IOO 
Sedimentary Formations 
He concludes also, that “ to assert that any part of the con¬ 
tinent has been preserved as dry land since the Mesozoic period,” 
would be a hasty conclusion, “and that the weight of* evidence is 
against it.” QAIisi. Anst. Tert. Geol op. cit., p. 25.) 
§ 7. Quaternary Formation and Recent Accumulations. 
The Quaternary Fauna of Australia has been so long known 
by the patient and skilful researches of Professor Owen, that 
there is no need to do more than refer to his writings as the 
source of most of our knowledge respecting the strange animals 
that preceded the human epoch and perhaps extended into it. 
Huxley and others have also added to the general history of these 
creatures.* 
The Diprotodon appears not to have been limited to any one 
portion of Eastern Australia, for its remains have been found in 
South Australia and Queensland as tar north as the York 
Peninsula. 
In many of the “ gold-leads” also, fragments of bones are 
found. A section of one sample, at Wattle Flat, above the Turon 
River, is given in my paper on “ Fossil J3ones ” (Q.J.G-.S., xi., 
]). 405, 1855), and in “Anniversary Address to lioyal Society , 
N.S.W., 1873,” p. 14. 
One of the most recent discoveries of the extinct kangaroos is 
that of a portion of a skull of Sthenurus minor , from the district 
of the Castlercagh River, described by Professor Owen (“ Proceed. 
Zool. SocApril 17, 1877”) as having relations to Dorcopsis 
* An anecdote* may be introduced hero which may have some interest for 
visitors to the Australian Museum. In 1847, Mr. Turner sent to Sydney a 
'box of bones from King’s Creek, in Darling Downs, and Dr. Leichhardt, Mr. 
"Wall (then Curator of the Museum), with myself examined them, and found 
there nearly the whole of the bones of the head, though in fragments only, 
besides other prominent portions of the Diprotodon skeleton, which had only 
hcon then partially known to Professor Owen, who had not at that time seen 
the upper jaw. So far, therefore, this individual was unique. With much 
trouble avc put the bones together, and a cast, was afterwards made of the 
skull, which is still in the Museum. A paper contributed by myself (dated 
30th November, 1847), and afterwards re-published m the Appendix to my 
"Report of 14-th October, 1853 (“ On the Geology of the Condamine Rive r”), 
and some letters from the late W. S. Mnelcny, Esq., and Dr. Leichhardt, 
detailed the characters of the animal as far as they were then known, and the 
condition and other contents of Mr. Turner’s collection. This would not 
deserve any mention here, but for the sake of introducing a curious event 
relating to the head of the Diprotodon alluded to. Mr. Turner sold his 
collection to the late Mr. Benjamin Boyd, who sent, it to England. The ship 
wa 9 wrecked at Beachy Head, on the coast, of Sussex, and the collection, form¬ 
ing part of the relies of the cargo which were sold, was taken to London, and 
Professor Owen bought it of the dealer who lmd become its owner, not know¬ 
ing its history. 
