Mines and Mineral Statistics, 
1^5 
to Botany, III, 324, t. 134). The loaves are unknown. It is 
probable that the plant yielding these fruits formed, like most of 
the menispermaceous order, a climbing shrub. 
82 ')ondt/loslrol its Smyth iL 
“ The fruits of this tree arc rather variable in size and shape, 
but preserve throughout a long series of varieties the cardinal 
characteristics of this extinct genus of Conifene, of which as 
yet but one species became known, described by me in Mr. E. 
Brough Smyth^s Eeports of Mining Surveyors and Eegistrars for 
1871. A short notice of this fossil appeared also in the London 
Geologic Magazine for iMarch, 1S71. We had this identical plant 
hitherto from Nintingbool, the Tangil, Bcechworth, and also from 
Orange in New South Wales among pliocene drift. This tree 
must therefore have occupied a vast area at that period. As 
foliage of pine-like trees is preserved readily in a fossil state, you 
may succeed in discovering the leaves, and also get the flowers of 
this conifer, for which hitherto on other spots a search has been 
made in vain. An excellent lithographic illustration of the Spon- 
dylostrobus accompanies Mr. Smyth’s Eeport, above quoted. 
This fossil, together with the folloAving, is indicative of auriferous 
strata. 
“ No. 4 is the fruit of Penieune Clarlcei^ of which a description 
and lithogram was offered in the Mining Eeports of tlie Victorian 
Department in 1873. Also, of this tree, which wa>s a companion 
of the iStrongylostrobus, but seemingly less frequent than the 
latter ; we have as yet neither flowers nor leaves.”* 
In New England the Pliocene drifts arc richly stanniferous, 
and occupying an extensive area, they will last for many years 
hence. Near tnverell, as indicated in my Eeport on that district, 
I have traced leads not yet touched by the itiiner. 
The formations, therefore, of this period, present features of 
much scieutiSc interest; and, especially In the Western Gold 
Fields, they are of great commercial value. 
Loweu Miocene. 
In many parts of this Colony, as at Neivstead, in New’ Eng- 
land, and near Gunning, in the southern district, at elevations of 
from 2,000 to 3,000 feet above sea level, occur deposits of pebble 
conglomerates, cement, clays, and ironstones, containing fossil 
* Fossils ti’iniBmitted by the Kev. W. B. Clarke along ’vvith lt])jtido- 
caryon AVilkinsonii — ■ 
Penteune Clarkei (variable in the size of its forms). 
Pliyinatocaryon angulare (with a hivalved variety). 
In reference to Spondylostrobus Sm3’tbii may be added that it produces 
(though very rarely) a trivalvecl variety. 
