CHAPTEE XXXII. 
THE OUaiNIC REMMISrS OF THE EOLLTNG DOWNS FOEMATION 
(LOWEE CEETACEOTJS). 
With Descriptioks op the Species. 
“ To draw a definite line between the Ipswich and the ‘ Foiling Downs ’ Bed is 
quite impracticable. The appearance of Bolemnites and Ammonites generally marks 
the transition.”* 
The physical aspect of the country produced by the former has been described 
by my Colleague, who states that the general absence of sections renders it impossible 
to subdivide this division, or to trace out definite horizons. He remarks — “We have 
a continuous series of bods of enormous thickness, in which, however, from the scarcity 
of sections, it w'ould bo impossible to map out horizons and that “ the fossils from 
the R(dling Downs must be treated as a whole.” t In the latter part of this paragraph 
I cordially agree, and have for some time past advocated classing the Bolling Downs 
Beds under the general term Cretaceous, adm'tting, however, at the same time that 
they contain au admixture of Oolitic as well as Cretaceous life. Even the late Charles 
Moore did not venture to introduce a geological sequence for the Queensland series, as 
he did for the Mesozoic Beds of Western Australia, but contented himself by remarking, 
“ These and other eirenmstances indicate a higher horizon for the Queeusl.and fossils.” 
He appeared to think that the Oxford Clay put in a strong claim, but that “they all 
belong to the Tipper Oolite may with safety be inferred. ”J 
I cannot do better than again quote my Colleague, who adds — “ The fossils of 
the Rolling Dowms Formation have given rise to much eontrovorsy among geologists 
and palaeontologists, who have pronounced various localities, from limited collections, to 
be of ages ranging from Rhfetic up to Lower Chalk. It is remarkable that almost 
every paleontologist who has worked on Queensland materials has come to the 
conclusion that fossils from different localities must have been mixed up, and this 
explanation has appeared to be speci.ally necessary in the case of fossils from the 
Rolling Downs. On the other hand, my own exiilorations have satisfied me that 
Queensland fos.sils are not more liable to this kind of accident than fossils from other 
countries, and that the mixing up which has so annoyed palaeontologists has been 
perpetrated by JSTature herself.” 
*E. L. Jack, Handbook Queensland Geology, 188G, p. 65, 
t Ihid., p. 67. 
X Quart, Journ, Geol. Soc., 1870, xxvi., pp, 235 and 239, 
