211 
creek is Permo-Carboniferous. It has been suggested to me that possibly these few oak-trees are the 
surviving descendants of a once more numerous assemblage in prehistoric times. It is believed that there 
lias been an alteration in the relative levels of the land and sea on the east coast during recent geological 
times; and that the coast-line formerly extended as far to the east as the edge of the continental shelf 
(the present 100-fathom line).* In this case the land around Burrill was formerly higher, and the salt 
Avater would have been kept back at least some miles to the eastward. Under these conditions, the present 
bed of Burrill would be occupied as a small fresh-water river, probably lined on both sides with River 
Oaks. As the alteration of level progressed, the salt water Avould be likely to encroach and destroy all 
the fresh-water oaks except the few under discussion ; and had the alteration continued longer, even all 
trace of these might have disappeared. At the same time, too, the altered conditions would be likely to 
induce the Avesterly extension of the salt-water Swamp Oak to its present limit. 
There appears to be geological evidence to support this vieAv, and I have collected fossils near the 
mouth of Burrill, at present Avater-level, and similar ones again on the top of the Pigeon House, 2,360 feet 
higher, and about a dozen miles to the westward, which prove the formation in both cases to be the same, 
viz., Permo-Carboniferous. 
Altogether the case presents some interesting features, and is one in which the study of the 
geological changes might be assisted by a knowledge of botany (Plate xxxiii).—( Proc. Linn. Soc. JV.S.W., 
p. 687.) 
ILLUSTRATION. 
The photo, by Mr. W. Forsyth of a young tree was taken on the banks of the Nepean River 
near its junction Avith the Warragamba River. 
No. 63, Part XY. 
Atalaya hemiglauca , F.v.M. 
THE WESTERN WHITEWOOD. 
(Natural Order Sapindaceal) 
Vernacular Names.—See vol. ii, p. 123. 
According to the Catal. of Queensland Forestry Museum , 1904, it would 
appear to be knotvn in that State under the name of Western Tulip Wood. 
Aboriginal Name.—See vol. ii, p. 123. 
“Bulcan” in Avestern New South Wales.—(R. H. Cambage.) 
Timber.—See vol. ii, p. 123. 
The AA’ood of this tree is attacked by a boring insect almost as soon as cut. I have knoAvn miners 
use it in pegging land. In tAvo months the pegs were riddled, and each stood in a little heap of saAvdust.— 
(R. H. Cambage, Proc. Lion. Soc. N.S.W., 1900, p. 592.) 
It would appear to be of darker colour in Queensland than in New South 
Wales from the following passage :— 
Sap-Avood very light-red; the heart-Avood having dark-red or nearly black patches or streaks, close- 
grained and hard. Used for turnery and cabinet-Avork.— {Catal. of Queensland Forestry Museum, 1904.) 
Habitat.—See vol. ii, p. 121. 
As regards Queensland, the catalogue just referred to says:— 
Plentiful in St. George, Goondiwindi, and in scattered parts of IngleAVOod districts. 
• See Prof. David’s “Anniversary Address ” to the Royal Society of New South Wales, May, 1896.— Joum. ancl 
Proc. Hoy. Soc. N.S. W ., vol. xxx, pp. 43, 48, 69. 
Also a paper “ On the Occurrence of a Submerged Forest with remains of the Dugong at Shea’s Creek, near 
Sydney.” By R. Etheridge, jun., Prof. David, and J. W. Grimshaw.— Op. cit., pp. 160, 176, 178. 
