Mines and Mineral Staiistics. 
ledged palmozoic mainno beds occur (tlie fossils from Avliicli 
I sent down to Sir Ilouiy Earklv, who submitted them to 
Prof. MToy), and to meet iliis l' requested that a geologist 
might be sent up from Victoria to test the fects. Accordingly 
Mr. Daiutreo cainc, and iu tlio Yeoman, Melbourne journal, 
No. 100, will be found his reiiitation of tlie inversion story 
and a full confirmation of my as.scrtion. This eirciinistaiice 
is ignored by the Commissioners, as are all others tliat do not 
fall in with the imagination of certain critics in Victoria. Put I 
may now add that Glossojiteris in coal scams beloAv tlio marine 
beds has been toiuul in otiier localities, as for instance at (Ireta, 
where the coal has been readied below^ more tlian 400 feet of 
marine strata ; Glossopteris and other plants also occurring 2 
feet 0 inches above the coal. [See Sections No. 1 and No. 2 at 
the end of this Memoir.] 
Not only so, but it is found iu sandstones elsewhere, amidst 
the mariue fossils themselves and iu the very same portions of 
rock w'ith the latter. So that no reasonable doubt ouglit to exist 
in the mind of an honest controversialist that “ Ghssopteriti"' does 
occur as early as the so called Lowmr Carboniferous strata, and 
therefore our coal seams have a right to be held of that age. 
Now Schiinper, to whom I before alluded, considers that the 
Indian, African, and Austi’aliau plants are merely varieties of 
the same G. Brownutna. In India no marine fossils have yet 
been found in connection with its coal jdauts ; and iu Africa llie 
Glossopteris is not set down to any older formation than 4'riassic 
by Mr. Tate, but even that is older (altliougb Meso/oic) than 
Oolitic, to the latter of whicli ATCoy refers them. And if Glos- 
sopteris has a range as extensive as some oilier ibssils which pass 
through three sepai-ate series of strata, w'iiy miglit not it ])ass up 
into Secondary rock.s, without denying its existence in Austra- 
lian Lowmr Carbonilerous ? There it clearly does not govern, 
but must be subordinate to the Tauna. But it is not alone in 
that position, other phints also occur therein. wTich have as much 
au Oolitic tacies as itself. And yet it is undoubtedly true, as i:$ 
well shown by Daiiitrec, that* iu Queensland Glossopteris is con- 
fined to beds tliut are in association with Palieo/oic fauna, and 
that the so called Tamiopteris is found to nccomjiany a Mezo/.oie 
fauna ; and I can aver, after upwards of thirty years experience, 
that no marine deposits of Secondary age have yet been discovered 
in New South Wales ; although iu Queeiisland beds of coal occur 
in supposed connection with such. 
There may, therefore, bo two epochs of coal, as suggested by 
Murchison, or as stated by Mr. Carrutbers, two portions of one 
series, without dispossessing the lower portion of its right to liold 
a property iu a plant that may not have existed iu the time of the 
