Mines and Mineral Statistics. 
163 
lias been practicable, with singleness of purpose and in reliance 
on mj own resources. 
In the course of my work I have tried to contend with the 
prejudices of some who have never visited tins territory, and who, 
from a distance of many hundred miles, have ventured to dogma- 
tise, solely from a palreontologioal point of view, without caring 
to^ ascertain how for the stratigraphical evidence is at variance 
with their conclusions. 
In consequence of this the ascending order of formations above 
the Lower Carboniferous in this Colony has long been disputed 
by some, whose unacquaintanco with focts, patent to all who have 
examined them, is the best apology for a more temperate style of 
criticism than has been adopted. 
We are indebted to Professor M'Coy, for asccidaiiiing, in 1S17, 
the existence of eighty-three species of animal remains in our 
Carboniferous formation, in a collectioii forwarded by me to tlie 
University of Cambridge, in which the Professor was then officially 
employed. 
Before that time, Bowerhank, Sowerhy, Morris, and Dana bad 
determined the existence of the Carboniferoiis marine beds ; and 
the latter author enumerates about eiglity species obscrvx*d during 
his excursions in New South AVales, in some of wliich I accom"^ 
pauied him. 
More recently Mr. Etheridge has described fifteen species of 
Lower Carboniferous fossils from Queensland, in relalion to Mr. 
Daintree’s paper on the geology of that Colony, of which ten 
were furnished by myself. None have yet been discovered in 
"V ictoria. In Tasmania, Mr. Gould figured some- well known 
forms from that Colony, but the plates were never published. 
He has noticed also what I have contended for, that the worked 
coal beds of the Met‘sey Eiver belong to the same formation with 
Palaeozoic marine fossils, as in Queensland and on the Ilunter 
Eiver. 
Having visited the Tasmanian locality for the ]uirpose of 
inspection, I can confirm all tliat has been stated resiiecfing the 
occurrence of the PahTOzoic fossils, Orthonota, Spirifera, l^'encs- 
tclla, Pachydomus, Theca, &c.,in association with aiid immediately 
above the coal; and within the last few months I IiaA'C been 
officially informed that coal seams have been found by piercing 
these beds 011 tlio Don Eiver, confirming my groiinds for recom- 
mendation to look for them. 
In Western Australia traces of tliese marine beds have been 
detected and announced by JMr. Gregory. And in extension of 
the formation northwards beyond the limits of Australia, it is 
well known by more than one observer, that Carboniferous beds 
exist in the island of Timor, where Beyrick discovered several 
