 
The measurement of the heap at North Creek Ferry is estimated 
at 13,400 cubic yards, and the wedge of material removed from 
