SECRET OF AGES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 19 November 1924, Page 8

SECRET OF AGES.

STORIES. FROM FOSSILS. DISCOVERIES IN QUEENSLAND. SYDNEY, Oct. 30. .Some important discoveries in the way of fossils have been made in recent years at the Marmoor quarry, near Rockhampton, Queensland, indicating the existence in past ages of remarkable species of Australia’s unique marsupials now either lost or modified out of recognition from their former dimensions. Substantiation has also been given to th© theory that Eastern Australia, with Tasmania as part of the mainland, once formed a distinct continent, with distinctive; fauna, from that of the larger continent that existed westward of a sea then dividing therest ,of the present Continent. The theory is that the animals in the. East were unable to contend against those of of the western continent, when the disappearance of the dividing sea resulted in the migration, eastward, . and they were practically exterminated, but sur- : vived in-the portion of the eastern con-' tinent,that.became separated as an is-, land, and now.forms Tasmania. Interested ;in the discovery of . a so.-called pouched lion (Thyacelee) in the quarry, Mr. Longman (Director, of ,fhe Queens-? land Museum-) visited the spot last week, and ,in company with the - man-, ager of the quarry (Mr. Evans) made a unique discovery. In earth about 60ft. from the original surface-they found four vertebrae of fossil snakes, easily distinguishable on account of a peculiar ball and socket formation. Mr. Longman was particularly pleased, as he thinks this is, the first recorded instance of a fossil snake being found in any part of Australia. Later another important discovery was made, this being of several specimens of fossil teeth of an animal related to the marsupial devil, now found only in remote parts of Tasmania, and long since extinct on the mainland. Three of the teeth were embedded in a jawbone. Previous to this the only fossil remains of a devil found comprised half a tooth. Many other fossil remains, including kangaroos and wallabies, were picked up. Mr. Longman states that the Marmor quarries offer a rich field, for the collector, and it is quite possible very important discoveries may be made there.