48 
Sedimentary Formations 
interesting feature in the fossil plants under consideration is the 
re-appearance at the far distant point from which they come of 
genera so well known in European and American geology, and 
the entire absence of the species of Phgllotheea , Glossopteris , Sfc., 
tohich have made the Indian and Australian Coal-floras so puzzling 
to the palaeontologist. There are fragments of a new generic form-— 
probably a Cycad— in the collection, and some obscure specimens 
that may represent other plants new to science, but the Pecopferis , 
Sphenopteris , Podoaamites , Pterozamitcs , Sfc., have a very familiar 
look, and their resemblance to well-known forms gives fresh 
evidence of the monotony of the vegetation of the Globe previous 
to the introduction of the angiospermous forests of the Cretaceous 
epoch. ” 
I may be allowed to quote here another extract from Mr. 
Pumpclly himself; on the subject of “ Jurassic Coal.” Ho says, 
on p. 02 of his ‘‘ Geological Researches" —‘’Were there fossiliferous 
strata of the Jurassic or Cretaceous ages (i. e. in China), their 
petrifactions would be found in all parts of the empire, used as 
curiosities and as medicines, as is the case with the fossil Brachio- 
pods and Orthoceratites. This is important evidence in China 
where art is based on the remarkable or rather strangein nature. 
* # * AVith regard to the Coal-bearing rocks, I have supposed 
the Coals to belong to the same age throughout the empire , excepting 
a few which seem from their frames to be Tertiary brown Coals.’ ^ 
]N T ow, reconciling the quotations, if we can/ from Professor 
M‘(Joy’s evidence ns to the value of Paleozoic Coal, and the 
inferences of the “ Report of the Victorian Coal Board ” from the 
letter of Dr. Newberry and the extract from Mr. Pumpclly, what 
is to be done with another passage iu p. 9 of that Deport ? 
In it the Reporter having arranged the order of our New South 
Wales beds (no doubt, conscientiously enough) after his own 
idea, says—“ If their view he correct, it is not likely that seams 
of Coal as thick and as persistent as those occurring in the 
Lower Mesozoic beds of New South Wales will he found iu any 
part of Victoria. It is to he regretted that a geological exami¬ 
nation was not made of the Northern Coal-fields, during the many 
years the Victorian Government maintained a staff of geological 
surveyors, for the purpose of ascertaining by comparison the 
position of our beds with all the exactness practicable.” 
“ The value of such evidence as the geologist and the palaeon¬ 
tologist can givo in such investigations as these is priceless. They 
alone can determine where the practical miner can pursue his 
explorations with fair chances of success.” 
Thus speaks out the modern Delphi — hut what becomes, after 
all, of the expectation of the anticipated Mesozoic Coal-beds of 
Victoria, and what must Mr. Daintree, who was one of the staff 
spoken of, think of the way in which his success in carrying out 
