452 E. C. ANDREWS. 



determinations and a magnificent set of pl;it<^ illustrating 

 these fossil fruits are given in his Kirst, and Second Decades 

 (mentioned under Literature). The conclusion that t hi- 

 eminent scientist arrived at was that these "leads" of the 

 "Newer Volcanic Period" belonged to the Upper Pliocene 

 Period ; that the country at that time was much more humid 

 and warm than at present, and that the analogues of these 

 plants must be sought in tropical regions. This conclusion 

 was not based upon a study of foliage alone, but upon well 

 preserved fruits and seeds. All the genera differ from 

 those now living.' 



Reginald Murray. — Through the geological examinations 

 of Murray additional light was thrown upon the age of the 

 Victorian leads of the newer volcanic period. He points 

 out 2 that the present leads are characterised by myrtaceous 

 remains, the "Newer Volcanic Leads" by tropical plants, 

 and the "Older Volcanic Leads" by the presence of laurace- 

 ous leaves. He also points out that if myrtaceous plants 

 had existed in the "older volcanic" period we should find 

 traces of them there as we do in those of the "newer 

 volcanic " period. On page 29 he states that the famous 

 leads of the "Newer V T olcanics" indicate a uniformity of 

 physical conditions from Hobart to Brisbane in Queensland. 

 He failed however to understand the significance of these 

 uniform conditions. In his Physical Geology (1887, p. 115), 

 he states that the Pliocene fluviatile deposits appear to be 

 younger than the Pliocene marine, and that followed down 

 to the sea or to the Murray Valley they merge into marine 

 beds. [It may be pointed out here, however, that the 

 present opinion of Victorian biologists is not unanimous as 

 to the age of certain marine Tertiary beds in Victoria]. 



Murray noted also the wonderful denudation to which 

 the Newer Volcanics had been exposed in the Pleistocene. 



