21 
I dedicated this species to the memory of the Australian explorer, 
Edward John Eyre, whose exploring journeys in the interior of the continent 
were as difficult as they were important. 
Locality and Horizon. — One-tree Point, and Pipe-clay Bluff, Carnelian 
Bay, Estuary of the River Derwent, Tasmania* ; Upper Tertiary Leaf beds. 
Collection. — R. M. Johnston. 
BET U LA CFFE. 
BeTULA DALTONIANA, sp. 710 V. 
Plate I, Fig. 13. 
Sp. Char. — B. foliis ovatis, obsolete dentatis ; nervatione craspedo- 
droma ; nervo primario distincto, recto ; nervis secundariis angulis acutis 
variis egredientibus, rectis, tenuibus, basim versus approximatis. 
Ohs . — Although only a fragment of a leaf, there are just sufficient data 
to establish its apetalous character beyond a doubt. There are only two 
orders to which it could possibly be referred, viz., the Betulacese and the 
Cupuliferse, and amongst these it is especially the species of the genera Betula 
and Fayas which, from the described pecularitics of the leaf, must be com- 
pared with the fossil in question. It is strange, however, that whereas the 
character of the venation, namely, the presence at the base of the leaf of 
more approximate, less obliquely inserted, and not considerably shorter 
secondary veins, would place our fossil among the Betulce, the pecularities of 
form and the character of the margin agree better with Fayas. But as the 
character of the venation is in most cases of great importance, I have placed 
the leaf in the first-named genus, and suppose that in this instance we have 
to do with a peculiar beech-like birch. That both genera named occur in the 
Tertiary Elora of Australia, is clearly proved from other fossils described in 
the sequel. 
Among hitherto described fossil species, we have in the Betula 
Miertschinyi , Hcer (Elora Eoss. Arct., I, PI. XII, fig. 9), one that is very analo- 
gous to the Australian one, and in which only the dentate character of the 
margin is more decided. In the Tertiary Elora of North America, the Betula 
Voydesii, Lesq., in the European Tertiary Elora the B. prisca, Ett., and in the 
* [In the paper by Mr. R. M. Johnston quoted, the localities are separately given in a few cases only. 
This is intended as a general one, simply to indicate that part of the Derwent Estuary from which the plants 
were collected. — R.E. , jnr.] 
