Notes on the Gold-field of Ballarat. 419 



2. " Third rock" — A fine-grained felspathic trap. 



3. " White clay below third rock." — A white coloured stiff 

 clay. 



4. " Drift below white clay." — Consisting of bits of brown 

 clay and angular fragments of quartz. 



5. " Brown clay, below the drift." — A stiff and almost 

 compact brown clay. 



6. Fossil wood or 11 Lignite," as it has been erroneously 

 named. This specimen (apparently a portion of the trunk 

 of a tree) is irregularly flattened in shape, and measures 3J 

 inches across, by 1J inch in greatest thickness. There is a 

 coating of fossil wood round the outside of the specimen, 

 in a brown or partially carbonised state, showing, however, 

 a distinct wavy and fibrous structure, especially on the 

 rounded side, probably the outside of the trunk, the bark 

 being removed. The central part is filled with a fine-grained 

 felspathic trap, similar in general appearance to the speci- 

 men of the third rock. Attempts were made to prepare 

 sections of the wood for examination by the microscope, 

 which its friable character rendered very difficult. Little 

 information, however, could be gained beyond its woody 

 tissue, the great breadth or size of its medullary rays, 

 and the apparent presence of resin or bitumen among its 

 fibres. The specimens were also examined by Mr John 

 Sadler, of the Botanical Society, who stated he could find 

 no traces of coniferous structure, and that the great size 

 of the medullary rays reminded him more of the wood of 

 our genus Quercus (oak) than any other wood. 



The specimens were given to Professor Duns for the 

 Museum of the New College.] 



Thanks were given to the office-bearers. The Society then 

 adjourned to the commencement of next Winter Session. 



