464 
Carboniferous Formation of 
fauna and fossil flora, is not sufficient to do away with other in¬ 
ferences, derived from the succession of strata, the order of 
deposits, and that most conclusive phenomenon exhibited in the 
instance of the zoological and botanical species under review in 
the same identical blocks of stone. 
For the present this subject will be deferred, but, after the pro¬ 
duction of the following references, those who are interested in 
the question may be satisfied that whatever anomalies the Aus¬ 
tralian coal fields present, there is nothing, in fact, to contradict 
the conclusions deducible from the examination of the ancient 
fauna. 
In the anniversary address of the president of the Geological 
Society, in February, 1848, Sir H. T. de la Beche, reviewing the 
progress of Australian geology, recapitulates the observations of 
Mr. J. B. Jukes, and states, respecting the points in dispute- 
As a general fact perfect conformability of the whole series and 
a gradual examination of their divisions into each other were 
observed. In his address the president also refers to another 
paper by Mr. Jukes, who infers, “ that Australia became elevated 
above the sea so as to have been dry land at the close of the 
oolitic period.” “ This forms,” says Sir Henry, “ a subject of 
interest for further investigations, and it will be remembered, that 
in his communication Mr. Beete Jukes considered the upper and 
lower series to graduate into each other, an opinion apparently 
participated in by the Rev. W. B. Clarke.” 
It may be said that it is a mere matter of scientific speculation, 
and one in which commercial interests are not involved ; but this 
is in some degree erroneous, for, it is believed, that the oolitic coal 
beds have never supplied a sufficiency of good or workable coal, 
whereas the Australian coal agrees in all distinguishing character¬ 
istics with the old coal of Europe, and is in too great abundance 
to allow any conclusions of the kind objected to to be drawn from 
it. Moreover, it is a characteristic, though striking fact, that the 
newer formations are rare in the southern hemisphere, and are 
almost altogether limited to the northern countries. 
Be this as it may, the question is one of great interest to all 
