LOA 
THE GEELONG NATURALIST. 
inequalities is undoubtedly running water. The rocks are not in. 
variable in composition and often friable, so that gullies can be easily 
formed, the harder and denser strata resisting decomposition and 
remaining as hills and saddle-ranges. The opinion here advanced 
as to the origin of the gullies in the South Gippsland and Cape 
Otway regions has been formed after a study of a third Mekozoic 
area, namely the Wannon district, where the country presents a 
most diversified aspect of hill and dale. The rocks, too, are almost 
identical in composition, but here the resemblance ceases, for the 
Wannon strata are nearly, if not quite, horizontal, while, as this. 
 eireumstance would lead us to expect, volcanic dykes are practically 
absent. 
strata are horizontal as well as when they dip at high angles, the 
other conditions being the same, the greatest stress must be laid 
upon the agent which has been constant in all three areas, namely, . 
running water. It may be mentioned that the Wannon country is 
almost destitute of shrubs and trees—the early settlers having had 
nothing to do but run the plough over the fertile soil. This can be 
accounted for probably by a peculiarity absent from the other two. 
Me ozoic areas, but its discussion is foreign to the subject of the 
present paper. 
From Mount Sabine to the beach at Skene’s Creek the country 
falls, and for the last mile or two so rapidly that passengers have to. 
get out and walk in the steepest places. It seems a pity that 
surveyors, when laying out a road, cannot skirt round a hill instead 
of going straight up to the top and then down again to the same 
level on the other side. With a little trouble in surveyttig a 
passable road could have been found to Apollo Bay, instead of the. 
present dangerous one, by cutting around scme hills in the last few 
miles of the journey. 
After breakfast next morning we started for Cape Otway on 
horseback, the road being impassable for vehicles. We expected to 
stay at the lighthouse where visitors had previously been accommo- 
dated, but the lighthouse-keeper positively refused to give us either 
a shake down or a meal, but advised us to push on to the Aire 
River, seven miles further on. It was, however, our wish to 
examine the fossil beds close to the Cape, and his advice did not 
at all accord with our plans. After parleying for about half-an- 
hour to no purpose, we were fortunate enough to find a “good 
Samaritan" in the lighthouse assistant, who gave us the best he 
had and put us up for the night. In the afternoon we visited the 
fossil beds, our host (Mr Baker) guiding us by a new road. Here 
we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly, and made an excellent haul. Next 
morning we left for the Aire River where we met with a most 
hospitable reception from Mr Robinson, the proprietor of the Aire- 
cattle station. A couple of days were spent here roaming on the 
beach and hunting for fossiliferous outcrops. 
If, then, broken country has been produced when the 
ta 
