qx 
` THE GEELONG NATURALIST. 
and at once recommended the planting of a certain grass 
(Psamma arenaria). His advice was followed, and the desired 
result obtained. Many people, who ought to know better, 
seem to have entirely forgotten this invaluable service 
rendered to the state. Ifthis had been the only work done, 
there might possibly be some excuse for forgetfulness, but 
considering the enormous amount of work of equal value 
done in one way and another, there is no excuse for 
ingratitude. 
We may now glance at the fossil remains obtainable, or 
likely to be obtained,from the deposits under consideration. 
It will, however, not be out of place, if our attention is first 
occupied by some of the appearances resembling fossils. 
These deposits are somewhat subject to the development 
of all sorts of peculiar concretionary forms, and many of these 
show such striking resemblances that they have frequently 
been misunderstood and taken for fossils. 
The first worthy of notice are what are popularly called 
“fossil trees." These are admittedly very tree-like as they stand 
up in the sand, but they are only visible when the loose sand 
surrounding them has been blown away, and their formation 
is really due to a concretionary segregation of the sand, 
` frequently round such nuclei as the roots or rootlets of the . 
shrubs or plants so often seen growing on the dunes. „Bird 
tracks are frequently mentioned as occurring in the dune 
limestone, and I have several times seen three-toed prints 
resembling in a general way the impression of the foot of an 
emu or kangaroo, but I am not at all inclined to regard them 
as genuine until more conclusive evidence is forthcoming 
than at present. Recently a great deal was heard about the 
seat impressions and footmarks obtained on a slab quarried 
at Warrnambool, and there seemed to be many who appeared 
satisfied with their genuineness, but considering the nature of 
the deposit and the very exceptional conditions that would be 
necessary for ihe preservation of such impressions, I am 
constrained to throw in my lot with the unbelievers. 
Many a time have I walked over the sand dunes in 
various parts and seen abundance of tracks of various 
animals and beautiful ripple marks caused by the wind, 
but never yet have I seen the superficial sand of the dunes in 
such a state as to preserve an impression intact till covered 
over by fresh sand and permanently sealed. All the tracks 
are soon obliterated by the loose moving sand, and even the 
beautiful ripple marks are not permanent, but progressive 
ridges of sand. I do not wish to indicate that such ridges 
are incapable of preservation, but those I have spoken of as 
striking resemblances would be of rarer occurrence than they 
are if genuine. ; ; 
The real fossils that may be obtained from these deposits 
sare occasional landshells such as Helix and Succinea, and 
