Mines and Mineral Statistics, 
197 
fineness of tlic pebbles and their perfect attrition afford testi- 
mony as to their antiquity, though now called recent. 
True Tertiary marine fossils occur on the south coast from 
Capo Howe to Cape Lowin, and have been described by Captain 
Sturt, Eev. Julian T. Woods, and Mr. Busk. They are also met 
with on the w'cst coast as far as North-west Cape, in great 
abundance. 
New Zealand also contains a great number of Tertiary genera 
and species admirably detailed and arranged as belonging to the 
Up] )cr Pliocene, Tipper and Lower Miocene, and Up])er Eocene, 
in a “ Catalogue by Captain F. W. Huttou, E.d.S. {Geological 
Survey, New Zealand'), Wellington, lS7f3, of Tertiary Molhisca and 
Eehiuodermata, in the collection of the Colonial Museum.” 
The classification is based on the percentage of recent species, 
the proportions of which arc 76, 13 i, 23, and 9 per cent. 
Quatehnart Eoumatiox axd Eecent AcerMULATro^s'S. 
The Quaternary Fauna of Australia has been so long known 
by the patient and skilful researches of Professor Owen, that 
there is no need to do more than refer to his -writings, as the 
source of most of our knowledge respecting the strange animals 
that preceded the human epoch and perhaps extended into it. 
Huxley and others have also added to the general history of these 
creatures.* 
Eemains of reptiles have also been found both in New South 
Wales and in other parts of Australia, in qiiaternary deposits, as 
for instance, Megalanla gtrlsca (Owen), a Lacerliaii allied to the 
Varans and Lace Lizards of Australia, which had, probably, a 
length of 22 feet. 
* All anecdote may be introduced liero whieli may liave some interest for 
Tisitors to the Australian Museum. In 1817, Mr. Turner sent to Sydney a bos 
of bones from King’s Creek, in Darling Downs, and Dr. Leichhardt, Mr. Wall 
(then Curator of the Museum), wit Ji myself examined them, ami found there 
nearly the whole of the bones of the head, tliough in fragments only, besides 
other px'ominent portions of the Diprotodon skeleton, wliieh had only been then 
partially known to Professor Owen, wbo )iud not at that time seen the iqiprr jaw. 
So far, tlierefore, this individual was unitpie. With much trouble we put the 
bones together, and a cast was afterwards made of tlio skull, which is still in 
tlie Museum. A paper contributed Iiy myself (dated 30th November 1817), 
and afterwards re-published in the Appendix to my Keport of 14th October, 
1853, (“ On ikefieolo()y of the Condamme River'), and some letters from the late 
W. S. Maeleay Psq., and Dr. Lcichlmrdt, detailed the characters of the animal 
80 far as they were then known, and the condition and other contents of Mr. 
Turner’s collection. This would not deserve any mention liere, bxit for the 
sake of introducing a curious event relating to the head ot the Diprotodon 
alluded to. Mr. Turner sold hia collection to the late Mr. Benjamin Boyd, 
w'ho sent it to Kngland. The ship was wrecked at Beaohy Head, on the coast 
of Sussex, and the collection, forming part of the relics of the cargo wdiich 
were sold, was taken to London, and Professor Owen bought it of the dealer 
who had become its owner, not knowing its history. 
