PART 1 .] Blanford: Ptdceonlological Eeltilions of the Gondwdna Sj/stem. 139 
make it appear that my opinion was founded on my oum observations, and not 
on his. I very greatly regret to say that further experience of Dr. Peistmantel’s 
statements has produced a sceptical spirit, especially when they are in opposition 
to the evidence of other observers, and I now refuse to admit there is any im¬ 
portant distinction between the flora of the upper and lower Australian coal 
measures until Dr. Feistmantel produces evidence instead of assertions. I think 
it probable Mr. Clarke will show equal caution. When Dr. Feistmantol’s evidence 
appears, it will remain to be seen how far he has established his thesis. If I 
appear to be harsh in my judgment, I would refer to the facts I have already 
pointed out as to the evidence on the strength of which Dr. Feistmantel has over 
and over again asserted that the Rajmahal flora is liassic, and to his statements 
about the Mangli beds and the Lamell'ibrancMata of the Umia group. 
The original evidence as to the connection between the upper (Newcastle) 
coal measures and the lower beds of Stony Creek was, that below “ grits and con¬ 
glomerates full of Pachydomi, Spiriferi, Orthoceratites, large Comdaria, Asteridce, 
^"c., .a bed of shale was reached in which are impressions of Noeggeratida (or 
Zeugophyllites), Glossopteris (or Sagenupteris) and other plants, such as Cyolopteris^ 
that look as much like Jurassic as any that are so called.”* In the “ Transactions 
of the Royal Society of Victoria, Vol. VI” (I have not access to the original® at 
present), sections were given by Mr. Clarke from Stony Creek showing the occur¬ 
rence of Olossopteris, Phyllotlteea and Noeggerathia in the beds below those con¬ 
taining the marine fossils. Take, again, the following extract from the notes by 
Mr. E. C. Wilkinson, Government Geologist ;— 
“The collection of fossils from near West Maitland, Greta and Anvil Creek includes SpirifercB 
Conuhirim, Inocerami, Productce, Fenestellce, Sellerophon, crinoidal stems. &c., obtained from 
the upper marine beds 350 feet above the Anvil Creek coal seam, from which seam 1 collected 
the specimens now shown, containing the Phpllotheca and Glossopteris JSrowniana. Immedi¬ 
ately below this coal are the lower marine beds represented by the specimens of Spiriferat, 
ConularicB, Sellerophon, Pachpdomus, Qrikoceras, Siiornphalus, Fenestella, a new' species of 
Starfish, Chcetetes radians, &c., from Stony Creek, Harper’s Hill, Kavensfield, and Singleton. 
This suite of fossils is especially interesting, as showing not only the range through the coal series of 
the Glossopteris and Fhyllotheea, plants so abundant in the upper coal measures of Wollongong, 
Lithgow Valley and Newcastle, but also the .association of those j’hmts with the marine fauna 
of the lower coal measures, thus affording evidence, agreeing with that of the pj-eviously men¬ 
tioned fishes, as to the upper palaiozoic age of the New South Wales coal measures ’’ 
In the same work, “ Mines and Mineral Statistics of New South Wales,” several 
detailed sections are given. In section No. I, p. 206, bed No. 5 in descending 
order contains “ large fossils, Fenestella, luoceramus, Gonularia, &c.; ” No. 19 is 
said to be “full of Olossopteris, Phyllotheca, and leaves of f Noeggerathia; ” No. 24 
(misprinted shewed) to me there appears to be a considerable distinction in the fiora.” Dr. Feist¬ 
mantel quoted this paragraph (Records, Vol. IX, p. 122), but omitted the words in italics, thus 
making the statement appear to rest on my authority instead of on his own. This, moreover, w'as 
emphasized by the concluding portion of the sentence being placed in italics. 
’ Q. J. G. S., 1861, Vol. XVll, p. 360. 
^ The volume is wanting in the Survey lihrai y. 
® Mines and Mineral Statistics, p. 132. 
