PREHISTORIC ANTARCTICA.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 453, 27 April 1909, Page 4

PREHISTORIC ANTARCTICA.

PROCESSOR DAVID’S VIEWS. Sydnkv, April 22. Speaking at the University welcome to the Antarctic explorers Professor David said the southern regions were found to be particularly rich in radiolaria. It was difficult to delect any difference between them and the radiolarian rocks lying between Bathurst and Harden, in New South Wales. One of the reasons that, prompted him to join the expedition was the desire to work out the theory of their connection with the coal beds of New South Wales, which were presumed to be of a glacial age ; and, although there was a biologist and a palaeontologist with the expedition, he had- yet to perfect his researches. In his judgment, strong support had been adduced as to the correctness of the theory. There appeared to be distinct relations between Antarctic life and the fossil forms of the coal measures. Speaking further of the similarity of both plant and animal life in Australia to that of South America, the Professor said that Antarctica was possibly the centre of migration for plants and animals to both continents, now so far apart. [The Antarctic explorer and oceanographical authority, Dr. Bruce, in the course of an addiess before the British Association in September on the scientific results of the voyage of the Scotia in the Antarctic, said that soundings were made to the depth of 4000 fathoms, and from the deposits at the bottom ol the ocean the conclusion was forced upon him that there existed at one time a continent twice as large as Europe. Many of the results of the expedition corroborated those discoveries of Moral in 1823 which on their publication aroused so much incredulity and even ridicule. Dr. Bruce will now endeavour to prove that' Antarctica had continental connections with Australia and New Zealand.]