272 The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. [Nov. 
Beitrage zur Palaontologie von Patagonien, by 0. Wilckens. Neu. 
Jahrb.fur Min., Geol., Pal., Bd. I, 1921. 
Different opinions as to whether the Roca beds are Cretaceous or Tertiary 
have been expressed by various authors, ‘and this article is mainly a 
criticism of Windhausen’s paper, which advocated the placing of these 
beds in the Tertiary. One of Windhausen’s arguments was the presence 
of the genera Aturia, Calyptraea, Turritella, Struthiolaria, Trophon, Siphon- 
alia, Malletia, Hinnites , Lutraria, and Balanus, concerning which Wilckens 
makes the following remarks :— 
“ Aturia is, according to Ihering, very doubtful. (It is probably a 
Nautilus.) Calyptraea is found in the Upper Senonian of New Zealand 
and south Patagonia. The identification of a Calpytraeid from Roca as a 
living form is surely wrong. Turritella is found in the Upper Senonian of 
south Patagonia and Grahamland. Trophon and Siphonalia belong to 
Windhausen’s still undescribed material. Of the two species of Struthiolaria 
one belongs to Windhausen’s undescribed material, and the generic position 
of the other is doubtful. Malletia is distributed in the Upper Senonian 
of Quiriquina, south Patagonia, New Zealand, and G-rahamland. Hinnites 
occurs from the Trias to Recent. The Lutraria is based on a poor cast 
which is apparently a Panopaea. The Balanus is, according to Steinmann, 
a Verruca, which does not contradict a Cretaceous age. Dosinia, which is 
cited as a further proof of Tertiary age, occurs in the Upper Senonian of 
New Zealand.” 
Windhausen has given eight species as occurring both in the San Jorge 
formation, to which the Roca beds belong, and in the Patagonian Molasse, 
which is undoubtedly Tertiary. Wilckens criticizes each alleged occurrence, 
and comes to the conclusion that in not one instance is the identity proved. 
The case for a Senonian age, as favoured by Wilckens, is then stated : 
“ Of twenty-five genera found at Roca the following fifteen occur also in 
the Upper Senonian of south Patagonia, Quiriquina, Grahamland, and New 
Zealand : Nautilus, Calyptraea, Turritella, Aporrhais, Ostrea, Pecten, Modiola, 
Nucula, Malletia, Cucullaea, CarcHum, Phacoides, Dosinia, Tellina, Panopaea. 
Of the other ten, Linthia, Gryphaea, Exogyra, Venericardia, and Chione occur 
in the Cretaceous elsewhere ; the alleged Lutraria is apparently a Panopaea ; 
the Struthiolaria is doubtful; Pseudotylostoma may occur anywhere; the 
Cantharidus is still undescribed; and as regards the Verruca, see above. 
The numerous Gryphaeas and Exogyras indicate the Cretaceous. On the 
other hand, I must withdraw as erroneous my declaration that a Trigonia 
occurs at Roca. Windhausen has clearly shown also that ammonites are 
wanting in the Roca beds.” 
According to Windhausen the San Jorge beds are the deposit of a South 
Atlantic - Antarctic sea, which overflowed the site of a South Atlantic land- 
mass, and which was bounded on the north by the continent Arch-helenis, 
and on the west by the cordillera region. 
“But whence came this sea and,.its fauna? Windhausen and von 
Ihering name the characters South Atlantic-Antarctic, and its origin 
Antarctic. A comparison with the present Antarctic molluscan world 
can naturally not be meant here. A fossil marine fauna has been found 
in the Antarctic only at Grahamland. The Cretaceous and Tertiary of 
this place, however, show a Magellanian - South Pacific affinity.” 
J. M. 
By Authority : Marcus F. Marks, Government Printer, Wellington. 
[1,800/8/21—12966 
