102 
Sedimentary Formations 
a discovery are worth little. But if it was a Dromornis , tlien it 
tails in with the relationship to a present bird, the Emu, just as 
the Kangaroos of this epoch are related in structure to the 
gigantic Marsupials of a past age. 
[For correspondence, connected with its first “ identification,” 
see u Journ. Boy. Hoc. N.H. W., 1S77,” xi., p. 45—*10. See also a 
Memoir “ On Dinorms: containing a Best oration of the Skeleton oj 
Dixounjs Maximus (Owen), with an Appendix on Additional 
Evidence of the Genus Dromornis in Australia: Jig Prof. 
O'vkv, C.B., F.R.S., &t\,” Trans. Zool. Hoc. Lon. x», pt. iii., Oct. 1, 
1S77 ] 
Mr. Thomas Oockburn Hood's discovery of crocodilian remains 
in New Zealand seems to establish in another way some possible 
connection long ago with distant regions, and crocodiles are yet in 
Queensland, the nearest probable land in the supposed insular or 
present fragmentary alliance with the former country. 
The Northern coasts and islands would show also similar rela¬ 
tions to New Guinea, and the only difference between the 
present conditions of such connections consists in the shallow 
seas of the present period in the latter, and the deep ocean 
between the points of direct communication in the other. 
That the Pacific Ocean was formerly over wide areas now 
occupied as land has been a favourite view with many geographers; 
and although the Great Pacific Continent is rejected bv others, 
vet there are not wanting additional proofs to sustain the decision, 
as to a great part of the ocean, as held by Fournier. (See 
infra.) 
Africa and India, as well as Australia, Now Zealand, and New 
Guinea, were probably in parts united. Not only do fossil plant 
remains add testimony to the probability, but the wingless birds, 
the reptiles, the vegetation of the present period, and the Marsu- 
pialiascem to connect the Northern regions, whilst, as Mi*. Blan- 
ford shows in his interesting paper, “ On the Plant-hearing series 
of India or the former existence of an Indo-Oceanic Continent ” 
(sec Q.J.GvS.,xxxi.,p. 510), a similar connection took place to the 
AVest. 
It is not unsatisfactory, as to possible union of New Caledonia 
and New Holland, to find a similar view taken,upon grounds 
distinct from fossiliferous evidence or that of birds and reptiles. 
Under the head of “ Geographic Bol unique" in the u Comptes 
Bendus des Sciences de 1'Acad"’ des Sciences tome 70, p, 77), 
there is a paper by M. Eug. Fournier, entitled, 4i Notice sur la 
Dispersion Geograpliique des Fougeres de la Nouvelle Caledonia.A 
The author gives a list of ferns special, as well as common to 
that group and to the islands of Polynesia and of the Pacific in 
general, &c., including New Holland, New Zealand, and Tasmania, 
in which latter group he finds 5S common to New Caledonia out 
