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HARVARD UNIVERSITY.
LIBRARY
MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY.
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chiL/AxUlU/ I^S^'j .'^LfTV^^^U^ )^/f^
\(Tl
RECORDS
AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM
EDITED BY THE CURATOR
Vol. III.
PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE TRUSTEES.
Qlurator.
" SYDNEY, 1897-1900,
JAN 1? iPni
C0:N TENTS.
No. 1. Published 7th January, 1897.
Ou Circular and Spiral Incised Ornament on Australian Aboriginal
Implements and Weapons. By K. Etheridge, Junr., Curator ... 1
A Spear with Incised Ornament from Angeldool, New South Wales.
By R. Etheridge, Junr., Curator ... ... ... ... ... tJ
An Actinoceras from North- West Australia. By R. Etheridge, Junr.,
Curator ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 7
The Discovery of Bones at Cunningham Creek, near Harden,
New South Wales. By E. Etheridge, Junr., Curator... ... 9
Additional Localities for Feripatus leuchartii — Sang. By the late
Frederick A. A. Skuse, Entomologist ... ... ... ... 10
Description of a New Papuan Land Shell. By C. Hedley, Conchologist 11
On a New Sub-Species of Psophodes crepitans. By Alfred J. North,
Ornithologist ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 13
Ornithological Notes. By Alfred J. North, Ornithologist —
I. On the Extension of the Range of Calamanthus fuliginosus,
and Emblema pActa to New South Wales ... ... ... 14
II. On a Curious Nesting-site of Anthus australis ... ... 1.5
III. On the Nidification of Megaloprepia magnifica, the Magnificent
Fruit Pigeon ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 16
No. 2. Published 5t.h August, 1897.
An Australian Sauropterygian (Cimoliosarus ) coavertei into Precious
Opal. By R. Etheridge, Junr., Curator ... ... ... ... 19
On the Occurrence of the Genus Columnaria in the Upper Silurian
Rocks of New South Wales. By R. Etheridge, Junr., Curator .. 30
Description of Two New Australian Phasmas, together with a Synopsis
of the Phasmidae in Australia. By W. J. Rainbow, Entomologist 34
Catalogue of the Described Phasmidae of Australia. By W. J. Raiabow,
Entomologist ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 37
Description of New Land Shells. By C. Hedley, Conchologist ... 44
Description of a New Species of Colly riocincla from Queensland. By
Alfred J. North, Ornithologist 49
On Stichopus mollis, Hutton. By Thomas Whitelegge, Zoologist ... 50
No. 3. Published 17th November, 1897.
The Nocoleche Meteorite, with Catalogue and Bibliography of Aus- tralian Meteorites. By T. Cooksey, Mineralogist ... ... 51
Ankerite from Sandhurst, Victoria. By T. Cooksey, Mineralogist... 63
On a Precaudal Vertebra of Ichthyosaurus australis, McCoy. By R.
Etheridge, Junr., Curator ... ... ... ... ... ... 66
A New Blind Snake from the Duke of York Island. By Edgar R.
Waite, Zoologist ... . ... ... ... ... ... 69
IV. RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
No. 4. Pablished ISth June, 1898.
New or Little-known Lower Palaeozoic Gasteropoda in the Collection
of the Australian Museum. By R. Etheridge, Junr., Curator ... 71
Haly sites in New South Wales. By R. Etheridge, Junr., Curator ... 78
Description of the Larva of Pseudoterpna per compt aria, Gn. By 'V^ . J.
Rainbow, Entomologist ... ... ... ... ... ... 81
Description of a New Araneiad. By W. J. Rainbow, Entomologipt 82
Description of a New Bivalve, Lima alata, from Santa Cruz. By
C. Hedlcy, Conchologist ... ... ... ... ... ... 84
Ornithological Notes. By A. J. North, Ornithologist—
IV. On a Species of Pigeon frequenting the Atolls of the Ellice
Group ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 85
V. On the Occurrence of Butastur teesa in Australia ... ... 87
VI. On a Living Example of Psephotus chrysopterygius 87
VII. On the Extension of the Range of Phieton candidus to
New South Wales and Lord Howe Island 89
Addenda to Catalogue of Australian Meteorites. By T. Couksey,
Mineralogist 90
No. 5. Published 17th April, 1899.
Description of a Ring-tailed Opossum, regarded as a variety of
Pseudochirus herbertensis, CoUett. By Edgar R. Waite, Zoologist 91
The Nest or Drey of the Ring-tailed Opossum (Pseudochirus peregrinus,
Bodd). By Edgar R. Waite, Zoologist 93
Observations on Testudo nigrita, Dum. & Bibr. By Edgar R. Waite,
Zoologist ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 95
Notes on Snakes. By Edgar R. Waite, Zoologist 104
Ornithological Notes. By Alfred .1. North. Ornithologist —
VIII. Description of a New Species of Honey-Eater from North
Queensland ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 106
IX. Description of the Nest and Eggs of Micrceca pjallida, De Vis 107
Contribution to a Knowledge of Papuan Arachnida. By W, J.
Rainbow, Entomologist ... ... ... ... ... ... 108
A Review of the Systematic Position of Zemira, Adams. By Charles
Hedley, Conchologist ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 118
On Two Additional Perforating Bodies, believed to be Thallophytic Cryptogams, from the Lower Palaeozoic Rocks of N. S. Wales. By R. Etheridge, Juar., Curator 12)
On the Occurrence of a Starfish in the Upper Silurian Series of
B owning, N. S. Wales. By R Etheridge, Junr., Curator ... 128
Additions to Catalogue and Bibliography of Australian Meteorites.
By T. Cooksey, Mineralogist 130
The Queensland Cattle Tick. By W. J. Rainbow, Entomologist ... 131 Occasional Notes : —
I. iitegostoma tigrinum, Gmel. An Addition to the Fauna of
New Soulh Wales. By Edgar R. Waite 133
II. A Sbipworm new to Australia. By C. Hedley ... ... 131
CONTENTS. V.
No. 6. Published 11th December, 1899.
Page On a Fern (Blechnoxylon talbragarense) with secondary wood, forming a Mew Genus, from the Coal Measures of the Talbragar District, New South Wales. By R. Etheridge, Junr., Curator 135
Descriptions of two Beetles from Mount Kosciusko. By W. J.
Rainbow, Entomologist ... ... ... ... ... ... 147
Larva and Pupa of Batocera wallacei, Thoms. By W. J. Rainbow,
Entomologist ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 150
Descriptions of two new Land Shells, with Notes on known Species.
By Charles Hedley, Conchologist ... ... ... ... ... 151
Note on Scyllarus sculpt us, Latreille. By Thomas Whitelegge,
Zoologi^'t ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 155
Regalecus glesne, Ascanius : An Addition to the Fauna of New South
Wales. By Edgar R. Waite, Zoologist 163
Occasional Notes —
III. Pal(eopedewhiteleggei,Eth.6.[. By R. Etheridge, Junr., Curator 166 lY. Lampris luna, Gmelin, its recurrence in New Zealand Waters.
By Edgar R. Waite, Zoologist 166
No. 7. Published 15th June, 1900.
Two New Thomisids. By W. .J. Rainbow, Entomologist ... ... 169
Spears with Incised Ornament. By R. Etheridge, Junr., Curator ... 176
Little-known and Undescribed Permo-Carboniferous Pelecypoda in
the Australian Museum. By R. Etheridge, Junr., Curator ... 178
Recurrence of Megaderma gigas, Dobson. By Edgar R. Waite,
Zoologist 188
An extended description of Mus fuscipes, Waterhouse. By Edgar R.
Waite, Zoologist ... 190
Additions to the Fish- Fauna of Lord Howe Island. By Edgar R.
Waite, Zoologist ... 193
Notes on Fishes from Western Australia, and Description of a New
Species. By Edgar R. Waite, Zoologist ... ... ... ... 210
The Card-Catalogue System adapted to Museum requirements. By
Edgar R. Waite, Zoologist 217
Occasional Notes —
V. Turricula scalariformis Ten. -Woods : Its occurrence in New
South Wales. By Charles Hedley, Conchologist ... ... 219
VI. Scala revoluta, Hedley : Its occurrence in Fiji. By Charles
Hedley, Conchologist ... ... ... ... ... ... 219
VII. Phyllotheca and Cingularia. By R. Etheridge, Junr., Curator 219 VIII. Lygosoma fragile, Gunther. By Edgar R. Waite 220
Part 8. Published 1st December, 1900. Title Page, Contents, and Index.
YI. RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
LIST OF THE CONTRIBUTORS.
With References to the Articles contributed by each.
Cooksey, Thomas— Page
The Nocoleche Meteorite, with Catalogue and Bibliography of
Australian Meteorites ... ... ... ... ... ... 51
Ankerite from Sandhurst, Victoria ... ... ... ... ... 63
Addenda to Catalogue of Australian Meteorites ... ... ... 90
Additions to Catalogue and Bibliography of Australian Meteorites 130
Etheridge, Robert, Junr.—
On Circular and Spiral Incised Ornament on Australian Aboriginal Implements and Weapon. s ... ... ... ... ... 1
• A Spear with Incised Ornament from .Angeldool, New South
Wales 6
An Actinoceras from North-West Australia .. ... ... ... 7
The Discovery of Bones at Cunningham Creek, near Harden,
New South Wales 9
An Australian Sauropterygian (Cimoliosaurus) , converted into
Precious Opal ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 19
On the Occurrence of the Genus Columnaria in the Upper Silurian
Rocks of New South Wales 30
On a Precaudal Vertebra of Ichthyosaurus cuistralis, McCoy ... 66
New or Little-known Lower Palaeozoic Gasteropoda in the Collec- tion of the Australian Museum .. ... ... ... ... 71
Halyaitex in New South Wales ... ... ... ... ... 78
On Two Additional Perforating Bodies, believed to be Thallo- phytic Cryptogams from the Lower Paheozoic Eocks of New South Wales 121
On the Occurrence of a Starfish in the Upper Silurian Series of
Bowning, New South Wales ... ... ... ... ... 128
On a Fern ( Blechnoxylon talbragarense) with secondary wood, form- ing a New Genus, from the Coal Measures of the Talbragar District, New South Wales 135
Spears with Incised Ornament ... ... ... ... .. 176
Little-known and Undescribed Permo-Carboniferous Pelecypoda
in the Australian Museum ... ... ... ... ... 178
Occasional Notes- Ill. Paloeopede ivhiteleggei, Eth. fil. ... ... ... ... 166
VII. Phyllothec'i and Cingidaria ... ... ... ... ... 219
LIST OF THE COXTRIBUTORS. VII.
Hedley, Charles—
■^ Page
Description of a New Papuan Land Shell 11
Description of New Land Shells 44
Description of a New Bivalve, Lima aiciia, from Santa Cruz ... 84
A Eeview of the Systematic Position of Zemira, Adams 118
Descriptions of two New Land Shells, with Notes on known
Species ... ... ... ... ■•. ••■ ■•• ••• 151
Occasional Notes —
II. A Shipworm New to Australia ... ... .. ... 134
V. Turricula scalariformis, Ten-Woods : Its occurrence in
New South Wales 219
VI. Scala revohita, Hedley : Its occurrence in Fiji 219
North, Alfred J.-
On a New Sub-Species of Psoj37iode.s cre^ntans ... .. ... 13
Description of a New Species of Collyriocinola from Queensland 49 Ornithological Notes —
I. Oa the Extension of the Range of Calamanthusfuliginosus
and Emblema picta to New South Wales 14
II. On a Curious Nesting-site of 4>if/uis awsfratis 15
III. On the Nidification of Megaloprepia magnifica, the Magni- ficent Fruit Pigeon .. 16
lY. On a Species of Pigeon freo^uenting the Atolls of the
Ellice Group 85
V. On the Occurrence of Bufa.shn- ieesa in Australia ... 87
Yl. On a Living Example of Psephotus chrysopterygius ... 87
VII. On the Extension of the Range of Phwton candidvs to
New South Wales and Lord Howe Island 89
VIII. Description of a New Species of Honey-Eater from
North Queensland ... ... ... ... ... lOG
IX. Description of the Nest and Eggs of Micrceca pallida,
De Vis 107
Rainbow, W. J.—
Description of Two New Australian Phasmas, together with a
Synopsis of the Phasmidse in Australia ... 34
Catalogue of the Described Phasmidte of Australia 37
Description of the Larva of Pseudoterpna percomptaria, Gn. ... 81
Description of a New Araneiad ... ... ... ••■ ••• 82
Contribution to a Knowledge of Papuan Arachnida 108
The Queensland Cattle Tick 131
Descriptions of Two Beetles from Mount Kosciusko 147
Larva and Pupa of Baiocero iraHacei, Thorns 150
Two New Thomsids 169
VIII. RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
Skuse, Fred. A. A.— Page
Additional Localities for Peripatus leuchartii. Sang ... ... 10
Waite, Edgar R.—
A New Blind Snake from the Duke of York Island ... ... 69
Description of a Ring-tailed Opossum^ regarded as a Variety of
Pseudochirus herbertensis,Co\\ett.. ... ... ... ... 91
The Nest or Drey of the Ring-tailed Opossum {Pseudochirus pere-
grinus, Bodd.) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 93
Ob.servations on Testudo nigrita, Dum. and Bibr ... ... 95
Notes on Snakes ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 104
Regalecus glesne, Ascanius : An addition to the Fauna of New South
Wales 163
Recurrence of MegacJeriua gfijas, Dobson ... ... ... ... 188
An extended description of JlfMs/'itscijaes, Waterhouse ... ... 100
Additions to the Fish-Fauna of Lord Howe Island ... ... 193
Notes on Fishes from Western Australia, and Description of a
New Species ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 210
The Card-Catalogue System adapted to Museum requirements... 217
Occasional Notes —
I. Stegostoma tigrinum, Gmel. An Addition to the Fauna
of New South Wales 133
IV". Lampris luna, Gmelin. Its recurrence in New Zealand
Waters 166
VIII. Note on Ly go soma fragile, Giinther ... ... ... 220
Whitelegge, Thomas—
On Stichopus mollis, nutton ... ... .... ... ... ... 50
Note on Scyllarus sculptiis, Latreille... ... ... ... ... 155
LIST OF THE PLATES.
LIST OF THE PLATES.
[Note. — For the convenience of those who prefer to bind the Plates with the text, rather than at the end of the volume, the pages which they should face are indicated in margin.]
Plate I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
XI.
XII.
XIII.
XIV.
XV.
XVI.
XVII. XVIII.
XIX.
XX.
XXI.
XXII.
stone Implements Bull Koarers from Queensland Actinoceras hardmani, Eth., fil... Nest and Eggs of Anthus australis Opalised Sauropterygian
Columnaria pauciseplata, Eth. fil. Clemacantha regale, Riinb. Tro2ndoderus decipiens, Rainb. ... New Land Shells The Nocoleche Meteorite
Goniostroph% pritchardi, Eth. fil.
Mourlonia duni, Eth. fil.
Helicoioma johnstoni, Eth. fil. ...
Trochonema? nodosa, 'Eth.. &l. ...
Holopea welling tonensis, Eth. fil.
G-yrodoma etheridgei, Cress well
Mourlonia duni, Eth. fil.
Helicotoma johnstoni, Eth. fil. ...
Trochonema etheridgei, Johnston
llolopea ivellingtonensiit, l<!.th. S\.
Ualy sites australis, Eth. fil.
liSLTva, oi Pseudoterpna percomptaria, Gn.
Pollys multituberculata. Rainbow
Drey of Ring-tailed Opossum fPseudochirus pere-
grinus, Bodd.) Gigantic Tortoise {Testudo nigrita, Dum. & Bibr.)...
To face Page 2 2 4
16
24 .. 26 .. 28 .. 30
34 .. 36 ,. 46 .. 52 .. 54 .. 56 .. 72 .. 72 .. 72 .. 72 .. 72 .. 74
74 .. 74 .. 74 .. 74 .. 76 .. 82
94 96
100
RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MDSEUM.
XXIII.
XXIV.
XXV.
XXVI.
XXVII.
XXVIII.
XXIX.
XXX.
XXXI
XXXII.
XXXIII.
XXXIV.
XXXV.
XXXVI.
XXXVII.
LIST OF THE ELATES— Continued.
Palwopede whiteleggei, Eth. fil... Palcechlya torquis, Eth. fil. Blechnoxylon talbragarense, Eth. fil. ..
New Land Shells
Scyllarus sculptus, Latr .. Misumena tristania, $. Rainbow Saccodomus formivorus, 9 , Rainbow .. Stutchburia costata, Morris, sp. Stulchhuricb compressa. Morris, sp. Stutchburia obliqiia, Eth. fil. ... Limoptera? permo-carboni/era, Eth. fil. Stutchburia farleyensis,, Eth. fil. Stutchburia compressa, Eth. fil. Pleurophorus gregarius, Eth. fil. Mytilops? ravensjieldensis, Eth. fil. Amphiprion latezonatus, Waite Holacanthus conspicillatus, Waite Holacarithus semicinctus, Waite Hoplegyiathus ivoodwardi, Waite
To face
.. 122
... 122
... 136
... 138
... 140
... 142
... 152
,.. 156
.. 172
... 172
.. 180
... 180
,.. 180
... 182
... 182
... 186
... 186
... 186
... 202
... 204
... 206
... 210
CORRECTIONS. XI.
COREEOTIONS.
Page 16, line 3 — for " Columbia" read " Columba."
28, line 25 — for " Icuoscopelus " read " leucoscopelus."
29, line 5 — for " leuoscopelus " read " leiicoscopelus." 29, line IG — for "leuoscopelus" read "leucoscopelus." 67, line 34 — for " meridianal " read " meridional."
„ 188 — Megaderma gigas has also been recorded from Central Australia.
„ 195 — Delete " Epinephelus tauvina, Forskal."
„ 210. line 5— for "B. B. Woodward" read " B, H. Woodward." Plate viii.. Explanation — for ''Columnopora" read " Columnar ia."
,, xi.. Explanation — for " suhlimais" read " suhlimis." Part IV., cover, List of Contents — for " alanta" read " alata."
RECORDS
OF THE
FEB iV. 1897
AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM
EDITED BY THE CURATOR
Vol. III. No. 1.
PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE TRUSTEES. €xxrat0r.
"SYDNEY, JANUARY 7, 1897.
F. W. WHITE, PRINTER, MARKET STREET WEST.
PUBLICATIONS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
JANUARY, 1897.
I.— CATALOGUES.
1. Catalogue of the Specimens of Natural Histgey and Miscellaneous Cueiosities in THE Australian Museum, by G-. Bennett. 1837. 8vo. pp. 71. (Out of print.)
'2. Catalogue of Mammalia in the Collection of the Australian Museum, by G. Kreflft, 1864. 12mo. pp. 133. (Out of print.)
3. Catalogue of the Minerals and Rocks in the Collection op the Australian Museum,
by G. Krefft. 1873. 8vo. pp. xvii.-115. (Out of print.)
4. Catalogue of the Australian Birds in the Australian Museum, by E. P. Ramsay.
Part I. Accipitres. 1876. 8vo. pp. viii-64. Boards, 2s. ; clath, 3s. Part II. Striges. 1890. 8vo. pp. 35. "Wrapper. Is. 6d. Part III. Psittaci. 1891. 8vo. pp. viii-110. "Wrapper, 5s. Part IV. Halcyones. 1894. 8vo. pp. yiii-24. "Wrapper, 28. 6d.
5. Catalogue of the Australian Stalk and Sessile-eyed Crustacea, b}' "W. A. Haswell.
1882, 8vo. pp. xxiv.-324, with 4 plates. (Scarce) Wrapper, 21s.
6. Catalogue of the Library of the Australian Museum. 1883. 8vo. pp. 178. "With
two supplements. (Out of print.)
7. Catalogue of a Collection of Fossils in the Australian Museum, with Introductory
Notes, by F Eatte. 1 883. 8vo. pp. xxviii-160. "Wrapper, 2s. 6d.
8. Catalogue of the Australian Hydroid Zoophytes, by W. M. Bale. 1884. 8vo. pp. 198,
with 19 plates. "Wrapper, 38. 6d.
9. Descriptive Catalogue of the General Collection of Minerals in the Australian
Museum, by F. Ratte. 1885. 8vo. pp. 221, with a plate. Boards, 2s. 6d. ; cloth, 3s. 6d.
10. Catalogue of Echinodermata in the Australian Museum, by E. P. Ramsay. Part I.
Echini. 188.5. Svo. pp. iii. ii.-o4, with 5 plates. "Wrapper, 3s. 6d. ; cloth, 3s. 6d. 2nd Edit., 1890.
11. Descriptive Catalogue of the Medusje of the Australian Seas. Part I. Scypho-
medusse. Part II. Hydromedusa}, by R. von Lendenfeld. 1887. 8vo. pp. 32 and 49.
12. Descriptive Catalogue of the Nests and Eggs of Australian Birds, by A. J. North.
1889. 8vo. pp. iv V.-407, with 21 plates. "Wrapper, 25s. Coloured plates, £2 15s.
13. Descriptive Catalogue of the Sponges in the Australian Museum, by R. von Lendenfeld.
1888. 8vo. pp. xiv.-260, with 12 plates. Boards, 78. 6d. ; cloth, 10s. 6d.
14. Catalogue of the Fishes in the Australian Museum. Part I. Palseicthyan Fishes, by
J. Douglas Ogilby. 1888. Svo. pp. 34. Wrapper, 2s. 6d. ; boards, 3s. fid.
15. Catalogue of the Marine Shells of Australia and Tasmania, by J. Brazier.
Part I. Cephalopoda. 1892. 8vo. pp. 20. Paper, 28. 6d.
Part n. Pteropoda. 1892. 8vo. pp. 22. Paper, 28. 6d.
Part III. Gasteropoda (Murex). 1893. 8vo. pp. 32. Paper, 2s. 6d.
IG. Catalogue OF Australian Mammals, with Introductory Notes on General Mammalogy, by J. D. Ogilby, 1892. 8vo. pp. xvi-144. "Wrapper. 38. 6d.
II.— MONOGRAPHiS.
1. Australian Lepidoptera and their Transformations, by the late A. "W. Scott, with Illustrations by his daughters, Mrs. Morgan and Mrs. Forde. Edited and revised by A. S. OUiflf and Mrs. Forde. Vol. II., Parts 1, 2, 3, and 4. Wrappers, 15s. each.
On circular and SPIRAL INCISED ORNAMENT on
AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL IMPLEMENTS and
WEAPONS.
By R. Etheridge, June., Curator. (Plates i., ii.)
The more or less rare occurrence of this form of sculpture on the implements and weapons of our Aborigines will probably render a notice of several instances interesting.
The late Mr. R. Brough Smyth remarked* many years ago that — "Curved lines are rarely seen. Any attempt to represent a curve in all the specimens I have examined has been a failure.' Mr. Andrew Lang even made a more sweeping statement! when he wrote that the patterns used by the Australian Aborigines are such as can be produced without the aid of "spirals or curves or circles."
Of the incorrectness of this statement, no Ijetter example can be adduced than the circular incised figures seen on the "Bull-roarers" figured^ by the late Mr. Edsvard Hardman, from the Kimberley District, N.W. Australia.
A very beautiful instance is represented in PI. i., Fig, 1 and 2, all the more interesting because it is a stone implement, and the only one of its kind that has ever come under my notice. It consists of a flat pebble (in all probability) of indurated shale, long-oval in shape, and incised on both faces ; five and six-eights inches long, and three and three-sixteentlis wide, but is fractured at the lower end. On one aspect (PI. i., Fig. 1) is a nearly central figure consisting of incised circles arranged spirally within one another. The figure is generally very slightly longer than wide, the greatest or longitudinal diameter being two and fifteen- sixteenths inches. On the right hand side there are thirteen incised grooves, and on the left twelve, the grooves becoming slightly wider towards the circumferential one. Immediately above, on the same face of the pebble, are two smaller figures, the incised grooves, three in number in each case, being however simply concentric within one another, and not spiral. That on the right is half-an-inch in diameter, and that on the left five-eighths.
* Smyth ; Aborigines of Victoria, i., 1878, p. 283.
fLang ; C\astoms and Myth, p. 279.
JProc. E. Irish Acad., i., 1888 (2), No. 1, t. 2, f. 4, t. 3.
2 RECOEDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
Botli above thosn cifcles, and below the large spiral, is a series of liorizontal groo\es, starting from the edge of the implement inwards, and not meeting in the middle line, but leaving a clear median space, that below the spiral being wider than the upper one. The upper incisions are seven on the right, and eight on the left, the lower six on either side.
The reverse of this implement (PI. i., Fig. 2) is differently incised. In the place of the large almost central spiral is a rather roughly executed series of circles concentric within one another ; the longest diameter is two and two-eighths inches. Surmounting this figure is a three-quarters circular representation in which the grooves are very much finer, fainter, and closer together, leaving a large unincised space, the free end almost touching the circum- ference of the central group of circles. If completed, the figure would also be circular in form. There are, I think, ten grooves. The surface of the implement below the central circles is trans- versely grooved in a manner precisely similar to that of the front face, the grooves on the left hand numbering thirteen, but those on the right are too indistinct for enumeration.
This peculiar implement has been profusely ruddled, so much so as to almost fill up some of tlie grooves. Furthermore, the broken base shows traces of adherent gum cement, which extends on the fractured end. I infer from this either that it has formed a portion of a mounted implement, or when in the posses- sion of its sable owner was fractured and possibly repaired. The colour is fast, and does not soil the hand.
This interesting implement was presented some years ago by a Mr. Dunlop, and is said to come from North Queensland, but the precise locality is unknown.
As having a possible bearing on the use of this instrument, it is necessary to refer to two others presented by the same donor, and at the same time. In both cases, however, there is no incised sculpture. One is a linear-oval fiat pebble, four inches long and two wide, shaped generally like a "Bull-roarer." It is similarly ruddled, and the smaller end is covered with gum cement on both sides. The second specimen is a flat shale pebble, broad-oval in shape, eight and a-quarter inches long, by four and a-half wide, unincised, but profusely ruddled on both aspects, although the ruddle is lighter in colour than in the incised implement (PI. i.. Figs. 1 and 2. The surfaces are speckled over with magenta coloured dots or spots.
With regard to the use of these implements I can do no more than offer a surmise. — The care bestowed on tlie spiral and circular figures on the one hand, and the thick coating of colour on the other, at once place on one side the supposition tliat they might have been used for grniding stones, for which purpose the shape
ABORIGINAL IMPLEMENTS AND "WEAPONS — ETHERIDGE. 6
and size of at least two, would admirably adapt them. Again, the entire absence of scratches favours this view. The general likeness to a " Bull-roarer '' of tlic smallest and longest of the three pebbles, and the similarity of the sculpture of the incised implement to the circular ornament seen on some of these objects of Aboriginal veneration leads me to infer tiiat these stones were employed in some of the Black's secret rites, but the precise use must still remain unknown.*
One of the most beautiful examples of circular concentric sculpture with which I am acquainted is represented in PI. i., Figs. 3 and 4, a " Bull-roarer " from the Urania Tribe, Linda Creek, W. Queensland. There are five circular figures on each aspect of the implement, merely differing in size and the number of contained circles, and similar to those seen on the stone imple- ment already described ; they occupy more or less the entire surface of this implement.
The central and largest disk (PI. i.. Fig. 4), in which there are sixteen circles, is separated from the others by a crossbar above and below it, each of four incised lines ; these do not occur on the other or slightly convex face of the " Bull-roarer." The uppermost and smallest disc on this aspect (PI. i.. Fig. 3) differs from the others in that the concentric circles are fewer in number, leaving a plain and unincised intermediate area between the outer circles and a central nucleus of three. Between this disc and the second, and below the fifth, are two incised arcs of four and three lines respectively, and similar to that already described on the stone implement (PL i.. Fig. 2). This "Bull-roarer" is sixteen inches long by two and a quarter wide, and is more acutely pointed at one end than the other. It is attached to a long cord composed of human hair and fine emu down, and is covered with ruddle and grease.
The second and third " Bull-roarers " are equally well incised witii circular and other figures. They are said to be from South Australia, but are, 1 think, more likely to come from Central Australia. Taking the larger one first, measuring fourteen inches by two inches, we see on the more convex of the two faces (PI. ii., Fig. 5), a central figure answering to the uppermost in PI. ii., Fig. 3, a nucleus of circles within a circumferential set, five in both cases. Above and below this is an arc or semicircle
* Since tlie above was written I have read the following passage in th^ " Horn Scientific Expedition Report" (Vol. i.. Narrative, &c., 1890, p. 35), l>y Prof. Baldwin Spencer. Speaking of the Churina or " Bull-roarers," met with in Central Australia, he says — " Stone ones are still more valuable and sacred than wooden ones, which are usually spoken of as " Irula," the patterns on which are copied from the older stones, the history and origin of which are lost in the dim past." This rather tends to confirm the view I have taken of this incised stone implement.
4 RECORDS OF THE AU8TRAXIAN MUSEUM.
similar to those already described in the first " Bull-roarer," and the stone implement.
On the flat side of this implement (PI. ii., Fig. 6), the carving is very remarkable, consisting of indiscriminately scattered small circles, and arcs or semicircles in various degrees of completeness and position. Here and there are transverse short incised lines proceeding from the margins inwards, precisely as the larger incisions drawn in PI. i., Figs. 1 and 2. These crossbars or trans- verse incisions are also seen in one of Hardman's figures* of the Kimberley implements. On the convex face of the smallest " Bull-roarer " (PI. ii.. Fig. 8) are four discs, each one surrounded by two semicircles of concentric incisions, whilst the thii'd from the top is separated off by crossbars. On the reverse of this implement (PI. ii., Fig. 7) the ornamentation is again different, consisting of a central longitudinal serpentine figure looped on itself at the upper end, margined by bow-shaped figures of three or more incisions, and the re-entering angles between the latter occupied by short transverse bars. The execution of the incised sculpture on this beautiful little implement is of a much more finished nature than that on the preceding "Bull-roarer" (PI. ii.. Figs. ^ and G), and more akin to that of the first descri))ed (PI. i.. Figs. 3 and 4). It is ten inches long by one and a quarter inches wide.
The question of this circular ornamentation or pictography seems to have engaged the attention of writers on the Australian Aborigines but little. It has been suggested by Mr. D. Brown, who obtained examples from Stuart's Creek, Central Australia, that these concentric rings indicate the practice of sun worship on the part of those who carved them.f On the other hand, Pi'of. R. Tate rejects the view that they are symbols at all, and believes the execution of them to be merely a matter of sport, j He further very much doubted if they could be regarded as the production of the untutored Aboriginal. It is, however, a curious coincidence tliat one of the principal localities for these circular inscised " Bull-roarers " is Kimberley, where at the time of Mr. Hardman's explorations the Blacks had come in contact with the White-man possibly as little as anywhere. Without entering into the question of sun worship, although some of our Aboriginal tribes seem to have possessed customs and practices suspiciously like this form of adoration, even if they were unacquainted with, or had lost their esoteric meaning — it may be pointed out that the only published objects bearing this circular ornamentation are " Bull roarers," and as everyone knows these are the most
* Proc. K. Irish Acad. (2), i., 1888, No. 1, t. 3, f. 2. t Trans. Eoy. Soc. S.A., iii., 1880, p. xxiii. I Trans. Roy. Soc. S.A., iii., 1880, p. xxiv.
ABOKIGINAL IMPLEMENTS AND WEAPONS — ETHERIDGE. 6
precious and sacred of the Black's possessions, and only used in the mysteries of the Bora. I think, therefore, that unless Prof. Tate's view can be supported by stronger evidence than mere opinion, it must be dismissed, whatever the real significance of this circular incised ornament may be.
Mr. W. W. Froggatt, when in Kimberley some years ago, paid considerable attention to the practices of the Aboriginal inhabi- tants. He observes* that during initiation " men are stationed round whirling flat-oval sticks, on which are carved curious sy77iboIs." The italics are mine.
We know that amongst some ancient peoples, and even amongst the remnant of some existing, the circle or disc was symbolic of the sun. Our acquaintance, however, with the beliefs and esoteric mysteries of the Aborigines is too limited to hazard a suggestion that the figures on the " Bull-roarers " and stone implements bear a similar reference — but it is possible.
One of Mr. Hardman's " Bull-roarers " bears five sets of concentric circles, separated by groups of vertical incisions, and horizontal marginal ones, as in our PL ii., Figs. 6 and 7. A second implement bears irregular concentric semicircles at the apices, one on each side, and four sets of quadrangular figures concentric within one another. Two of the implements now figured are said to be from South Australia, but the correspondence in every way with Hardman's Kimberley figures! causes me to suspect that they must in reality come from the same district, or at any rate high up in Central Australia.
A few other cases of circular ornament in Australia may be mentioned, such as the circles, and ovals as well, carved on the trees surrounding the larger circle of a Bora ground near Gloucester, N.S. Wales,! and the numerous figures found by Mr. Richard Helms, during the propress of the Elder Exploring Expedition from South to West Australia. On a cave-shelter pictograph at Arcoeillinna Wells, S.A. § are several of these concentric circles in red. Mr. Helms says these •' are of very frequent occurrence, and have undoubtedly a symbolic meaning." Others were met with at Wa-Wee Rock Holes in another Cave- shelter, and at Mount lUibillie on white pigment. || The most complete ones, however, were found in a similar situation near " Camp 6," Everard Ranges. Here is a circle in red of sexen rings, a black nucleus, and radial bars passing from the centre
*Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., (2), iii., 1888, PI. 2, p. 6.52.
t Proc. E. Irish lead. (2), i., 1888, No. 1, t. 2. f . 4-5a, & t. 3.
JFraser; Aborigines of N.S. Wales, 1892, pi. opp. p. 11.
§ Trans. Roy. Soc. S.A., xvi., 1896, Pt. 3, t. 9.
\\Loc. cit., t. 10a & 11.
6 KECORDS OF TUE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
to the circumference.* The circular incised sculpture is very common on many petroglyphs, particularly in America, such as Bald Friar Rock, in Maryland ; Girao, in Brazil ; Cipreses, in Ohili, and on the Colorado River, Utah,! and it is certainly curious to find this form of ornamentation whether on implements, us pictographs on the walls of Cave-shelters, or as petroglyphs, so widely distributed. It is curious and even startling to find the close general resemblance there is between this circular and spiral incised ornament on our Black's weapons, and in their Cave-shelters, and those curious petroglyphs found in odd quarters of the globe, and known as "cup-sculptures," Vjoth with and without a radial groove. Many of these were described by the late Mr. George Tate, occurring on Northumbrian (England) rocks, both circles and ovals, mostly with a radial groove. | Mr. Tate regarded them as the work of a Celtic race, and "symbolical most probably of a religious nature." Dr. B. Seemann has figured precisely similar closed concentric circles from the rock surfaces in Veraguas, New Granada, and believes them to have been produced by a very ancient people of that country, and to be "symbols full of meaning" to those who executed them.
I have lately seen a number of single circles on the petroglyphs of the Hawkesbuiy country around Narabine Lagoon, between ]Manly and Pittwater, both separately incised and forming portions of compound figures.
A SPEAR WITH INCISED ORNAMENT from ANGELDOOL, NEW SOUTH WALES.
By R. Etheridge, Junr., Curator.
A remarkably ornamented spear has been received from Angeldool, on the Narran River, by Dr. James C. Cox, who has been kind enough to present it to the collection. It is made from a sapling of light coloured hardwood, eleven feet nine inches long and two and a-half inches in its greatest circumference, tapering at both ends to a point. Unlike a very large number
* Loc. cit., t. 13.
fMallary; 10th Rep., Bureau Ethnol., U.S., 1893, pp. 86, 120, 153, 160.
X Tate ; Authrop. Review, iii., p. 293.
AN ACTINOCERAS FROM N."W. AUSTRALIA — ETnERIDGE, 7
of Aboriginal spears, it is in one piece, and not with the head separately formed, and lashed or ceoiented on. I take it to be a hand-thrown weapon, and not propelled with the assistance of a womerah. The head of the spear, for eight and a-half inches from the apex, is blackened, then five alternating white and black bands follow occupying in the aggregate one foot, three of the bands white and two black. From this point downwards, to within nine inches of the proximal end, are six serpentine, but not encircling, continuous grooves, each bearing a series of close, back- wardly directed, incised barbs, or teeth, and rendered prominent by having been coloured black. tSpears similarly banded at the apex have been figured before, but neither Angas, Eyre, Wood, Smyth, or Knight, in their respective works, have given an illustration of one similarly ornamented with incised sculpture or decoration. With the exception of this feature, it is one of the type of such simple spears as the Uicinda, of the Murray River,* or the Koy-yu7i.j 3Ir. E. M. Curr, however, states; that the Blacks of Hinchinbrook Island, and the adjacent mainland used carved spears, but he does not give particulars.
Smyth figures a simple spear with the distal end, or apex, segmented by white and black bands from West Australia,§ but otherwise it completely differs from the present weapon.
An ACTINOCERAS from NORTH-WEST AUSTRALIA.
By R. Ethekidge, Junk., Curator.
(Plate iii.)
I am not aware that this interesting genus has so far been recorded from the Carboniferous rocks of West Australia. A rather fine example exists in our collection from the Lennard
* Angas ; S. Australia Illustrated, 1846, t. 51, f . 34. t Smyth ; Aborigines of Victoria, i., 1878, p. 307, f. 83. J Australian Race, ii., 18SG, p. 418. § Smyth; loc. cit, p. 337, f. 143.
8 EECOKDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
River, less the oldest and youngest chambers of the shell, and unfortunately it has been crushed, more particularly in the upper portion of the specimen. The length is six inches, and there are within this space nineteen or twenty chambers, the upper with a breadth of one-quarter of an inch, and the lower a trifle less. At both ends the large beaded siphuncle is visible, above in the round, below in partial cross-section.
The siphuncle is nearly marginal in position, or in a perfect specimen would probably Ije sub-marginal. At the younger end it stands out from the crushed and partially denuded shell exhibiting portions of three of the "beads," or segments, so characteristic of the genus. The diameter in its present condition is nine-sixteenths of an inch, but at the older or lower end of the shell it is only three-sixteenths. The siphuncular .segments to the naked eye are grooved and ridged, and Nvhere not abraided, the ridges are very slightly convex. An examination of the partially and naturally sectioned siphuncle at the older end of the shell, as well as in a cut section, reveals the fact that these grooves are the infolding of the siphonal membrane, as described by Mr. A. H. Foord* who says: "The calcified lining membrane of the siphuncle is thrown into a series of folds, which impart to it a puckered appearance, which is very characteristic." The same Author also observes that the shelly covering of the siphuncular segments, or "beads" composed of several layers, is very rarely preserved, but at the oldest end of the present specimen it is distinctly visible. Some good figures of the infolding of the membrane are extant, and foremost amongst these may be men- tioned Actinoceras Bigsbyi, Stokes, as represented by Barrande.f In some of the infoldings, the membrane seems to expand into vertical sac-like cavities protruding inwards. When subjected to microscopic examination, in a thin section, the inflected portions of the siphonal membrane are seen to be comparatively thick, each one increasing slightly in width as it proceeds inwards, becoming somewhat truncheon-shaped, leaving in the centre a narrow free space filled with impalpable matrix. They are variable in length, some long, some short, but never approach- ing the centre of the siphuncle. At the point through which the section is taken there are seventeen of these inward pro- longations, but they do not appear to be developed with equal regularity as to distance apart around the rather oval siphuncle. Furthermore, these prolongations appear to be open to variation in shape, for along one side are two assuming a decidely pyriform outline, and a third that seems to show signs of bifurcation at its inward end, although too much stress must not be laid on this point. There is no trace of the endosiphon,
* Cat. Foss. Ceph. Brit. Mus„ 1888, Pt. i., p. 166. t Syst. Sil. Boheme, 11., t. 231.
DISCOVERY OF BONES AT CUNNINGHAM CREEK — ETHERIDGE. 9
nor remains of its tubuli. The chambers are narrow, about four-eighths of an inch in the upper portion and three-eighths of an inch in the lower portion of the shell. There are four and six septa to the inch respectively in the parts referred to, increasing very slowly in their distance apart, and with plain edges. The siphuncle is a good deal inflated between the septa, wider than long. The external shelly-layer is not preserved, and in conse- quence the sculpture is not known.
I propose to call this species Acti7ioceras Hardmani, in honour of the late Mr. E. T. Hardman, who acted as Geologist to Forrest's Kiniberley (N.W. Australia) Exploring Expedition in the years 1883-84, but who was perhaps better known through his connection with the Geological Survey of Ireland.
The discovery of BONES at CUNNINGHAM CREEK, NEAR HARDEN, N. S. WALES.
By R. Etheridge, Junr., Curator.
The Cunningham Creek Gold-field is situated about fourteen miles south-east of Murrumburrah and Harden. The " diggings " lies along both sides of the creek, above and below the Jugiong Road — crossing to Cunningham Plains, reaching almost down to its junction with the more important Jugiong Creek. The whole of this district is composed of grey granite cropping out here and there in bosses and tors, otherwise a thick granitic detritus hides the bedrock completely, and in consequence a subsequent denu- dation has given rise to gently rolling downs and hills. It is in this detritus that the bones of extinct Marsupials have been found for some time past, generally lying immediately above the auriferous wash-dirt of the old subsidary branches of Cunningham Creek. The claim of Messrs. J. F. Wilson and Party, who first reported the disco^ ery, is situated on the north bank of the creek, the shaft mouth being about seventy feet above the creek bed, and on the Cunningham Creek Common, barely a mile south-west of Cahill's Hotel. The shaft is down sixty feet in fine granitic detritus, interspersed with large bouldera of granite. The bones are usually met with at fifty-eight feet from the surface, and, as before stated, immediately above the wash-dirt, but from the wet
10 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
natare of the ground, they are all very rotten, and difficult of extraction and preservation. The wash-dirt appears to be of poor quality, although containing a few gem-stones, running in narrow gutters between hard granite bars. The l)ones procured were chiefly those of Difrolodoii.
Through the courtesy of Mr. W. T. Ditchworth, the Manager of the Crown Point Gold Mining Co., Ltd., I was able to inspect the workings of the Marshall-McMahon Reef, where a quartz lode carrying free gold, and another with very refractoiy ore, are worked. I was fortunate enough to obtain good specimens for our collection.
ADDITIONAL LOCALITIES for PERIFATUS LEUCHA R Til— Sang.
By the late Frederick A. A. Skuse, Entomologist.
The writings resulting from the researches of Dendy, Spencer, Fletcher and others, have for some time past aroused considerable interest in Peripatus in Australia ; so that every scrap of addi- tional information respecting these remarkable creatures may be considered of some value, and the evident interests attached to a new discovery affecting our knowledge of Peripatus lends no mean impetus to its investigation and the seeking out of its distribution.
During a recent visit (Oct. 22nd, 1895) to Colo Vale, near Mitta- gong, N.S. W., Mr. Edgar 11. Waite* chanced upon a specimen of P. leuchartiij whilst searching beneath fallen timber for reptiles and insects. Colo Vale lies on the Great Southern Railway line, seventy -two miles from Sydney, and the specimen of Peripatus was obtained at an altitude of 2,000 feet.
Other examples have just l)een presented to the Museum by Mr. C. J. McMasters, who obtained them at Moree, New South Wales, and plentifully by the Curator in November, 1895, in and under rotten logs in the vicinity of the Jenolan Caves, Blue Mountains, New South Wales, at an altitude of 4,000 feet.
* Waite; Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. (2), x., 1895, p. 549.
t Fletcher; Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. (2), x., 1895, p. 183, considers "all the known Australian specimens of Peripatus as referable to one compre- hensive species, i.e., F. leuchartii.. Sang.
DESCRIPTION OP A XEW PAPUAN LAND SHELL — IIEDLEY. 1 1
It might here be ruentioned that in 1 887 Prof. Jeffrey Bell contri- buted a note* on the "Habitat of Peripatus leuchartii" wherein he mentions that previously the place of origin of this species was vaguely stated as "New Holland" and on the receipt of two specimens from Dr. E. P. Ramsay, of Sydney, gave the Queens- land scrubs, near Wide Bay, as the more precise locality. The error is perpetuated by Sedgwick,! who incidentally remarks, " the finder's name has not been communicated to nie."
I would point out that the specimens referred to as coming from Wide Bay were collected by myself on April 3rd, 1887, when I obtained several examples under stones close to the Hospital and Acclimatisation Society's Grounds, in Brisbane. These were handed to Dr. Ramsay, who sent two specimens of them to Prof. Bell for study. They were ultimately forwarded to Prof. Sedgwick for inclusion in his Monograph.
Mr. Henry Tryon previously recorded t the finding of other examples from the same locality in conjunction with myself, but their identity with those mentioned by Sedgwick has not to my knowledge previously been made known.
Mr. Clias. Hedley tells me that he found Peripatus under a log by the road-side at the altitude of 2,000 feet in 1889 at Cunningham's Gap, South Queensland, and that this specimen was pronounced by Mr. Tryon, then of the Queensland Museum, to be P. letwhartii, which determination was no doubt correct.
DESCRIPTION OF a NEW PAPUAN LAND SHELL. By C. Hedley, Conchologist.
Thersites septentrionalis, n. SJJ.
Shell turbinate conic, narrowly perforate, large, solid, brownish- yellow with deep chocolate bands. A third of the base is occupied by a broad chocolate band whose outer margin reaches the insertion of the lip, a yellow peripheral zone of less width follows, a chocolate band as wide as the last and which becomes supersutural in the upper whorls, a narrow yellow, a wider chocolate, a narrow yellow, and a narrow subsutural chocolate
*Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (5), xx., 1887, p. 252. tQt. Journ. Micro. Sci., xxviii., 1888, p. 431. X Proc. Koy. Soc. Qd., iv., 1887, p. 78.
12 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
band then successively occur. The sculpture consists of fine raised growth lines which slightly pucker the suture ; the reticu- lations characteristic of many Queensland species were not visible in the specimens under examination, from which they might, how- ever, have been worn. Suture impressed. Whorls five, convex, descending rather suddenly at the aperture for the breadth of the yellow peripheral zone. Aperture oblique, squarish, light within and showing the chocolate bands. The lip is blackish, very glossy, thickened, and widely reflected throughout, the columellar expansion almost covering the deep narrow umbilicus. A thin transparent callus extends from insertion to insertion of the lip.
Length 52 mm. Breadth 38 mm.
Collected on the Musa River, on the North East Coast of British New Guinea, by His Honour Sir W. MacGregor, K.C.M.G.
The original of this description and life size figure is registered in the collection of the Australian Museum as C. 2890.
This species, and T. broadbenti, Brazier, I now consider to be the only representatives of Thersites yet discovered in New Guinea. Much interest therefore attaches to so handsome and characteristic a species as the novelty occuring in a locality so remote from the principal seat of the genus. Though differing in size and colour, an unfigured Queensland species T. etheridgei. Brazier, closely approaches in contour and perforation, and may be held as nearest in systematic order.
Specimens were received, perforated, and strung together in bunches for native ornaments. One tassle contained this species and Chloritis rehsei tied together. The animal has not yet been seen.
ON A NEW SUB-SPECIES OF PSOPHODES — NORTH. 1 3
0\ A NEW SUB-SPECIES of PSOPHODES CREPITANS. By Alfred J. North, C.M.Z.S., Ornithologist.
For many years past I have known that the specimens of Psophodes collected by Messrs. Cairn k. Grant in 1887 and 1889 at Boar Pocket, North-eastern Queensland, were different in several respects from the P. crepitans, inhabiting New South Wales and Victoria. While lately examining the Reference Collection 1 found another skin from the same locality, which was obtained by Mr. W. S. Day on the 4th of May, 1891. As all the .specimens collected at Boar Pocket at wide intervals are alike, I take the present opportunity of pointing out the distinctive characters of this northern race of Psophodes crepitans-
Psophodes crepitans lateralis, subsp. nov.
Adult. — Like P. crepitans, Gould, but diifers in having the lateral feathers of the tail, which is shorter, tipped with pale- brown instead of white. Moreover, the sides of the lower flanks are olive-green, whilst in P. crepitans they are ashy-brown. Total length 98 inch; wing 3-9, tail 5-4, bill 09, tarsus 1'3.
//a6.— Boar Pocket, N.E. Queensland.
Type. — In the Australian Museum, Reg. No. 0-4645.
Remarks. — I have selected the largest and finest specimen as the type. The tail measurements of two more adult males from the same locality are respectively 5-2 and 5 inches. Specimens of P. crepitans, obtained in the II la war ra District of New South Wales vary in the total length from 10-5 to 11 inch, and in the length of the tail from 5-75 to 61 inch.
Boar Pocket is situated on the table-lands of the Upper Barron River, about thirty-two miles from Cairns.
14 REOOBDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES. By Alfrkd J. North, O.M.Z.S., Ornitholo<,nst.
L— On tiik extension of tiik RANGE of CALAMANTllUS
fuliginosus, and emblema pict a to new south wales.
During tlie months of August and September, 1896, tlie Ornithological Collection of the Australian Museum has become enriched by the receipt of specimens in the flesh of Oalamantltus fidiyhiosus, and Emblenia picia. The former species was obtained on Boloco Station, near Buckley's Crossing Place, New South Wales, on the 19th August by Mr. E. Payten, who killed it with a stone. It was then taken to Mr. Reuben Rose, the owner of the station, and was by that gentleman presented to the Trustees of the Museum. Buckley's Crossing Place, situated on the Snowy River, is about 29G miles south of Sydney and 34 miles as the crow flies to the nearest point of the imaginary line between Cape Howe and Forest Hill, which separates the south-eastern corner of New South Wales from Eastern Victoria. The natural or artiflcial boundaries of the Continent of course do not form any barriers to birds, but hitherto 0. fuliginosus has been recorded only from the southern parts of Victoria and South Australia; Tasmania being the stronghold of the species. From typical examples of C. fnlvjinosim^ the bird procured in New South Wales differs in the following respects : the bill is shorter, the throat is buff" instead of white, altliough similarly streaked with black, and the outer webs of the primaries are externally edged with ashy-white. These slight differences may be due to immaturity, or climatic variation, the locality in which it was oV)tained being over 2,000 feet above the level of the sea.
On the 23rd of September, Mr. A. M. N. Rose presented to the Trustees three adult male specimens of Emhlema picta in splendid plumage. These birds were shot the previous day Uy his nephew, Mr. Arthur Payten, at Campbelltown, an agricultural and dairy farming district, 34 miles south-west of Sydney. Mr. Payten saw altogether ffve specimens, which kept together in a small ffock while searching for grass-seeds on a hill devoid of any cover. Previously this rare bird has been recorded only from North-west Australia where the type was procured ; from Derby and Cambridge Gulf by Mr. E. J. Cairn and the late T. H. Boyer-Bower, and from several localities in Central Australia,
CtTRIOUS NESTING-SITE OF ANTHUS AUSTRALIS — NORTH. 15
where it was obtained by the members of "The Horn Scientific Expedition." Why this small flock should have wandered so far south-east instead of pursuing the usual course of migration to the north-west it is ditticult to conjecture, unless the birds followed in the track of an abundant rainfall so common to Central Australia, with its rapidly accompanying growth and profusion of rich grasses, thereby causing a plentiful food supply. There is no doubt whatever that reaching the westeni border of New South Wales the excessively dry season now being experienced there lias driven this small nomadic flock from the withering and burnt-up grass lands to the cooler districts near the coast. This is only a repetition of the effects of last year's drought when many birds whose habitat is the dry inland districts of the Colony, were obtained near Sydney, among which may be mentioned Falco liypolencos, a typical Central Australian species.
Roughly estimated, the nearest recorded locality in Central Australia in which Emblema picta has been obtained, is 1,300 miles in a direct line from Oampbelltown, in New South Wales, where the present specimens were procured.
IT.— On a CUllTOUS NESTING-SITE of ANTHUS
AUSTRALIS.
(Plate iv.)
The Trustees of the Australian Museum are indebted to Mr. A. M. N. Rose, for a nest of the Australian Pipit or common "Ground Lark," Anthus aiistralis, placed in a very curious position. It is built inside an old rusty preserve tin, measuring four inches and a half in length by three inches and a half in diameter. The entrance to the nest is narrowed to two inches, by a small platform of dried grasses which protrudes out of the mouth of the tin. Tliis nest was found on the 24th of November, 1896, by Mr. A. Payten at Campbelltown in the same paddock as he shot the specimens of Emblema picta, and contained two slightly incubated eggs. The tin, which has the lid still attached, but bent at a right angle, was lying exposed on the ground, without shelter or concealment of any kind, beyond a few short blades of dried grass. The eggs are of the usual type, a greyish- white ground colour thickly freckled all over with pale brown markings; length (A) 0-8 x 0-67 inch ; (B) 084 x 0-67 inch. As will be seen on reference to the accompanying plate, it is a curious site for a bird to select which builds an open cup-shaped nest concealed only by an overhanging tuft of grass, or the surrounding herbage.
16 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM,
III._On the NIDIFICATION of MEGALOPREPIA MAGNIFICA, THE MAGNIFICENT FRUIT PIGEON.
Columbia magnifica, Temm., Trans. Linn. See. xiii. p. 125(1821).
Carpophaga magnifica, Gould, Bds, Austr. v. pi. 58 (1848).
Megaloprepia magnifica, Salvad., Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus. xxi. p. 167 (1893).
The Magnificent Fruit Pigeon is freely dispersed throughout the rich coastal brushes of Eastern Australia, from the neighbour- hood of Cairns in North-eastern Queensland to Berry in New South Wales. In the latter colony it is far more frequently met with in that rich belt of luxurious vegetation lying between the Tweed and Bellinger Rivers, than it is in the humid valleys and mountain ranges of the south coastal district. At Cairns it over- laps the closely allied, but decidedly smaller species M. assimilis, which ranges northward from that locality to Cape York.
Although M. magnifica is plentifully distributed throughout these brushes nothing has hitherto been recorded of its nidification. For an opportunity of examining a nest and egg of this species I am indebted to Mr. George Savidge, a most enthusiastic oologist, who has lately found this fine Pigeon breeding on the Upper Clarence. Mr. Savidge has also forwarded me a skin of the female shot at the nest, together with the following notes relative to procuring the nest and egg : —
" Having been told by some timber-drawers that they had discovered three nests of Megaloprepia magnifica at Pine Scrub, Oaky Creek, Upper Clarence, each with a single egg, and upon which the birds were sitting, I determined to pay a visit to these scrubs to search for the nests. Accompanied by a friend, Mr. Thos. Woods, and an aboriginal called Freddy, we started at daylight on the morning of November 8th, 1896, and arrived at our destination, twenty-five miles distant a little after ten. Several nests were seen but they contained neither eggs or young, and after a long search we decided upon going further into the scrub. The peculiar call of M. magnifica could be heard on all sides, and at last after searching for several hours we saw one fly from a tree about twenty-five yards in advance. Upon nearing the tree we dis- covered the nest, and the egg could be plainly seen in it. Wishing to obtain the bird we sat down for some time, but eventually decided to move lower down the creek into closer concealment, as I thought the bird might be watching us and would not return. After waiting a quarter of an hour we observed the Pigeon fly
NIDIFICATIOX OF MEGALOPREriA MAGNIFICA — XORTH. 17
hack and settle on a thick branch. I did not fire as it was a bit too far, and its body protected by the limb it was sitting upon. After having a good look round it flew into a thick patch of scrub a few yards away and was lost to view, however, it soon came back and settled about two feet from the nest, and facing us. I was afraid the spread of shot might shatter the nest, but as it was getting late I fired and the bird fell into a small pool of water beneath. The egg was secured after some ti'ouble as the nest was built on the end of a thin outspreading branch of a ' Scrub Elm,' about twenty feet from the ground. The scoop had to be used, and the nest was so small I was afraid the egg would I'oU over, and it took the black some time before he got it safely into the net. The limb was then chopped off and the nest secured. Upon dissection of the bird, which proved to be the female, no other egg was found in it approaching maturity, the largest being the size of a pea."
The nest of M. magnijica, is an exceedingly small and perfectly flat structure, and with the exception of a few long straggling sticks lying almost parallel to the branch on which it is placed, barely averages five inches in diameter. It is built at the junction of a forked horizontal branch of an Apliananthe jyhillipiiiensis, which is partially covered with a growth of moss. The nest is composed of thin sticks and twigs intermingled with the wiry spiral tendrils of a vine ; the latter material wholly form- ing the centre of the structure for the reception of the e^g. When sitting the Magnificent Fruit Pigeon would almost conceal the nest for very little of it is visible below the branch. The green leafy twigs which sprout out in close proximity to the nest, also harmonises well with the colour of the back, wings, and tail of the sitting bird, and renders it less liable to detection. The egg is pure white, elongate oval in form, and there is very little difference in the shape of the two ends, the texture of the shell being very fine and the surface lustreless. It measures 1-57 inch in length by 1'2 inch in breadth.
Specimens of Megaloprepia magnifica and 21. assimilis from different localities measure as follows : —
M. magnifica.
Sex. Length. Wing. Tail. Bill. Tarsus. Locality.
? ad. 17-2.5in. 9-1 7-6 0-83 M Clarence River, N.S.W. (^ ad. 17-5 9 1 7-75 0-85 M Maryborough, Wide
Bay, Queensland,
M. assimilis.
S ad. 13-.5 7-6 6-75 0-78 1-05 Cairns, N.E.Queensland
? ad. 13 7-1 6-3 0-62 1 in. Cape York, N.Australia.
7th January, 1S97.
Publications of the Australian Museum.— Contintjed.
III.— MEMOIRS.
1. History and Description of the Skeleton of a new Sperm Whale in the Australian
Museum, by W. S. Wall. 1851. 8vo. pp. 66, with plates. Eeprint 1887. Wrappers, 2s. 6(i.
2. Lord Howe Island : its Zoology, Geology, and Physical Characters. 1889. 8vo.
pp. viii-132, with 10 plates. Boards, 7s. 6d. ; cloth, lOs. 6d.
3. The Atoll of Funafuti, Ellice Group : its Zoology, Botany, and General Struc-
ture, based on Collections made by Mr. C. Hedley. Part I., 21st Dec, 1896. 8vo. pp. 86. Price, 5s.
IV.— GUIDES.
1. Guide to the Australian Fossil Remains in the Australian Museum. 1870. Svo.
(Out of print.)
2. Guide to the Contents of the Australian Museum. 1883. Svo. pp. iv.-o6. (Out of
print.)
3. Guide to the Contents of the Australian Museum. 1890. Svo. pp. 156. Wrapper.
v.— MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATIONS.
1. List of Old Documents and Eelics in the Australian Museum. Ig84. Eeprinted
with additions, 1890. 8vo. pp. 4.
2. Descriptive List of Aboriginal Weapons, Implemenes, etc., from the Darling and
Lachlan Eivers, by K. H. Bennitt, F.L.S. 1887. 8vo. pp. 8. (Out of print.)
3. Notes for Collectors. 1887. 8vo. ] s.
4. Hints for the Collectors of Geological and Mineralogical Specimens, by F. Eatte.
pp. 26, with a plate. 6d.
5. Hints for the Preservation of Specimens of Natural History, by E P Eamsav
1891. 4th Edition, pp. 32. Is. ^ j-
VI.— RECORDS.
Vol. I., March, 1890, to Deer., 1891. Svo. pp. 202. .30 plates. Price 25s. Vol. II., April, 1892, to Jan., 1896. Svo. pp. 112. 23 plates. Price 25s. Vol. III., No. 1, .Tan., 1897. Svo. pp. 17. 4 plates. Price 2s 6d.
May be obtained from the Attendants at the Museum, or from Messrs. Angus & Robertson, Castlereagh Street, Sydney; Messrs. Turner & Henderson, Hunter Street, Sydney ; Mr. E. W. Cole, George Street, Sydney, Book Arcade, Melbourne, and Bundle Street, Adelaide; Messrs. Melville, Mullen & Slade, Melbourne; Messrs. R. Friedlander & Son, Berlin ; Messrs. Kegan Paul, Trench, Triibner &. Co., Paternoster House, Charing Cross Road, London.
[Exchanges of Serials, Works, Eeports, and other publications are earnestly solicited on behalf of the Museum Library.]
CONTENTS.
On Circular and Spiral Incised Ornament on Australian Aboriginal Implements and Weapons. By R. Etheridge, Junr., Curator..
A Spear with Incised Ornament from Angeldool, New South Wales By E. Etheridge, Junr., Curator. ...
An Actinoceras from North-West Australia. By E. Etheridge
Junr., Curator... The Discovery of Bones at Cunningham Creek, near Harden
New South Wales. By E. Etheridge, Junr., Curator
Additional Localities for Peripatus leuchartii — Sang. By the late Frederick A. A. Skuse, Entomologist
Description of a New Papuan Land Shell. By C. Hedley
Conchologist ... On a New Sub-Species of Psophodes crepitans. By Alfred J. North
C.M.Z.S., Ornithologist
Ornithological Notes. By Alfred J. North, CM. Z.S.,Ornithologist-
I. On the Extension of the Eange of Calamanthus fuUginosus
and Emhlema picta to New South Wales ...
II. On a Curious Nesting-site of Anthus australis III. On the Nidification of Megaloprepia magnifica, the magnifi cent Fruit Pigeon
10 11 13
14 15
16
RECORDS
OCT 1 1097
AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM
EDITED BY THE CURATOR
Vol. III. No. 2.
PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE TRUSTEES. Curator.
^"SYDNEY, AUGUST 5, 1897.
F. W. WHITE, PRINTER, MARKET STREET WEST.
PUBLICATIONS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
AUGUST, 1897.
I.— CATALOGUES.
1. Catalogue of the Specimens of Natural Histoey and Miscellaneous Cukiosities in
THE Australian Museum, by G.Bennett. 1837. 8vo. pp. 71. (Out of print.)
2. Catalogue of Mammalia in the Collection of the Austkalian Museum, by G. KrefEt,
1864. 12mo. pp. 133. (Out of print.)
3. Catalogue op the Minerals and Rocks in the Collection of the Australian Museum,
by G. KreflPt. 1873. Svo. pp. xvii.-llo. (Out of print.)
4. Catalogue of the Australian Birds in the Australian Museum, by E. P. Ramsay.
Part I. Accipitres. 1876. Svo. pp. viii-64. Boards, 28. ; cloth, 3s. Part II. Striges. 1890. 8vo. pp. 35. Wrapper. Is. 6d. Part III. Psittaci. 1891. 8vo. pp. viii-110. Wrapper, .58. Part IV. Halcyones. 1894. Svo. pp. viii-24. Wrapper, 2s. 6d.
5. Catalogue of the Australian Stalk and Sessile-eyed Crustacea, by W. A. Haswell.
1882, Svo. pp. xxiv.-324, with 4 plates. (Scarce) Wrapper, 21s.
6. Catalogue of the Library of the Australian Museum. 1883. Svo. pp. 178. With
two supplements. (Out of print.)
7. Catalogue of a Collection of Fossils in the Australian Museum, with Introductory
Notes, by r Ratte. 1883. Svo. pp. xxviii-160. Wrapper, 28. 6d.
8. Catalogue of the Australian Hydeoid Zoophytes, by W. M. Bale. 1884. Svo. pp. 198,
with 19 plates. Wrapper, 3s. 6d.
9. Descriptive Catalogue op the General Collection of Minerals in the Australian
Museum, by F. Ratte. 1885. Svo. pp. 221, with a plate. Boards, 2s. 6d. ; cloth, 3s. 6d.
10. Catalogue of Echinodermata in the Australian Museum, by E. P. Ramsay. Part I.
Echini. 1885. Svo. pp. iii. ii.-54, with 5 plates. Wrapper, 3s. 6d. ; cloth, 3s. 6d. 2nd Edit., 1890.
11. Descriptive Catalogue of the Medusa; op the Australian Seas. Part I. Scypho-
medusse. Part II. Hydromedusse, by R. von Lendenfeld. 1887. Svo. pp. 32 and 49.
12. Descriptive Catalogue op the Nests and Eggs of Australian Birds, by A. J. North.
1SS9. Svo. pp. iv V.-407, with 21 plates. Wrapper, 25s. Coloured plates, £2 15s.
13. Descriptive Catalogue op the Sponges in the Australian Museum, by R. von Lendenfeld.
1888. Svo. pp. xiv.-260, with 12 plates. Boards, 78. 6d. ; cloth, 10s. 6d.
14. Catalogue of the Fishes in the Australian Museum. Part I. Palseicthyan Fishes, by
J. Douglas Ogilby. 1888. Svo. pp. 34. Wrapper, 2s. 6d. ; boards, 3s. 6d.
15. Catalogue of the Marine Shells of Australia and Tasmania, by J. Brazier.
Part I. Cephalopoda. 1892. Svo. pp. 20. Paper, 2s. 6d.
Part n. Pteropoda. 1892. Svo. pp. 22. Paper, 28. 6d.
Part III. Gasteropoda (Murex). 1893. Svo. pp. 32. Paper, 2s. 6d.
16. Catalogue OF Australian Mammals, with Introductory Notes on General Mammalogy, by
J. D. Ogilby, 1892. Svo. pp. xvi-144. Wrapper, 3s. 6d.
II.— MONOGRAPHS.
1. Australian Lepidoptera and their Transformations, by the late A. W. Scott, with Illustrations by his daughter* Mrs. Morgan and Mrs. Forde. Edited and revised by A. S. OUiff andMri. Forde. Vol. II., Part . 3, and Wrappers, l.'^<? each.
ERRATA.
Page 28, line 25, for "■ leuoscopelus" read " leucoscopelus." „ 29, line 5, for „ read ,,
,, 29, line 16, for ,, read „
Plate XI., Explanation, line 2, for ''sublimais" read " sublimis."
OCT 1 1897
An AUSTRALIAN SAUROPTERYGIAN (CIMOLIO- SAURUS), CONVERTED INTO PRECIOUS OPAL.
By R. Etheridge, Junr., Curator.
(Plates v., vi., vii.)
I WAS recently favoured by Messrs. Tweedie and Wollaston, Merchants, of Adelaide, through the good offices of Mr. H. Y. L. Brown, Government Geologist for South Australia, with a large quantity of opalised material from White Cliffs, representing the broken-up skeleton of a Plesiosaur, but unfortunately wanting the skull. There are numerous vertebrae in various states of completeness, innumerable portions of ribs, a few teeth, phalanges, and other bones that will be subsequently referred to. These have now become the property of the Trustees of the Australian Museum.
I. — Precious Opal as an Agent of Replacement.
The replacement of the calcareous matter in fossils by Precious Opal appears to be a fact but little commented on by Authors.
The search for opal in the Upper Cretaceous at the White Cliffs Opal-field on Momba Holding, about sixty -five miles north- north-west of Wilcannia, in Co. Yungnulgra, has been signalised by the discovery of many beautiful examples of the entire con- version of the shelly envelopes of Pelecypoda and Gasteropoda, the internal shells of Belemnites, and Reptilian remains, into Precious Opal by a process of replacement.
Many of these are in the Collection of the Geological Survey of N.S. Wales, others have been lent to the same, and through the courtesy of Mr. E. F. Pittman, Government Geologist, I have been permitted to examine them.
The process of *'silicification,"as it is called, or the replacement of matter in fossil organic remains, by silica, in one or other of its varieties, is too well-known to require more than the briefest notice.
Silicification is said to be primary when organisms have under- gone a slow process of alteration in water holding silica in solution, each particle of tissue, as it decayed, being replaced by the mineral in question, the minute structure of the body thus acted on being so preserved. "By far the commonest mode of re- placement is that whereby an originally calcareous skeleton is replaced by silica. This process of 'silicification' — of the replace- ment of lime by silica — is not only an extremely common one,
20 RECORDS OF THE ATJSTRALIAN MtTSEtTM.
but it is also a readily intelligible one ; since carbonate of lime is an easily, and flint a hardly soluble substance. It is thus easy to understand that originally calcareous fossils, such as the shells of MoUusca, or the skeletons of Corals, should have in many cases suffered this change, long after their burial in the rock, their carbonate of lime being dissolved away, particle by particle, and replaced by precipitated silica, as they were subjected to percola- tion by heated or alkaline waters holding silica in solution."* On the other hand, if the minute structure of the fossils has been injuriously affected during this process, or destroyed, notwith- standing the preservation of the outward form, the silicification is said to be secondary, having taken place at a period long posterior to the entombment of the organic remains. "In the tirst stage of the process," adds Prof. H. A. Nicholson, from whom T am quoting, " the outer layer of the fossil very commonly becomes converted into, or covered by, small circular deposits of silica, having the form of a central boss surrounded by one or more concentric rings ('orbicular silica,' or ' Beekite markings'). If the process goes on the whole of the fossil may ultimately become converted into flint."
A third form of silicification may, I believe, exist — the con- version of the original calcareous matter into the form of chalce- dony, so excellently seen in the shells (Physa, etc.) of the Lower Intertrapean chert beds of the Deccan Tertiary Trap Series at Nagpur, in India, or the chalcedonic Permo-Carboniferous Brachiopoda of Point Puer, Port Arthur, Tasmania.
The mode of occurrence of the Opal at White Cliffs has already been so fully described by Mr. W. Anderson and Mr. J. B. Jaquet that it need only be briefly referred to. It is met with in beds of kaolin and conglomerate forming a portion of the Desert Sandstone, but the former author also says in the "vitreous- looking" Desert Sandstone itself. Four separate conditions of occurrence are detailedf by Mr. Jaquet, viz. : —
1. In thin horizontal veins, between the bedding planes of
the kaolin.
2. As irregular nodules scattered through the kaolin,
3. As Wood Opal.
4. As opaline shells, etc.
We are at present concerned only with the two last.
The Wood Opal is usually of an opaque milk-white or horn-yellow colour, and is simply hydrous silica, although the woody structure is still visible and in some instances well preserved, but in other
* Nicholson, Man. Palaeontology, .3rd edition, i., 1889, p. 7.
t Ann. Eep. Dept. Mines and Argic. N.S.W., 1892 [1893], p. 141.
AN AUSTRALIAN SATJROPTERYGIAN — ETHERIDGE. 21
specimens hardly any structure at all is to be observed, beyond the outward form of stem or branch, as the case may be. Not infrequently radial cracks are filled with Precious Opal, when the play of colour is very fine.
The Animal Remains occur under the following conditions : —
1. As external or internal casts in kaolin, without opalization of any kind.
2. Entirely converted into hydrous silica or Common Opal, white and opaque, but occasionally with traces of the coloured variety scattered through.
3. Wholly or partially converted into translucent-glassy to vitreous semi-opaque Precious Opal, displaying a fine range of colour.
The colours visible by reflected light are principally blue, red, green, and yellow, with their various shades and combinations, not the least pleasing being an ever-varying degree of red and blue-tinted purple.
When the fossils are in the form of kaolin casts, specific identification, with a very few exceptions, is almost unattainable. Those in which opalisation, however, has taken place, are always determinable, more or less, and the substitution of the original carbonate of lime has been very thoroughly carried out. Frag- ments of these opalised remains, chiefly shells, are freely scattered throughout some hand-specimens of the opaline kaolinised con- glomerate, from the bed B of Mr, Jaquet's section.* The kaolin casts are either white or tinged with iron-oxide, arising from the highly ferruginous clays that Mr. Jaquet says the kaolin passes into.
The opalised fossils comprise Crinoid remains, the shells of Pelecypoda and Gasteropoda, portions of Belemnite guards, and Sauropterygian bones. The preservation of some of these fossils is excellent, although all are not alike in this respect, and the extent to which the opalisation has at times been carried is remarkable. In some Pelecypoda, the external growth laminae, and inter- mediate sculpture striai are fully preserved, whilst the shell substance is completely changed, and by transmitted light the valves of many are almost transparent. On the fractured edges of one of these bivalves the glassy opal is quite translucent by reflected light. When such valves are met with in apposition, the interiors are often found to be filled with soft kaolin, and no better examples of the complete change that has taken place can be examined.
The replacement of the fibrous calcite of the Belemnite guard, when viewed in cross-section, presents a far less translucent, and
*Ann. Eep. Dept. Mines and Agric. N.S.W., 1892 [1893], p. 141.
22 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
much more opaque and vitreous-looking appearance than that seen in the other MoUusca. In one small guard in particular, now before me, remains of the radiating fibres and concentric layers of calcite are visible round the periphery, gradually fading off into a dark blue and purple vitreous-looking opal.
Pre-eminent for its beauty is a bivalve, obligingly lent to the Geological Survey of N. S. Wales for examination by Mr. H. Newman, jeweller, of Melbourne. This is without exception one of the most beautiful conditions of fossilisation I ever beheld — perfectly clear of the matrix, with the valves in apposition, and save for a slight crushing about the centre of one of them, quite perfect, wholly converted into Precious Opal, and with a play of colour quite equal to the fragments in quartzite shortly to be referred to. The shell substance is almost glassy transparent. It is probably identical with the shell already referred to, with the translucent fractured edges, from the collection of Mr. G. de V. Gipps, also lent to the Geological Survey.
Mr. J. E. Carne informs me that the Survey Collection con- tained, previous to the Garden Palace fire, an Ammonite, wholly converted into Precious Opal, six inches in diameter ! This came from White Cliffs, and was probably one of the first fossils ever obtained there.
By no means the least interesting specimen found in this field, previous to Messrs. Tweedie and Wollaston's reptile, is the half, split longitudinally, of a Sauropterygian vertebra, with the osseous matter converted in the first instance into the common white and opaque opal, and the canals and lacunee remaining open and filled with a little ferruginous powder. The roughened edges of the fractured surfaces are then tipped, and the cavities to some extent lined with Precious Opal. This is also from the cabinet of Mr. J. de V. Gipps.
Some polished hand specimens of a highly fossiliferous chocolate- brown quartzite were presented by an unknown donor to the Geological Survey Collection, the whole of the organic remains being converted into Precious Opal, and the interstices between the component constituents of the rock likewise similarly filled as a secondary infiltration, probably replacing the calcite particles of the deposit. Beyond the fact that these specimens come from White Cliffs, I am not in possession of information as to the stratigraphical position of this quartzite, but possibly it may be derived from the water-worn vitreous boulders mentioned by Mr. Jaquet as occurring in the clay and conglomerate beds. The organic remains are those of MoUusca, with traces of Corals and stem-joints of Crinoids, showing such a marvellous kaleidoscopic play of colours that words are quite lacking to render the general appearance of the specimens appreciable.
AN AITSTKALIAN SAUROPTERYGIAN ETHEBIDQE. 23
There is a univalve in these hand specimens after the Euompha- loid type, and in consequence of the direction in which the latter have been cut, the sections are almost invariably across the whorls. It is a small shell, the largest not measuring more than three-eighths of an inch in diameter, biconcave, and the inner whorls barely distinguishable. From the difference in outline exhibited by the cross-section and the body whorls, I should say two, if not three species are present. The next commonest section is probably that of a Brachiopod, very geniculate in outline, the sections passing from the umbo to the front margin of either valve. One section in particular catches the eye from the comparatively large process, projecting from underneath the incurved umbo. This may be either a fulcrum supporting some of the internal shelly plates of a Brachiopod, or a spoon-shaped cartilage process of a Pelecypod, but I am inclined to the first opinion. Several small circular bodies, hollow in the centre, about three-eighths of an inch in diameter, and with median central vacuities, are scattered at random through the rock. There is no definite structure observable in these, but the size and general appearance closely resemble that of the stem joints of many Crinoids.
I am strongly of opinion that these highly opalised chocolate- coloured quartzites are of Devonian age, being portions of travelled blocks, in all probability coming from Mr. Jaquet's bed C.
The whole of the specimens now under discussion, were submitted to a careful examination by Dr. Thomas Cooksey, Mineralogist to the Australian Museum, and myself. Dr. Cooksey is of opinion* that in the chocolate quartzite the carbonate of lime of the fossils has been in the first instance converted into crystalline calcite, and the latter then replaced by secondary silicification in the form of Precious Opal. The traces of the cleavage planes and twinning of the calcite crystals are still preserved in the opal, the former in a great measure serving to produce that play of colour which gives to the opal its beauty and value. A few instances of a similar process are certainly visible in the opalised shells from the kaolin deposit, but in the majority of these there appears to have been simply a secondary replacement by hydrous silica of the ordinary carbonate of lime of the MoUuscan and other tests.
There is no trace amongst these fossils of the Beekite stage of silicification. The occurence of this mineral in connection with "Fossil Organic Remains" in N.S. "Wales is by no means an uncommon one, and has already been noted by the Writer, f Such occurrences, however, are confined to some of our Silurian and Permo-Carboniferous fossils.
* Eec. Aust. Mus., ii., 7, 1896, p. 111. t Ibid, ii., 5, 1893, p. 74.
24
RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
II. — The Reptile Remains.
To return to Messrs. Tweedie and Wollaston's reptile, Cimolio- saurris IPAicoscopelus, the remains that can be satisfactorily deter- mined from the mass of opalised material are as follows : —
17 Cervical vertebrae, usually fragmentary. 2 Humeri. 4 Teeth.
Rib fragments (numerous).
Phalanges (numerous).
The absence of the skull practically bases systematic determina- tion on the vertebra? and teeth, hence the following facts in the first place lead to the conclusion that it is a Sauropterygian : — (1) the vertebrae are amphicoelus ; (2) the single costal facets of the cervical vertebrae are entirely on the centra ; (3) each rib articulates to a single vertebra ; (4) the epiphyses of the humeri are enlarged ; (5) the teeth have more or less curved and sharp crowns with fluted enamel.
In the second place the form of the cervical vertebrae, and the absence of a foramen in the humeri indicate the Plesiosauridaj as the family to which these remains should be referred ; whilst within this family the complete anchylosis of the neural arches and cervical ribs to the centra, single costal facets on the cervical vertebrae, and the slender and non-carinated teeth point out Cimoliosaurus, Leidy, as the natural resting place of this reptile from White OliflTs Opal-field.
The cervical vertebrae are much elongated between their dorsal and ventral extremities. They vary in size, as usual, according to their position in the whole series, but the measurements of three of the more perfect and typical are as follows : —
|
1. |
2. |
3. |
|
|
Length of centrum body |
1 in. |
liV |
1 in. |
|
Height „ „ |
11 |
lA |
ItV |
|
Breadth „ „ |
H |
Hi |
m |
|
Height, including neural spine |
3i |
... |
|
|
Breadth of cup |
7 8 |
i'-k |
lA |
|
Fore and aft extent of neural spine at |
|||
|
about the middle |
6 8 |
• •• |
• • • |
|
Fore and aft extent of the neural arch |
|||
|
below the zygopophyses |
ii |
1.3 18 |
n |
|
Fore and aft extent of costal surface ... |
f |
i |
i |
|
Height of neural canal |
h |
tV |
i |
|
Breadth „ ,, |
iV |
A |
1- |
The measurements are in inches and parts of inches.
AN AUSTRAXIAN SAUKOPTERYGIAN — ETHEEIDGE. 25
The centra in these vertebra are decidedly short, more propor- tionately so than in Cimoliosaurus catHahridgiensis, Lydk.,* and in this respect approach nearer to those of C. valdensis, Lydk.,t and C. eurymerus, Phill.| There is not the slightest appearance of any rugosity round the edges of the terminal faces of the centra as in Plesiosaurus rugosus, Oweri,§ from the Lias, but they are prominent and outwardly bevelled as in C. cantahridgiensis ; nor is there any sinuous profile with overhaug of the upper border, and prominence of the lower border of the centra as in the genus Polyptychodon. The sides of the centra can hardly be described as concave, although the ventral surfaces are fairly so on either side the hseraal carina. The anterior and posterior articular surfaces vary in contour from circular to subquadrate, the transverse dia- meter being always the greater, with a well marked although not thick border, surrounding a wide and fairly deep concavity or cup. There are no mamraillse, or any trace of a pit in the vertebrae examined. The venous or ha;mal foramina are situated in definite depressions, well marked and deep, and in the best preserved vertebra ISTo. 1, (PI. v., Fig. 4) three-sixteenths of an inch apart, this being the transverse measurement of the hseraal carina. The latter expands fore and aft in buttress formation into the anterior and posterior peripheries of the terminal faces, producing on the whole an hour-glass shaped figure, as in C. constricius, Owen. The single costal facets are rarely seen in consequence of the thorough union that has taken place between the head of the ribs and the costal surface itself. In one, however (No. 2), where the head of the rib appears to have broken out, the pit or scar seems to be circular. The fore and aft borders of the neurapophyses are vertically concave, the fore much more so than the hind, and transversely are more angular than convex, particularly posteriorly. The neuro-central suture is almost totally obliterated. Zygopo- physial ridges, the prominent lateral oblique ridges extending from the pre-zygopophyses to the posterior borders of the pedicle, can hardly be said to exist. The pre-zygopophyses are rather high, and in the only vertebra in which they are sufficiently preserved No. 1, (PL v., Fig. 5), do not project forward beyond the vertical line of the terminal face of the centrum, not even as much as in C valdensis, Lydk., and C. limnophilus, Koken.|| The zygopo- physial articular surfaces approach the oval in form, and are very obliquely inclined, much more so than in either the last-named species, C. cantahridgiensis, or C. eurymerus. The post-zygo- pophyses are not preserved in the most perfect vertebra of the
* Cat. Foss. Eeptilia and Amphibia Brit. Mus.,pt. ii., 1889, p. 183, f. 60.
t Ibid, p. 188, f. 61.
X Lydekker, Md, p. 206, f. 67.
§ Mon. Foss. Eeptilia Liassic Formations, pt. i., 1865, p. 35.
II Leydkker, loc. cit., p. 225, f. 69.
26 BECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
collection, but broken off short at the point of their enlargement from the neural spine. The latter extends one and three-quarters of an inch from the roof of the neural canal upwards, and is five- eights of an inch in fore and aft measurement immediately above the zygopophyses, linear oval in section, and very sharp along the anterior and posterior edges ; anteriorly this sharp edge is continued downwards over the neurapophysial surface as a similar ridge to between the prezygopophyses, and is but shallowly exca- vated, much less than in C cantabridgiensis, nor anything as much inclined as in C. valdensis, or the extreme condition of the spine in C. etirymerus, but seems to approach nearest to that of C. Ihnnophilus. The neural canal is large and subquadrate, pro- portionately larger in fact than appears to be general in this genus, even more so than in C. limnophilus.
The ribs are so reduced by fracture that it is almost impossible to afford precise details about them, but the majority appear to have been irregularly oval in cross-section, flattened on the sides. The costal articulations on the centra are invariably single.
A small portion of bone is figured (PI. vii.. Fig. 2) under the belief that it may be the expanded distal end of a short or cervical rib, forming one of the " hatchet bones." Notwithstanding its incompleteness, I believe this to be the nature of the specimen. The body is angular on the inner or hsemal surface, and flattened on the outer ; the anterior extension is shorter than the posterior, itself abbreviated and thick. In PI. vii., Fig. 4, is probably re- presented the distal end of one of the trunk ribs, broken at the apex.
Several interesting fragments are present, similar to PI. vi., Fig. 5. I labour under the impression that these may be the expanded distal ends of the diapophyses of the dorsal vertebrae. They possess a distinct oblique convex articular facet, bounded by a slightly elevated ridge. Such portions of the shafts as remain are compressed between dorsal and ventral, and are angular trans- versely, i.e., fore and aft. PI. vii.. Pig. 3, is another diapophysis, possibly one of the anterior with a portion of the sides of the neural arch remaining attached. It will be seen that the articular surface is much longer and more oblique in the former specimen. These diapophyses seem to have some points in common with those of Mauisa7irus haastii, Hector,* although much shorter, still this may be only the result of position in the series. At the same time it is strange that not a distinguishable fragment of a dorsal vertebra, other than these processes, has occurred with the remains of this interesting reptile.
* Trans. N. Zealand Inst, vi., 1874, p. 347.
AN AUSTRALIAN SATTROPTERYGIAN — ETHERIDGE. 27
Amongst the numerous fragments of ribs are several that seem to be the proximal ends of trunk ribs (PI. vii., Figs. 5 and 6), but if so the terminal faces are cupped for the reception of the convex heads of the d {apophyses already described. None are absolutely perfect, but the figures given will explain their appearance and characters almost better than words. However, the head of the rib is in each case expanded and terminally hollowed into an oval rather deep depression or cup of variable size. This appears to be similar to the structure described by Hector in Lieodon haumuriensis*
The proximal ends of both humeri (PI. vii., Fig. 1) are present in the collection, and very remarkable bones they are, allied in many respects to those of Mauisaurus haastii, Hector, f One is three inches long, the other three and a quarter inches approximately. They are heavy and much thickened bones, the proximal articular surface hemispheric, with a sharp angular periphery and a dia- meter of about one and three-quarter inches. The trochanterian process is much thickened, and protuberant, and separated from the articular surface by a well marked although incomplete bici- pital groove, overhung by sharp margins. The transverse diameter of the humeri is one and a half inches. The distal sloping surfaces of the bones are much roughened and pitted for muscular attach- ment. To one side of the trochanterian process in each is what Dr. Hector calls in Mauisaurus a bold rugose tuberosity '* to receive the attachment of the bicipital tendon."| The plantar surfaces would appear to be somewhat concave.
These humeri seem to possess some important points of depar- ture from the ordinary Plesiosaurian humerus, but are closely allied in form and character to those of Mauisaurus, at the same time showing sufficient differences of a distinguishing nature. For instance we see the very marked trochanterian process well separated from the articular surface, or head of the bone, by the bicipital groove, although not circumscribed by it, as such appears to be the case in M. hastii. We further see an equally large, although less hemispheric articular surface, and an equally strong if not stronger protuberance for the bicipital tendon, whilst the latter is somewhat differently placed to what it is in the New Zealand reptile.
Two short, transversely elongated bones are distinguishable that may be one or other of the paddle-bones, possibly the " inter- medium." (PI. vi.. Fig. 6). The terminal faces are roughly facetted.
» Trans. N.Z. Inst., vi., 1874, p. 352. t Ibid, p. 347. X Loc. cit., p. 348.
28 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
Phalanges are numerous throughout these remains, but I am not in a position to differentiate between them. (PI. v., Figs. 6 and 7 ; PI. vii., Figs. 7-9).
The shape of all, however, is particularly " hour-glass " like, more so than in the majority of Plesiosaurian paddles, and most of them are short, stout, and strong, with well marked articular surfaces. As the smallest seen are much constricted, longer, and have articular surfaces, the digits, like those in Mauisaurus, "must have been enormously prolonged to produce such attenua- tion."*
The only evidence of a skull consists of four teeth (PL vii., Figs. 10 and 11). They are small, slender, acutely conical, and curved, nearly circular in section from midway upwards, but possessing a rather more oval section below. The enamel is delicately fluted, but the teeth are not in the slightest degree carinate, as in Pliosaurtis and Thaumatosaurus. None are quite perfect, but the most so, although not the largest, measures thirteen-sixteenths of an inch long by three-sixteenths in diameter at about the centre. The largest fragment, on the other hand, has a diameter of two-eighths of an inch.
The genus Cimoliosaurus is divided by Lydekker into two sections, the Coelospondyline and Typical Groups. In the former the centra are excavated fore and aft, regularly ampliicrelus in fact, but in the latter they are nearly flat. It follows from this that C. leuoscopelus belongs to the Coelospondyli. Afauisaurus, Hector, with which the White Cliffs reptile agrees in more than one point, belongs to the Coelospondyli, and had it not been so, as well as the marked difference in the vertebrae, I should have been much inclined to consider C. leucoscopelus as closely allied to Hector's fossil.
An epitome of our scanty knowledge of the Australian Sauro- pterygii will be found in the " Geology and Palaeontology of Queensland."! Two species at least, perhaps three, are believed to exist, and possibly both the former are referable to Cimolio- saurus. They are Plesiosaurus macrospondylus, McCoy, and P. sutherlmidi, McCoy. It is to be regretted that my friend, Mr. R. Lydekker, in the British Museum " Catalogue, of Fossil Rep- tilia and Amphibia,"! relied on a second-hand reference to these forms, for although they have never been adequately described, still, I think they deserve a better fate than mere relegation to the limbo of MS. names.
* Loc. cit,, p. 349.
t Jack and Etheridge, Junr., 1890, pp. 508-9.
t Pt. 2, 1889, p. 247.
AN AUSTRALIAN SAUROPTERYQIAN — ETHERIDQE. 29
As regards P. sutherlandi, I have endeavoured to supply further details than those given by Sir F. McCoy from an examination of the type specimens, kindly placed at my disposal by him, supplemented by additional material from Queensland.* I believe C. leuoscopelus to be distinct from both these forms. The flattened articular portions of the centra in P. sutherlandi, and the " more flattened than concave " centres of the cervical vertebrae appear to separate this species. In P. viacrospondylus the edges of the articular surfaces of the centra are rugose, and thereby wholly difier from those of our form.
Of the New Zealand species, C. australis, Owen (+ P. crassi- costatus, Owen),t possesses cervical vertebrae with flattened centra terminations, a distinct median pit in each, four hjemal foramina, and the neural arches and ribs persistently independent of the centra. The difierence between this and the corresponding struc- ture in C. leuoscopelus is manifest. In C. hoodii, Owen, J the haemal surface of the cervicals is broad and flat, and there is no special transverse oblong depressions in the middle of the articular surfaces of the centra.
The cervical vertebrae of P. hohnesi. Hector,§ have flat terminal faces, and a humerus referred to this species, has the articular head divided by a bicipital notch, not a groove as in the present case.
P. traversi, Hector,|| and P. mackayi, Hector,** are less known forms ; the tirst is said to possess quadrate vertebral centra. Lastly, the absence of cervical vertebrae in the type specimens of C. caudalis, Hutton,f i renders a comparison diflicult.
* Etheridge, Junr., Ann. Eep. Dept. Mines N.S.W., 1887 [1888], p. 167, t. 1, f . 1-4.
t Geol. Mag., vii., 1870, p. 51, t. 3, f. 4-5.
t Ibid., f. 1-3 ; Hector, Trans. N. Zealand Inst., vi., 1874, p. 343.
§ Hector, loc. cit., p. 344.
II Ibid., p. 344. *» Ibid., p. 345. ft Ibid., xxvi., 1894, p. 354.
i&O RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
On the occurrence of the GENUS COLUMNARIA in the UPPER SILURIAN ROCKS of NEW SOUTH WALES.
By R. Etheridge, Junr., Curator. (Plate viii.)
I BELIEVE I am correct in stating that Columnaria has not so far been recognised as an Australian genus of Palfeozoic Corals. When 1 had the pleasure of examining the Museum at St. Stanislaus College, Bathurst, a few months ago, under the guidance of the Rev. Father Dowling, I observed a coral from Molong, that I took to be Columnaria from macroscopic characters only, sub- sequently confirmed, however, by microscopic. At any rate if the coral in question be not a species of this remarkable genus, then the candid confession of my ignorance as to its systematic position must be made. Father Dowling courteously allowed me to divide the specimen, a portion of which is now in the Australian Museum.
The composite corallum (PI. viii., Fig. 1) is small, hemispherical, but whether flat, rounded, or subpedunculate at the base, I am unable to say. The colony only measures about two inches square, ar4 is thus even less than in C. calicina, Nich. The surface is covered with shallow polygonal calices that are circumscribed by prominent margins, crenulated by the strongly marked septa very distinctly visible in a weathered specimen. The eorallites are closely compacted, contiguous, and completely united by their walls. Tetragonal, quadrangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, or even irregular eorallites were observed, in contact throughout their entire course, without any partial separation, even near the mouths as in C. calicina, Nich., or some conditions of C. alveolata, Goldf. In thin sections prepared for the microscope, the walls are found to be composed of uniform grey sclerenchyma (stereoplasma), with only here and there any trace of a primordial wall separating them as a thin brown line ; the amalgamation is therefore so per- fect that nearly all trace of primordial demarcation is practically lost. Thus, in one instance, there is to be noted a decided depar- ture from the microscopic structure of Columnaria described by Nicholson.* The eorallites have a very constant diameter of one millimetre. In longitudinal sections (PI. viii.. Fig. 7 ) the sameappear- ances are visible, the eorallites also presenting the narrow tube-like structure of the Favositida3, but without the mural pores of the latter. There are only sixteen septa, equally divided into primary and secondary, the former extending across the visceral chambers
* Tabulate Corals Pal. Period, 1879, p. 192.
ON THE OCCURRENCE OF THE GENUS COLUMNARIA — ETHERIDGE. 31
for about one-third of their diameter, or perhaps a little more, whilst the latter are mere marginal crenulations. These primary septa are tapering and spike-like in cross-section, although at the same time true lamellae, extending from top to bottom of the corallites. There is not the faintest trace of any meeting of the septa in the calice centres to form a spurious columella as described in C. rigida, Billings.* At first sight the corallites appear to be provided with very few septa in consequence of the small size of the secondary, and even these are set far apart. Furthermore, the septa do not spring sharply from the corallite walls, but in consequence of the inner edges of the latter being concave between them, a more or less festoon-like appearance is given to the cross-section of each corallite, somewhat as one sees in the genus Ueliolites. These appearances at first caused doubt to arise in my mind as to the propriety of referring this coral to Columnaria, but on referring to Prof. AUeyne Kicliolson's excellent figures,! I found that in both C. aheolata and C. calicina very much the same features existed.
The stereoplasmic thickening of the septa is unequal, some being thin and spike-like ; others, from a greater preponderance of this deposit, becoming club-shaped (PI. viii.. Fig. 6). Tn some corallites the secondary septa become scarcely, if at all developed, in others they assume the character previously described.
In no instance have I noticed an undue predominance in length of one or more septa, a point in which C. pauciseptata differs from C. calicina at least, but there is certainly no regular development of four septa as in Stauria, nor tiie slightest trace of a division into cycles. Many of the corallites are partially infilled with a dendritic growth of iron oxide fringing the septa.
On longitudinal weathered surfaces, the primary septa appear as strong continuous lamellae, their paucity and larger comparative size rendering them conspicuous objects.
The tabulae (PI. viii.. Fig. 7) are particularly well developed, simple, complete, mostly horizontal, very seldom thickened, opposite in contiguous tubes, or very slightly alternating, in other words sub-opposite. They vary from three-quarters to one millimetre apart, and in a few rare instances are somewhat more distant from one another. The non-horizontal are simply bent or curved in some portion of their course, never vesicular or incomplete. The diaphragm forming the floor of the calice is striated by the septa passingon to it. The intertabular or old visceral chambers are nearly square, from the fact of the transverse measurements of the tubes and the distance apart of the tabulae being so nearly coincident.
There is not the slightest trace of the existence of the mural pores, or intramural canals, so characteristic of the Favositidae.
* Teste Nicholson, loc. cit., p. 196. t Loc. cit., t. 10, f . 1 and 2.
32 RECORDS OF THE ATTSTRALIAN MITSEUM.
If this fossil be not a Columnaria, but a Favosite, then only one of two explanations is possible. Either the mural pores are confined to the angles of the prismatic tubes, or they are effaced by " com- plete recrystallisation or replacement." The former state could hardly exist without some trace of them being visible in one or another of the tube vertical sections, whilst the coral has not undergone sufficient alteration for the pores to be wholly effaced by the latter process. Had there been the slightest trace of these structures, I should have regarded this coral simply as an aberant form of that large and important family.
Increase took place by intra-mural gemmation, the interpolation of new tubes produced from the lip of the calicine wall of a pre- existing corallite, of which there are several instances in the longitudinal sections before me. In transverse sections these young tubes are triangular or quadrangular in outline, and situated in the angles between the older. The method of in- crease therefore accords witli that of C. alveolata, Goldf., and differs from that of C. calicina, Nich.
The main points relied on for the identification of this coral as a Columnaria are (1) the absence of mural pores combined with the general Favositiform structure of the corallites, both points strongly insisted on by those who have written on this group ; (2) the great regularity of the tubes and tabulae, producing at once an entirety that is difficult to put into words, but apparent to any one who has examined authenticated examples of Columnaria, or as it was at one time better known, Favistella; (3) the absence of distinctive features of any other genus at all resemliling it on a cursory examination. Under these circumstances I beg to pro- pose for it the name of Columnaria pauciseptata, in allusion to the limited number of septa present, a point that will now be briefly touched on again.
Although numerous new species have, more or less perfectly, been described, indeed the late Prof. Ferdinand Roemer* recorded no less than eleven, only about three seem to be at all well known, and these chiefly through the labours of my old friend Prof. AUeyne Nicholson. t They are C. alveolata, Goldf uss (wow Hall, oiec Billings, Rominger, &c.), C. calichia, Nich,, and C. ? halli, Nich. { = C. alveo- lata, Hall, Billings, Rominger, kc, wor* Goldf uss. )
In C. alveolata there are in all 24-30 septa, although RomingerJ says 20-30, the primaries sometimes extending to the centre of the calices ; in 0. calicina 28 ; in C. ? halli 20-40, and all quite
* Lethaea palaeozoica, 1883, Lief. 2, p. 464. t Loc. cit.. pp. 191-202.
% Report Geol. Survey Michigan, Lower Peninsula, iii., 1876, Pt. 2, p. 91 (as C. stellata).
ON THE OCCURRENCE OF THE GENTTS COLUMNARIA — ETHERIDGE. 33
marginal ; in C. reticuluta, Salter,* 36, the primaries extending half-way to the centre of the visceral chambers ; in G. franklini, Salter,! although the number is not stated, they are very numerous and evidently quite marginal, like those of C. calicina ; and in C. gotlandica, Ed. & H.,J 36-44. The literature of those forms described by Billings is not accessible to me, and I am thus unable to enter into any comparison between his species and C. pauci- septata. The great dissimilarity existing between the last-named and those I have just quoted will at once be apparent, for in no instance have I observed more than sixteen septa, a disparity that can have no other than a specific significance.
As compared with the tabular of other species, those of G. pauci- septata may be said to be distant from one another. In G. alveolata there are three in one line, horizontal or slightly flexuous according to Nicholson, whilst Romenger says flat only; in G. calicina the same; in G.? halli the tabulae appear to approach nearer to those of our species in distance from one another, and are horizontal and strong ; in G. reticidata the tabulje are " very close, four or five in the space of a line " ; in G. franklini they are very closely packed, about four in the space of a line," Both these Arctic species, from the absence of mural pores, must be regarded as Columnarice, although they have nmch the appearance of massive Favosites of the F. gothlandica group, in which the walls have undergone so much secondary alteration that the pores are not visible, a fact well known to many microactinologists. Salter's opinion, is borne out by the absence of any reference in Mr. Etheridge's description § of mural pores in the same corals, collected by the Nares Arctic Expedition. In C. gothlandica the tabulae are said to be from one and a-half to two millimetres apart, even more distant than in C. pauciseptata.
The species of Columnaria are Silurian in their stratigraphical distribution, both Lower and Upper, with the exception of a doubtful Devonian form described by Schliiter.H
The study of this coral leads me to support Prof. Alleyne Nicholson's view that Columnaria cannot be placed near the Favositidse, but as suggested by Prof. Verrill, and afterwards adopted by the former, is much more nearly allied to the Astrseidse, although I have not observed in C. pauciseptata any trace of endothecal structures except tabulae.
Type. In St. Stanislaus' College Museum, Bathurst.
* Sutherland's Journ. Voy. Baffin's Bay, &c., 11., 1852, p. ccxxlx., t. 6, f. 2, 2a.
t Ihid., p. ccxxlx., t. 6, f. 3, 3a.
X Archiv. Mus. Hist. Nat., v. 1851, p. 309.
§ Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc, xxxlv., 1878, p. 586.
II Abhandl. Geol. Speclalkarte Preuss.-Thiir. Staaten, viil., 1889, Heft 4, p. 14.
34 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
DESCRIPTION OP TWO NEW AUSTRALIAN PHASMAS,
TOGETHER WITH A SYNOPSIS OP THE PHASMID^ IN
AUSTRALIA.
By W. J. Rainbow, Entomologist. (Plates ix., x.)
The first of the two Phasmas described below is of more than ordinary interest, not only on account of its size and beauty, but also from the fact that although very close to the genus ^crojo%?^a. Gray, it differs from that by the great length of its ovipositor. In Acro- phylla the ovipositor is boat-shaped, keeled below, and does not exceed the end of the abdomen. Kirby, in a paper "On the Phas- midse of Madagascar,"* enumerates a small collection of four previously known species, and describes a fifth, for which he founds a new genus, Enetia, the characters of which are : — ^^Female. — Allied to Acrophylla, but with the head and pro-notum spined above; wings not longer than broad; ovipositor boat-shaped, keeled below, extending considerably beyond the abdomen." In the species described below, the head and pro-notum are devoid of spines, and the wings are somewhat longer than broad, consequently it will have to come in between Acrophylla, Gray, and Enetia, W. F. Kirby.
Order ORTHOPTERA.
Family PnASMiDiE.
Sub-Family Pterophasmina.
Genus Clemacantha, gen. nov.
Characters of Genus. — ? allied to Acrophylla ; wings longer than broad ; ovipositor boat-shaped, keeled below, extending con- siderably beyond the abdomen.
Clemacantha regale, sp. nov.
(PI. ix., Figs. 1, 2, and 3.)
? . Measurements (in millimeters) : Length from base of antennae to tip of abdomen, excluding ovipositor and anal styles, 177; ex- panse of wings, 190 ; length of head, 9 ; antennae, 20 ; pro- notum, 8-9; meso-notum, 26-8; meta-notum, 14'1; abdomen. Ill;
* Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., Vol. viii., 6th Series, 1891, pp. 150-151.
DESCRIPTION OF TWO NEW AUSTRALIAN PHASMAS — RAINBOW. 35
ana] styles, 12-5; ovipositor, 42; anterior femora, 36-5; hind femora, 40; tegmina, 40; greatest width of abdomen, 12*5; tegmina, 14 ; wing, 56.
Head pale yellow above, with broad median longitudinal bar of bright blue, sides blue above, pea-green below ; face green ; eyes black on narrow whitish wings ; occili bright, glassy, with a reddish-brown tint ; antennae 25-jointed, slightly pubescent.
Pro-notum green above, yellowish in the median line, white laterally, yellow below with green margins; meso-notum yellow with broad median bar of bright blue, sides pea-green in front, darker behind, yellow below ; the upper surface, sides, and under surface furnished with spines varying in size, those above and below are blue, and those at the sides green ; the spines on the ventral surface are uniform in size, ten in number, arranged obliquely and in pairs, and surrounded with patches of blue ; meta-notum yellowish in front, green behind, with a median longi- tudinal line of blue, sides yellow in front, green behind, the lower margins are also green, and furnished with a row of small green spines ; ventral surface yellow, ornamented with four transverse bars of blue, and armed with eight spines; of these the anterior bar is the shortest and narrowest, the third and fourth is the longest and broadest ; with the exception of the anterior bar, which is horizontal, all are slightly curved in a forward direction, and each bar is armed with a spine near its lateral extremity.
Abdomen long, broadest ac the middle, tapering, bright green above with narrow median line of blue, under-surface pea-green ; anal styles long, green ; ovipositor projecting considerably beyond the abdomen, green, boat-shaped, keeled below.
Tegmina, elongate, ovate, green above, with white longitudinal bars and patches, the bars suffused with purple ; underneath the anterior margin is bright red, and edged with green.
Wings : above, the costal area is bright green with white longi- tudinal bars suffused with purple, and the base bright red ; underneath, the entire surface is bright red also ; membranous portion pea-green.
Legs long, slender, with denticulated ridges, mottled with green and yellow ; tibii of hind pair strongly spined on the inner side ; first joint of tarsi longest, and the fifth longer than the fourth ; claws long and strong.
Hah. Narrabri.
Three specimens similar to the one described, but with the meso-notum less strongly spined, are in the collection of the Aus- tralian Museum, and were taken at Wide Bay, Queensland. The specimen from which the description is written was captured by Mrs. Langhorne, Oreel Station, Narrabri. The Australian ver- nacular name for these insects is " Native Ladies."
36 RECORDS OP THE AUSTRALIAN MTTSEUM.
Genus Tropidoderus, G. Gray.
Tropidoderus decipiens, sp. nov.
(Plate X., Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4.)
? Measurements (in millimeters) : Length from base of an- tennae to tip of abdomen, excluding ovipositor and anal styles, 130-5 ; expanse of wings, 172 ; length of head, 7-6 ; antennte, 24*4 ; pro-notum, 6-7 ; meso-notum, 14'3 ; meta-notum, 9*2 ; abdomen, 90'6 ; anal styles, G-5 ; ovipositor, 27*4 ; anterior femora, 32*5; median femora, 23-8; hind femora, 28-5; tegmina, 43-6; greatest width of abdomen, 13-5; anterior femora, 3-2; median femora, 6*8 ; anterior femora, 8'2 ; tegmina, 18"3 ; wing, 63-1.
Head, antennae, legs, ovipositor and anal styles, green.
Pro-notum arched, moderately granulated above and below ; meso- and meta-notum keeled in the median line and laterally ; the median keel of the former only finely serrated, but the lateral keels of both more strongly so ; these two latter are also more profusely granulated on superior and inferior surfaces than the pro-notum ; meta-notum purple laterally ; at the base of the latter there is also a median patch suffused with the same colour.
Abdomen keeled above and laterally ; superior surface and sides of a pinkish colour with the exception of the lateral keels, which are green ; inferior surface green, profusely granulated. Ovipositor boat-shaped, bright green, extending slightly beyond tip of abdomen, strongly but finely granulated, keeled below.
Tegmina elongate, ovate, keeled ; the one on the right bright green above and below, that on the left bright green on the outer half of the superior surface, including the base and tip of the inner portion, the remainder creamy white.
Wings. — Costal area of each wing purple at the base, from thence to about one-third the length, there is a pale green patch sharply rounded off at its ultimate extremity ; the remainder of the costal area above and below, bright green ; the hyaline membrane nearly colourless, or with a slight greenish hue ; veins palish pea-green.
Legs simple ; median pair hollowed out at base to receive the head ; the femora of median and hind pairs flattened out to re- semble foliage, their edges strongly serrated ; meta-tarsi and tarsi brownish.
Hah. Gordon.
This beautiful insect, which so strongly similates the foliage of plants, is a typical example of Australian Phasmidse. It will be noticed in reading the above detailed description that there is a striking difference in the colouration of the tegmina, the one on
DESCRIPTION OF TWO NEW AUSTRALIAN PHASMAS — RAINBOW. 37
the right being entirely bright green, while that on the left has a large creamy-whitish patch. In connection with this it must be explained that when at rest the latter is always folded uppermost, and is therefore exceedingly beneficia^ to the insect, assisting it to elude detection by predatory foes, the whitish patch in con- trast with the bright green portion having the appearance of a green leaf lighted by the sun's rays filtering through the foliage.
The specimen from whicli the above description was written, and which therefore forms the type of the species, was presented to the Museum by Miss Ausell, of Paddington ; in addition to this, we have in our cabinet collection a specimen taken by Mr. A. J. North, of the Australian Museum, at Ashfield, in 1895.
CATALOGUE of the DESCRIBED PHASMID^ op AUSTRALIA.
By W. J. Rainbow, Entomologist.
Family PHASMlDiE. Genus Bacillus, Latr.
B. hrunneus, G. R. Gray, Ent. Aust., pi. vii., fig. 3 ; Syn. Phasm.,
p. 21. Burm., Handb. d. Ent. ii., 2, p. 562. Westwood, Cat. of Orthop. Insects of the British Museum,
Pt. 1, Phasmidfe, p. 12. London, 1859. Hah. Perth, W. Australia.
B. ausiralis, Charpentier, Orth. Descr. (^ et ? ., pi. Ivii. Westwood, loc. cit., pp. 12 and 179. Hab. Australia.
B. dolomedes, Westwood, loc. cit., p. 13, pi. v., fig. 4. Hab. Australia.
B. peristhenes, Westwood, loc. cit., p. 13, pi. vii., figs. 1, la., ^, pi. viii., figs. 2, 2a., $ . Hah. Australia.
B. peridromes, Westwood, loc. cit., pp. 13-14, pi. viii., figs. 2h., 2c, Hab. Australia.
Genus Pachymorpha, Gray. P. squalida, $ var., loc. cit., p. 15, pi. xxii., figs. 4, 4a., 46. Bacillus squalidus, Hope MS.
G. R. Gray, Ent. Aust., p. 3, fig. 2 ; Syn. Phasm., p. 21
(Pachymorpha squalida). Seville, H. n. Orth., p. 260. Burm., Handb. d. Ent, ii., 2, p. 562. Hab. Australia,
38 EECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
P. (1) simplicipes, Serville, H. n. Orth., p. 259. Westwood, loc. cit., p. 15,
Ilab. Australia.
Genus Bacteria, Zatr.
B. eiitrachelia, Westwood, loc. cit., pp. 32-33, pi. xxiv., figs. 11, 11a. Hab. Perth, W. Australia.
£. cosnosa, $ , Hope MSS.
G. R. Gray, Ent. Austr., pi. ii., fig. 2; Syn. Phasm., p. 18. B. tenuis, (^ , Hope MSS.
Larva juvenis, B. fragilis, Hope MSS.
G. R. Gray, Ent. Austr., pi. vii., fig. 1 ; Syn. Phasm., p. 18. Hah. Australia.
B.frenchi, Wood-Mason, Ann, Mag. Nat. Hist. (4) xx., p. 74. Hah. Australia.
Genus Lonchodes, Q. R. Gray.
L. nigropunctatus, Kirby, Trans. Lin. Soc. Lond., (2) vi., 6, pp. 453-454. Hab. iIAzsird Island, Queensland.
Genus Bactridium, Saussure. B. couloidaniurn, Saussure, Rev. ot Mag. de Zool., 1868, p. G6. Hab. Australia (Chili •?)
Genus Hyrtacus, Stal. H, tuherculatus, Stal, Recensio Orthopteroruni, p. 67. Hab. Australia.
Genus Acanthoderus, G. R. Gray.
A. spinosus, G. R. Gray.
Westwood, loc. cit., p. 48.
A. spinosus, G. R. Gray, Syn. Phasm., p. 14.
Pliasma (Bacteria) spinosum, G. R. Gray, in Trans. Ent. Soc,
i., 1836, p. 46 (nee. Bacteria spinosa, G. R. Gray, Syn.
Phasm., p. 43.) Hab. Perth, W. Australia.
Genus Eurycantha, Boisd.
E. australis, Montrouzier.
Westwood, loc. cit., p. 65, pi. i., figs. 1, la, 1/). ,^ , figs. 2, 2a. ? Karahidion australe, Mont., Ann. Sci. de Lyon, (2) vii., 1,
p. 86. Hab. Lord Howe Island.
CATALOGUE OF ATJSTBALIAN PHASMID^ — RAINBOW. 39
Genus Anophelepis, Westw.
A. telesphorus, Gray.
Westwood, loc. cit, pp. 69-70, pi. viii., fig. 3 ^ , figs. 7, la. ? Hah. Perth, W. Australia.
A. periphanes, Westwood, loc. cit, p. 70, pi. viii., figs. 2, 2a. Hah. Australia.
A. rhipheus, Westwood, loc. cit., pp. 70-71, pi. viii., figs. 10, 10a., 106. Rab. Perth, W. Australia.
Genus Pliibalosoma, G. R. Gray. P. caprella, Westwood, loc. cit., pp. 7fi-77, pi. xxi., figs. 3, 3a. Hab. Australia 1
Genus Lopaphus, Westw. L. gorgus, Westwood, loc. cit., p. 102, pi. xi., figs. 4, 4a. Hab. Richmond River, N.S.W.
Gemis Xeroderus, G. R. Gray.
X. kirbii, G. R. Gray, Syn. Phasm., p. 32. Burm., Handb. d. Ent., ii., 2, p. 582. Westwood, loc. cit., pp. 102-103, pi. xxxi., figs. 6, 6a. ^ , figs.
7, 7a. ? ._ Hah. Australia.
Genus Cyphocrania, Serville.
C. goliath, G. R. Gray.
Westwood, loc. cit., pp. 107-108. Diura goliath, G. R. Gray, Trans. Ent. Soc, i., 1836, p. 45 ;
Syn. Phasm., p. 39 ( Acrophylla G.) Fhasma (Cyj)hocrania) Goliath, Audouiu et Brulle, Hist. Nat. Ins., ix., p. 105, pi. vii.
De Haan, Orth. Orient, p. 128. Hab. Java, Timor, New Guinea, Moreton Bay, and Northern parts of Australia.
Var. fcem. major, Cyphocrania versiruba, Serville, Orth., p.
235. C. herculeana, Charpentier, Orth. Descr., pi. i. Westwood, loc. cit., p. 107. Hab. Australia.
Var. fcem minor, Cyphocrania versifasciata, Serville, H. N.
Orth., p. 235. Westwood, loc. cit., pp. 107-108. Hab. 1
40 RECORDS OF THE ATJSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
C. enceladus, G. R. Gray.
Westwood, loc. cit., p. 108.
Acrophylla enceladus, G. R. Gray, Syn. Phasm., p. 39.
Hah. Australia.
G. jMsimachus, Westwood, loc. cit., pp. 109-110, pi. ix., figs. 5, 5a., 5b. Hah. Australia.
Genus Lopaphus, Westwood. L. macrotegmus, Tepper, Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Auatr., vol. ix., p. 112, pi. vi. Hah. Mount Lofty Ranges, S. Australia.
Genus Ophicrania, Kaup. 0. striaticollis, Kaup, B.E.Z., p. 38. Hah. Australia.
Genus Acrophylla, G. B. Gray.
A. titan, Macleay.
Westwood, loc. cit., p. 114.
Phas7na titan, Macleay, in King's Survey of Australia, ii., p.
454. G. R. Gray, Ent. Aust., i., pi. 4 $ (Diura titan) ; ejusd.
Syn. Phasm. p. 39 (Acrophylla titan). Servielle, H. N. Orth., p. 231.
Burrn., Handb. d. Ent., ii., 2, 579 ( Gyphocrania titan). Laporte, H. N. Inst., v., pi. iv., ,^ . Phasma ( Gyphocrania j titan, De Haan, Orth. Orient., p. 129.
Hah. Australia.
A. briareus, G. R. Gray.
Westwood, loc. cit., p. 114.
Diura briareus, G. R. Gray, Trans. Ent. Soc, vol. i., 1836,
p. 45 ; Syn. Phasm., p. 40. Sab. Australia.
A. chronus, G. R. Gray.
Westwood, loc. cit., p. 114.
Gtenomorjyha marginijjennis, ^ , Q. ^. Gray, Ent. Austr., i.,
pi. i., fig. 2 ; Syn. Phasm., p. 41. Phasma f Gyphocrania) marginipennis, De Haan, Orthop.
Orient., p. 131. Diura chronus, $ , G. R. Gray, Ent. of Austr., i., pi. v., fig.
2 ; Syn. Phasm., p. 39 (Acrophylla c.) Servielle, H. N. Orth., p. 232. Burm., Handb. d. Ent., ii., 2, p. 580 ( Gyj^hocrania c.)
Hah. Australia.
CATALOGUE OF AUSTRALIAN PHASMID^ — EAINBOW. 41
A.japetus, G. R. Gray.
Westwood, loc. cit, pp. 114-115.
Ctenomorpha spinicollis, (^, G. R. Gray, Ent. Austr., i., pi. i.,
fig. 1 ; Syn. Phasm., p. 41. Phasma (Cyphocrania) spinicollis, De Haan, Orth. Orient,,
p. 131. Dairus japetus, $ , G. R. Gray, Ent. Aust., i., pi. v., fig.
1 ; Syn. Phasm., p. 40. Burm., Handb. d. Ent., ii., 2, p. 580 ( Cyphocrania japetus). Hah. Melville Island, N. Territory. A. osiris, G. R. Gray.
Westwood, loc. cit., p. 115.
Diura osiris, G. R. Gray, Trans. Ent. Soc, i., 1836, p. 46 ;
Syn. Phasm., p. 40. Hah. Australia.
A. acheron, G. R. Gray.
Westwood, loc. cit., p. 115.
Diura acheron, G. R. Gray, Trans. Ent. Soc, i., 1836, p. 46 ;
Syn. Phasm., p. 40. Hob. Australia.
A. macleaii, G. R. Gray.
Westwood, loc. cit., p. 115.
Ctenomorpha macleaii, G. R. Gray, Syn. Phasm., p. 41.
Hah. Australia.
A. tessalata, Curtiss.
Westwood, loc. cit., pp. 115-116. pi. xxxv., figs. 1, la., 16. ^ ,
figs. 2, 2a. ? . Ctenomorpha tessalata, ^ , Curtiss MS. G. R. Gray, Syn. Phasm., p. 44. Hah. Moreton Bay, Queensland.
A. salmacis, Westwood, loc. cit., p. 116, pi. xxxvii., figs. 2, 2a. Hah. Northern Australia.
A. violescens. Leach.
Westwood, loc. cit.. p. 116.
MacCoy, Prodr. Z. Vict., Melbourne, 1885, dec. viii., pi.
ixxix.. Insects, pp. 33-34. Phasma violescens, ^, Leach, Zool. Misc., i., pi. ix.
G. R. Gray, Ent. Austr., pi. vi., fig. 1 (Diura v.); Syn.
Phasm., p. 40 (Acrophylla v.) Burm., Handb. d. Ent., ii., 2, 580 (Cyphocrania v.) Diura roseipennis, $ , G. R. Gray, Ent. Austr., i., pi. vii., fig. 1 ; Syn. Phasm., p. 41 (Acrophylla v.) Burm., loc. cit. (Cyphocrania v., ^ J Phasma C Cyphocrania c.) roseipennis, De Haan, Orth. Orient., p. 130.
42 BECOEDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEDM.
A. ( Dlura) virc/ifiea, Stal, Recensio Orthopterorum, Stockholm, 1875,^. 84. Hab. Cape York, Queensland.
Genus Clemacantha, Rainbow. C. regale, Rainbow, ante, pp. 34-35, pi. ix., figs. 1, 2, 3. Hab. N. S. Wales and Queensland.
Genns Vasilissa, Kirby. V. walkeri, Kirby, Trans. Lin. Soc. Lond., (2) vi., 6, pp. 468-469. Hab. Queen's Islet, N.W. Australia.
Genus Podacanthus, G. R. Gray.
P. tyjyhon, G. R. Gray, Ent. Austr., i., pi. ii., fig. 1 ; Syn.
Phasm., p. 32. Servielle, H. N. Orth., p. 230. Brum., Handb. d. Ent., ii., 2, p. 581. Westwood, loG. cit., p. 117. MacCoy, Prodr. Z. Vict., dec. viii.. Insects, pp. 35-36, pi.
Ixxx , figs. 1, la., lb., \c. Var. maris, P. unicolor (totus viridis) Charpentier, Orthop.
Descr., pi. Ivi. Hab. Sydney and Victoria.
P. viridi-roseus, Curtis, MS.
G. R. Gray, Syn. Phasm., p. 43 (Podacanthus v.)
Westwood, loc. cit., p 117.
Hab. In Australia, Moreton Bay.
P. Wilkinsioni, Macleay, Proc. Lin. Soc, N.S.W., vi., p. 538. Hab. Westmoreland, N.S.W.
Genus Necroscia, Servielle.
N. carterus, Westwood, loc. cit., p. 138, pi. xv., figs. 5, 5a., 56. Hab. Australia.
iV. sarpedon, Westwood, loc. cit., pp. 139-140, pi. xvi., figs. 1, la. ? ; pi. xxxii., fig. 5.
Hah. North Australia.
N. annulipes, Curtis, MS.
G. R. Gray, Syn. Phasm., p. 37 ( Platycrana ann.)
Westwood, Joe. cit., p. 150.
Phasmu (Necroscia) annulipet', De Haan, Orth. Orient., pp.
118-121. Hab. East Indies ; Malacca ; Australia.
CATALOGUE OF AUSTRALIAN PHASMTD^— EAUrBOW. 43
Genus Tropidoderus, G. R. Gray.
T. childrenii, G. R. Gray.
Diura typhietis, ^, G. R. Gray, Ent. Austr., i., pi. vi.,
fig. 2 ; Syn. Phasm., p. 40. Trigonoderus childrenii, G. R. Gray, Ent. Austr., i., p. 26,
pi. iii., fig. 1. Tropidoderus childrenii, G. R. Gray, Syn. Phasm., p. 31. Burm., Handb. d. Ent., ii., 2, p. 589. De Haan, Orth. Orient., p. 125. Westwood, loc. cit., pp. 165-166.
Hab. Australia.
T. iodomtis, MacCoy, Prodr. Z. Vict., Melbourne, 1885, dec. vii., Insects, pp. 33-35, pis. Ixix.-lxx., figs. 2 and 3. Hab. Victoria.
T. rhodomus, MacCoy, loc. cit., pp. 35-37, pis. Ixix.-lxx., figs. 1, \a., \b., \c. Hab. Inglewood, Victoria.
T. decipiens. Rainbow, ajite, pp. 36-37, pi. x., figs. 1, 2, 3, 4. Hab. Gordon and Ashtield, near Sydney.
Genus Lysicles, Stal.
L. hippolytus, Stal, CR. Ent. Belg., xx., p. 65. Hab. Peak Downs, Queensland.
Genus Extatosoma, G. R. Gray.
E. tiaratum, Macleay.
E. hopei, G. R. Gray, Ent. Austr., i., pi. viii., fig. 1 ; Syn. Phasm., p. 29 ( Ectatosoma h.) Seville, H. N. Orth., p. 285. Westwood, loc. cit., pp. 170-171. Phasma tiaratum, Macleay, in King's Survey of Australia,
App. ii., p. 455, t. B., figs 3, 4 ? . G. R. Gray, Ent. Austr., i., pi. viii., fig. 2 ; Syn. Phasm., p. 29 (Ectatos. t.) Serville, H. N. Orth., p. 286. Ectatosoma tiaratum, ^ et ^ , Burm., Handb. d. Ent., ii., 2, p. 576. De Haan, Orth. Orient., p. 110, pi. x., fig. 2 $ . Hah. Australia, Tasmania, et New Guinea.
E. hufonium, Westwood, Thes. Ent. Oxon., p. 174, pi. xxxii., fig. 2. Hab. Australia.
Genus Cladoxerus, Kaup. C. insignis, Kaup, B.E Z., p. 39. Hab. Australia.
44 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAK MUSEUM.
Genus Ctenomorpha, Grai/. C. nigro-varia, Stal, Recensio Orthopterorum, p. 83. Hah. Cape York, Queensland.
Genus Vetilia, Stal. V. eurymedon, Stal, O.R. Ent. Belg., xx., p. Ixiii. Hah. Cape York, Rockhampton, Queensland.
DESCRIPTIONS op NEW LAND SHELLS.
By 0. Hedley, Conchologist.
(Plate xi.)
PUPISOMA CIRCUMLITUM, n. Sp. (Plate xi., figs. 1, 2, 3.)
Shell globose conical, perforate, thin, translucent. Colour an uniform pale tawny olive. Whorls three and a-half, well rounded ; suture impressed. Sculpture, — everywhere the whorls are crossed by fine, close, raised hair lines ; at irregular intervals these tend to rise into lamellae, which latter can scarcely be detected in pro- file on the periphery ; the embryonic shell is similarly sculptured, no trace of spiral sculpture can be seen ; a break at the completion of the second whorl suggests that here ends the nepionic shell. Umbilicus minute, funnel shaped, showing only the preceding whorl. Aperture very oblique, ovate lunate, lip simple, columellar margin broadly reflexed over the umbilicus ; callus thin, trans- parent. Height, 1 '9 ; breadth, 2 mm.
Type. — Australian Museum C. 3459.
Hah. — Received through Mr. C. E. Beddome from Dr. May, who gathered it on trees at Bundaberg, Queensland ; also collected on orange trees near Grafton, N.S.W., by myself.
This snail conceals itself by plastering the shell over with grains of earth, etc., entangled in mucus. The device reminded me of the European Balea perversa, which adopts the same habit in similar situations. Occasional abrasions seem to show that the colour resides in a very thin epidermis.
I have not the advantage of being autoptically acquainted with any of the known Pupisoma, but the novelty corresponds so closely
DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW LAND SHELLS — HEDLEY. 45
to the drawings of several that I have some confidence in intro- ducing it under that genus. If this classification be correct, the range of the genus is now by a leap of three thousand miles ex- tended from Borneo and the Philippines to New South Wales ; thus introducing into Australia a fresh component of that faunal element which Prof. Spencer has termed " Torresian."*
Endodonta waterhousi^, n. sp. (PI. xi., figs. 7, 8, 9, 13, 14.)
Shell sub-discoidal, spire sunk, widely umbilicated, opaque, dull. Colour, on a ground of pale bufi" above irregularly splashed with madder brown which beneath tends to flow in irregular, oblique and zig-zag lines, apex pale straw. Whorls four and a half, rounded except for a flattening between the suture and the periphery, the first three whorls slightly and gradually ascending above the apex, the last half whorl broadening slightly and gradually and slightly descending. Sculpture consisting of sharp lamellate ribs, slightly flexed at their origin at the suture, then crossing the whorl at right angles, curving backwards and downwards to the periphery, thence taking a straight course to the lip of the umbilical crater, over the edge of which they curve forwards ; on the last whorl these ribs number ninety-five, on the penultimate fifty-three, and on the antipenultimate thirty-two; they crowd closer as the whorls proceed, but the spacing is not always uniform ; on the last whorl the interstices are as broad or twice as broad as the ribs, on the final sixth, however, the ribs tend to obsolescence ; most minute hair lines, parallel to the major sculpture, occupy these interstices; the ribs cease entirely and suddenly at the initial whorl and a-half, which by transmitted light are shown to possess radial hair-lines decussated by equally fine spiral striae. Umbilicus a third of the base of the shell in diameter, cup-shaped, exposing every preceding whorl, coloured and sculptured like the spire. Aperture slightly oblique, subrhomboidal, peristome sharp, straight, even at the columellar margin ; viewed from above the peristome describes a wide convex, then a sharper concave curve on approaching the insertion. Projecting callus on body whorl steel purple, burying the costse in its advance. Major diameter 7, minor 6, height 3^ mm.
Type. — Australian Museum C. 3458.
ffab. — Mount Gower, Lord Howe Island.
A specimen dissected was not in a satisfactory state for examina- tion, and I was only able to unravel the basal portion of the genitalia (Fig. 13). This showed a greatly dilated reniform penis sac on a long stalk surmounted by an equally long epiphallus ;
* Kep. Horn Expl. Exp. i., 1896, p. 197.
46 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
through the coil of the penis the tentacle is retracted. Between the lower end of the uterus and the entrance of the spermatheca duct a bulb occurs like the swelling in a similar situation of certain Trochomorpha. The jaw (Fig. 14) is crescentic, with a median projection, and is closely transversely striated. The radula is formed like that of E. coma, Gray, as figured by Pilsbry,* it consists of one hundred and thirty rows of 13:8:1:8:13.
A near ally of this very distinct species is E. coma, Gray, of New Zealand, from which the Lord Howe Island form is separable by its concave spire, closer ribbing, and larger size. E. jnnicola, PfeifFer, from New Caledonia is also allied, but that has an elevated spire, weaker ribs, and is larger. This trio of kindred Endodonta supports a trio of equally related Placostyli,^ viz., P. bovinus, P. bivaricosus, and P. caledonicus, in linking together the faunas of these islands.
This species is that recorded in my article on "The Land and Fresh-water Shells of Lord Howe Island, "J as Charopa textrix, Pfr., this being the identification of Mr. J. Brazier in the Memoir on Lord Howe Island. My suspicion of this determination was aroused by comparing the shell with the excellent figures of PfeifFer, § but I was over- ruled by the weight of Mr. Brazier's authority.
Under the name of C. textrix this shell has been widely dis- tributed. One of the recipients, Mr. John Ponsonby, of London, on comparing this with authentic C. textrix in the British Museum found it to be a different species. Not only am I indebted to him for this information, but he has also generously waived in my favour his right of describing it.
Now arises naturally the question what C. textrix really is. I am tempted to believe it identical with the small form of Endo- donta costuli/era, Pfr. My reasons are, that a shell from Noumea which I identify as such closely corresponds with Pfeiffer's account of textrix, that Macgillivray collected costulifera as well as textrix, and finally that textrix is unknown from Lord Howe Island which has been thoroughly searched for it. If this be so, then the name Endodonta textrix must pass into synonomy.
The novelty is dedicated to Mrs. J.'G. Waterhouse, an enthu- siastic and accomplished conchologist of Sydney, whose assistance in studying this and other forms I gratefully acknowledge.
* Tryon & Pilsbry— Manual Conchology (2) ix., pi. ix., f. 23. t Etheridp'e : " A much thickened variety of Bulimus bivaricosus from Lord Howe Island."— Eec. Aust. Mus. i., 1891, p. 130. X Eec. Aust. Mus., i., 1891, p. 137. § Conchylien Cabinet (2) Helicea, pi. clxii., ff. 14-17.
DESCEIPTIONS OF NEW LAISD SHELLS — HEDLEY. 47
Flammulina abdita, n. sp. (PI. xi., figs. 10, 11, 12.) Shell very small, thin, translucent, moderately umbilicated, and depressed. Colour raw umber, paler on the earlier whorls and purplish on the apex. Whorls three and a half, rather rapidly in- creasing, rounded, channelled at the suture and slightly descending at the aperture. Sculpture, — the whorls are crossed at irregular intervals by numerous lamellate ribs, rising on the periphery into thin recurved plates but obselete on the last quarter whorl ; between and parallel to these ribs are fine raised hair-lines, which are cut by close, fine, faint, irregular spiral incised lines. At a whorl and a lialf the limit of the embyronic shell is sharply indicated by the commencement of the above described sculpture, the earliest whorls being smooth except for close, fine, incised, spiral lines ; on the apex is a small pit. Umbilicus about a quarter of the shell's diameter, exposing the earlier whorls. Aperture ovate lunate, slightly oblique ; peristome sharp, straight, except where reflected on the columella margin, no visible callus on the inner side. Major diameter, 1"0; minor, 1-3; height '8 mm.
Type. — Queensland Museum.
ITab. — Collected by Mr. A. Giulianetti, in October, 1896, at a height of 12,200 feet on Mount Scratchley, British New Guinea.
This species possesses close aflSnities to the wide-spread Aus- tralian (H.J jmradoxa, Cox, from which the novelty difiers by its less developed ribs, less elevated spire, wider umbilicus, and smaller size. Pilsbry's figure of ^ndodonta acanthinula, Crosse, suggests to me that that New Caledonian species should be grouped herewith. The few whorls and the aspect of the em- bryonic shell induce me to place this Papuan atom in Flammulina rather than in Endodonta, but with our present imperfect know- ledge of these groups such classification can only be considered provisional.
SiTALA 1 SUBLIMIS, U. Sp. (Plate xi., fig. 4, 5, 6.)
Shell small, thin, translucent, depressedly turbinate, narrowly perforate. Colour tawny olive. Whorls three and a half, gradually increasing in diameter, rounded. Suture impressed. Sculpture, — the otherwise smooth shell is everywhere crossed by extremely fine, close, transverse hair-lines, more prominent above, almost effaced beneath. Umbilicus extremely narrow, elliptical, exposing only the previous whorl. Aperture roundly lunate, not descend- ing, oblique ; lip sharp, straight, except a slight reflection at the columella ; callus on body whorl thin, deposited in transverse streaks, Major diameter, 24; minor, 2; height, 1'5 mm.
Type. — Queensland Museum.
48 RECORDS OF THE ATTSTRAIilAN MUSEUM.
■" Sab. — Collected by Mr. A. Guillianetti, on Mt. Scratchley with the preceding and with Rhytida globosa, which latter has been only previously recorded from Mt. Victoria.
This shell, of which my single example may not be adult, appears allied to (Zonites) suhfulvus, Gassies, from New Caledonia, and to Conulus paraniatiensis, Cox, from N.S.W., but is more depressed than either, smaller, and with a whorl less. A near ally is C. starkei, Brazier, which however has much coarser sculpture, and has also more whorls and larger size, two differences which perhaps balance one another. It belongs to a group which Tryon and others rank under Conulus. Thinking it improbable that this Palseartic genus extends so far, I prefer to temporarily locate it in Sitala, to some species of which it bears a likeness, and which has in another form been shown to reach New Guinea. Attention to kindred small forms and to the literature devoted to their elucidation (!) shows how much definitions are required for Conulus, Microcystis, Trochonanina, and other groups.
While on the subject of land shells from British New Guinea, it may be mentioned that the unfiguered Succinea struhelli, Kobelt, and *S^. paiouana, Strubell,* from Cloudy Mountains and Lome Range, North of Orangerie Bay, B.N.G., are most probably synonymous with Succinea simplex, Pfeiffer. In stating that his is the first record of the genus in Papua, Herr Strubell shows that he has failed to compare his supposed new species with one already illustrated and identified from New Guinea. f
Another addition to the known fauna of British New Guinea has lately come to light in specimens of Atopos prisniatica, Tapparone, Canefri, now in the Australian Museum, collected on the Fly River, by W. W. Froggatt, during the Expedition of the Geo- graphical Society of Australasia in 1885. It was first recorded from Sorong I., Dutch New Guinea, and then from an island of Torres Straits, Q., and the Huon Gulf, German New Guinea, j
* Nachr. dent. Malak. Gesell, Oct. 1895, p. 152.
t Proc. Linn. Soc N.S.W. (2), vii., 1892, pp. 100, 691-2, pis. xii., f. 32 ; xlii., ff. 34-37.
X Simroth, Zeits. "Wiss. Zool., Hi., 1891, p. 594.
DESCKIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF COLLYRIOCINCLA— NORTH. 49
DESCRIPTION OF a NEW SPECIES of C0LL7RI0CINCLA FROM QUEENSLAND.
By Alfred J. North, C.M.Z.S., Ornitholo£rist to the Australian Museum.
COLLYRIOCINCLA CERVINIVENTRIS, Sp. UOV.
Adult male. — General colour above greyish-brown very slightly shaded with olive, clearer grey on the head ; wing-coverts like the back, the quills brown washed with olive on their outer webs, and externally edged with grey ; tail brown, the two centre feathers, and the outer webs of the remainder, shaded with grey; feathers in front of the eye dull white; ear-coverts pale brown with narrow white shaft streaks ; cheeks and throat white, slightly tinged with buff; remainder of the under surface and under wing-coverts pale fawn colour, the feathers on the chest shaded with grey ; bill and legs fleshy-brown. Total length 7*2 inches ; wing 3'7, tail 3"2, bill 0"87, depth at nostril 0'25, tarsus 1"02.
Hah. — Dawson River, Queensland.
Type. — In the Australian Museum, Sydney.
Ohs. — Another specimen, probably a female has the primary- coverts and outer webs of the secondaries washed with rufous- buff. This is the inland representative of C. rufigaster of the coastal brushes, from which it may be distinguished by its longer and thinner bill, and by its very much paler upper and under surface. In all the specimens from this district — three in number — the distinctive characters of this species are constant.
Eggs of this closely allied species were described by me in the " Nests and Eggs of Australian Birds," * under the name of C. rufigaster.
The type of C rufigaster was obtained in the brushes of the Clarence River, New South Wales. An adult male from this locality measures: — total length 7*3 inches; wing 3-9, tail 3-3, bill 0-8, depth at nostril 0*3, tarsus 1-08. A large series of specimens from the coastal districts of Queensland, as far north as Cairns, vary only in wing measurement from 3 '8 to 3*9 inches.
* Austr. Mus. Cat. xii., 1889. Nests and Eggs, p. 83.
60 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MtTSETTM.
Gould's C. parvissima is a decidedly smaller race, and is further- more distinguished by its upper parts being more strongly washed with olive. A specimen from Cape York measures, total length 6"3 inches, wing 3-5, tail 27, bill 0'75. It ranges as far south as the Herbert River. The wing-measurement varies from 3 '5 to 3 '6 inches. In a large series of specimens examined I can find no gradation in size between C. rvfiijaster and its smaller northern ally, C. parvissima. Dr. Sliarpe, in the " Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum,"* has described a specimen o£ the latter race from Cape York under the name of the larger species, Pinarolestes rtifigaster, Gould.
On STIGHOPUS MOLLIS, HUTTON. By Thomas Whitelegge, Zoologist, Australian Museum.
During a recent visit to Eden, Dr. J. C. Cox obtained a Holo- thurian, which he presented to the Museum collection.
The species proves to be Stichopus mollis, Hutton, hitherto only recorded from New Zealand. At first I referred it to /S'. sordidus, Theel,t but on consulting a paper by Prof. A. Deudy| since re- ceived, I find that the " Challenger " specimens are considered to be examples of Hutton's Holot/i.nria tnollis. I agree with the opinion as expressed by Prof. Dendy. There appears to be no character to distinguish them except that of colour, which is evidently variable.
The colour of the Eden example in formol is light yellowish- brown, with the disks of the pedicels and the tips of the dorsal papillae darker.
The large bilateral plates form a ring on the margin of the disk and encircle the large central perforate plate at the extremity of the pedicel.
The dorsal papillse are supported by curved, smooth, spiny, or branched rods, disposed transversely ; the lower ones tend to form plates similar to those of the ventral pedicels ; apicajly each papilla ternnnates in a large perforate plate, which is surrounded by a series of stout moniliform rods, with either simple or spinose ends.
Length of specimen 130 mm.
* Brit. Mus. Cat. Birds ill. 1877, p. 296.
t Chall. Eep. Zool., xiv., p. 162, pi. viii., fig. 3.
X Jour. Linn. Soc. Zool. xxvi., 1897, p. 46, pi. vii., figs. 73-82.
5th August, 1897.
Publications of the Australian Museum.— Continued.
III.— MEMOIRS.
1. History and Description of the Skeleton of a new Sperm Whale in the Australian
Museum, by W. S. Wall. 1851. 8vo. pp. 66, with plates. Eeprint 1887. Wrappers, 2s. 6d.
2. Lord Howe Island : its Zoology, Geology, and Physical Characters. 1889. 8vo.
pp. viii-132, with 10 plates. Boards, 7s. 6d. ; cloth, 10s. 6d.
3. The Atoll op Funafuti, Ellice Group .- its Zoology, Botany, and General Struc-
ture, based on Collections made by Mr. C. Hedley. Part I., 21st Dec, 1896. 8vo. pp. 86. Price, 5s.
IV.— GUIDES.
1. Guide to the Australian Fossil Remains in the Australian Museum. 1870. 8vo.
(Out of print.)
2. Guide to the Contents of the Australian Museum. 1883. 8vo. pp. iv.-.56. (Out of
print.)
3. Guide to the Contents of the Australian Museum. 1890. 8vo. pp. 156. Wrapper.
v.— MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATIONS.
1. List of Old Documents and Eelics in the Australian Museum. 1884. Reprinted
with additions, 1890. 8vo. pp. 4.
2. Descriptive List of Aboriginal Weapons, Implemenes, etc., from the Darling and
Lachlan Rivers, by K. H. Bennitt, F.L.S. 1887. 8vo. pp. 8. (Out of print.)
3. Notes for Collectors. 1887. 8vo. Is.
4. Hints for the Collectors of Geological and Mineralogical Specimens, by F. Ratte.
pp. 26, with a plate. 6d.
5. Hints for the Preservation of Specimens of Natural History, by E. P. Ramsay.
1891. 4th Edition, pp. 32. Is.
VI.— RECORDS.
Vol. I., March, 1890, to Deer., 1891. 8vo. pp. 202. 30 plates. Price 25s. Vol. II., April, 1892, to Jan., 1896. 8vo. pp. 112. 23 plates. Price 25s. Vol. III., No. 1, .Tan., 1897. 8vo. pp. 17. 4 plates. Price 2s 6d.
May be obtained from the Attendants at the Museum, or from Messrs. Angus & Robertson, Castlereagh Street, Sydney ; Messrs. Turner & Henderson, Hunter Street, Sydney ; Mr. E. W. Cole, George Street, Sydney, Book Arcade, Melbourne, and Rundle Street, Adelaide ; Messrs. Melville, Mullen & Slade, Melbourne ; Messrs. R. Eriedlander & Son, Berlin ; Messrs. Kegan Paul, Trench, Triibner & Co., Paternoster House, Charing Cross Road, London.
[Exchanges of Serials, Works, Reports, and other publications are earnestly solicited on behalf of the Museuna Library.]
CONTENTS.
PAGE
An Australian Sauropterygian (CimoUosaurus), converted into
Precious Opal. By E. Etheridge, Junr., Curator 19
On the Occurrence of the Genus Columnaria in the Upper Silurian
Eocks of New South Wales. By E. Etheridge, Junr., Curator 30
Description of Two New Australian Phasmas, together with a Synopsis of the Phasmidse in Australia. By W. J. Eainbow, Entomologist ... 34
Catalogue of the Described Phasmidse of Australia. By W. J.
Eainbow, Entomologist ... ... ... ... ... ... 37
Descriptions of New Land Shells. By C. Hedley, Conchologist ... 44
Description of a New Species of Collyriocincla from Queensland. By Alfred J. North, C.M.Z.S., Ornithologist to the Australian Museum 49
On Stichopus mollis, Hutton. By Thomas Whitelegge, Zoologist,
Australian Museum ... ... ... ... ... ... 59
RECORDS
(JAM 17 18Sa
AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM
EDITED BY THE CURATOR
Vol. III. No. 3.
PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE TRUSTEES. Curator.
SYDNEY, 17 NOVEMBER, 1897.
V. W. WHITE, PRINTER, MARKET STREET WEST.
PUBLICATIONS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
NOVEMBER, 1897.
I.— CATALOGUES.
1. Cataiogue of the Specimens of Natural Histoey and Miscellaneous Cueiosities in
THE Australian Museum, by 6. Bennett. 1837. 8vo. pp. 71. (Out of print.)
2. Catalogue of Mammalia in the Collection of the Austbalian Museum, by G. KjeflEt,
1864. 12mo. pp. 133. (Out of print.)
3. Catalogue of the Minekals and Rocks in the Collection op the Australian Museum,
by G. Krefft. 1873. 8vo. pp. xvii.-115. (Out of print.)
4. Catalogue of the Australian Birds in the Australian MusExra, by E. P. Ramsay.
Pari; I. Accipitres. 1876. Svo. pp. viii-64. Boards, 2s. ; cloth, Ss. Part II. Striges. 1890. Svo. pp. 35. Wrapper. Is. 6d. Part III. Psittaci. 1891. Svo. pp. viii-110. Wrapper, 58. Part IV. Halcyones. 1S94. Svo. pp. viii-24. Wrapper, 2s. 6d.
5. Catalogue of the Australian Stalk and Sessile-eyed Crustacea, by W, A. Haswell.
1882, Svo. pp. xxiv.-324, with 4 plates. (Scarce) Wrapper, 2l8.
6. Catalogue of the Library of the Australian. Museum. 1883. Svo. pp. 178. With
two supplements. (Out of print.)
7. Catalogue of a Collection of Fossils in the Australian Museum, with Introductory
Notes, by F Eatte. 1883. Svo. pp. xxviii-160. Wrapper, 28. 6d.
8. Catalogue of the Australian Hydroid Zoophytes, by W. M. Bale. 1884. Svo. pp. 198,
with 19 plates. Wrapper, 3s. 6d.
9. Descriptive Catalogue of the General Collection of Minerals in the Australian
Museum, by F. Batte. 1885. Svo. pp. 221, with a plate. Boards, 2s. 6d. : cloth, 38. 6d.
10. Catalogue of Echinodeemata in the Australian Museum, by E. P. Ramsay. Part I.
Echini. 188.5. Svo. pp. iii. ii.-54, with 5 plates. Wrapper, 3s. 6d. ; cloth, 3s. 6d. 2nd Edit., 1890.
11. Descriptive Catalogue of the Medusa of the Australian Seas. Part I. Scypho-
medusse. Part II. Hydromedusaj, by R. von Lendenfeld. 1887. Svo. pp. 32 and 49.
12. Descriptive Catalogue of the Nests and Eggs of Australian Birds, by A, J. North.
1889. Svo. pp. iv V.-407, with 21 plates. Wrapper, 25s. Coloured plates, £2 158.
13. Descriptive Catalogue of the Sponges in the Australian Museum, by R. von Lendenfeld.
1888. Svo. pp. xiv.-260, with 12 plates. Boards, 78. 6d. ; cloth, 10s, 6d.
14. Catalogue of the Fishes in the Australian Museum. Part I. Palseicthyan Fishes, by
J. Douglas Ogilby. 1888. Svo. pp. 34. Wrapper, 28. 6d. ; boards, 38. 6d.
15. Catalogue of the Marine Shells of Australia and Tasmania, by J. Brazier.
Part I. Cephalopoda. 1892. Svo. pp. 20. Paper, 28. 6d.
Part IL Pteropoda. 1892, Svo. pp. 22. Paper, 28. 6d.
Part III. Gasteropoda (Murex). 1893. Svo. pp. 32, Paper, 28. 6d.
16. Catalogue OF Australian Mammals, with Introductory Notes on General Mammalogy, by
J. D. Ogilby, 1892. Svo. pp. xvi-144. Wrapper, 38. 6d.
II.— MONOGRAPHS.
1. Australian Lbpidopteea and their Transformations, by the late A. W. Scott, with Illustrations by his daughters, Mrs. Morgan and Mrs. Forde. Edited and revised by A. S. OUiff and Mrs. Forde, Vol. II., Parts 1, 2, 3, and 4, Wrappers, 15s, each.
ADDENDUM.
Since going to press, the following additional information has been received in continuation of " Catalogue of Australian Meteorites," pages 55 - 60 : —
Yardea. —
Type. — Siderite.
Weight. — Tlt^s. 3iozs.
Locality. — Four miles S. cf Tardea Station, Ga^^-Ier Ranges, South Australia.
Finder and Date. — Found in 1S75.
Coll. — Public INIuseum, South Australia.
iJAM 17 1830
The NOCOLEOHE METEORITE, With CATALOGUE and BIBLIOGRAPHY of AUSTRA- LIAN METEORITES.
By T. CooKSEY, Ph.D., B.Sc, Mineralogist. (Plates xii., xiii., xiv.)
The iron, which has been named the "Nocoleche" Meteorite, was presented to the Trustees of this Museum by Mr. George Raffel, in October, 1896, from whom the information was gleaned that it was found lying upon the surface of stony ground at a spot five miles south-west of Nocoleche Station, near Wanaaring, N.S. Wales. The specimen received was the whole of the mass found. Its existence was known twelve or eighteen months previously, but there is no record of any meteorite or meteoric showers having occurred in the district. The total mass weighed 20,040 grams (equal to 4-l:-18Ibs. avoirdupois). Its external form is of a pronouncedly rugged character, and the iron is raised into points and ridges, the latter trending mostly in a uniform direction. This character is shown in PI. xii. At B (Fig. 1) is a projecting rugged nob, connected to the main mass by a neck which is almost penetrated at one point by a deep hole, very probably at one time containing a nodule of troilite. A similar hole, but consider- ably smaller, is situated in the large cavity at the opposite side. (PL xii.. Fig. 2). The remains of a black magnetic coating are found in many places, where it is mostly thin, but in protected posi- tions, patches remain which in places have a thickness of 2*5 mm. The external appearance, on arrival, however, was rusty and up to a certain level the colour was fresher than that above, suggest- ing that the iron was partially buried at the time of its removal. The form of the mass is no doubt partly due to weathering. The length from A to B (Plate xii.. Fig 1) is twelve and three-quarter inches, from ,C to D eleven and a half inches, and greatest thickness, leaving out of account the projecting nob, five and a half inches. The specific gravity was found to vary slightly from place to place. One piece of the iron weighing 5-5824 grams, and visibly free from troilite, had a specific gravity of 7-721 (uncorr.); while another piece weighing 2-2798 grams., had a specific gravity of 7-796 (uncorr.) The specific gravity of a large piece weighing just over seventeen ounces, and containing small nodules of troilite (apparently a fair sample of the whole mass) was taken at the Royal Mint, Sydney, and found to be 7-69.
The meteorite was cut by Prof. H. A. Ward, of Rochester, U.S.A., and the surface shown in Plates xiii. and xiv., etched to
52 RECORPS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
within a quarter of an inch from the edge. The plates are about two-thirds of the natural size and represent the Widmanstatten figures as seen under different aspects of retlected light. The markings consist of bands of beam iron (kamacite), running in three directions, which cross each other approximately at angles of 60°. Under the glass the bands themselves shew usually two, and sometimes three series of finely-etched parallel lines, crossing at varying angles. Troilite is freely distributed throughout, occurring in nodules (PI. xiii., right-hand top corner), and in the smaller patches and cracks. The latter are numerous, and mostly separate the bands of beam iron from each other. The largest nodule observed was one and a half cmm. long and one cm. wide, and possessed a dark bronze-like metallic lustre. The nodules are lined by a darker substance, usually forming a very thin layer, which is thickened in places and continued into the cracks. The iron im- mediately surrounding the nodules is somewhat more brilliant than that further removed, but no defined line is generally to be seen separating this brighter iron from the remainder. The etched iron shews in places a very fine irregular mottling, forming occa- sionally more or less regular lines ; but this formation appears to be independent of the crystalline structure. Very small specks and strings of bright particles are very sparingly distributed throughout the iron, and in a relatively larger quantity occur with the troilite. By dissolving 6-2114 grms. of the iron in hydrochloric acid in the cold, a residue containing '0386 grm. of a black powder and '0014 grm. of bright metallic particles was left undis- solved. The latter under the microscope were seen to consist of a mixture of brilliant grains and needles of a steel grey colour. The mass of the iron is almost entirely a mixture of beam iron (kama- cite) and troilite, but taenite and plessite do not appear to be developed. The bright grains and prisms are no doubt a mixture of the phosphides of iron and nickel (schreibersite and rhabdite), and the black powder of carbon and carbide of iron. I hope, however, to have a further opportunity of more closely examining this residue. The small quantity of residue insoluble in boiling acids consists mainly of carbon.
Analysis. — To obtain an average sample for analysis, about twenty grams of small chippings were cut off from portions visibly free from troilite.
I. 3 '0702 grams of the above were dissolved in hydrochloric acid, and after separating the residue and precipitating the trace of copper present, the method of analysis was that adopted by Stanislas Meunier.* From the solution acidified with acetic acid, the nickel, cobalt and part of the iron were precipitated by
* Stanislas Meunier, Encyclopedie chimique, ii., 1884, App. 2, Meteor- ites, p. 26 et seq.
THE NOCOLECHE METEORITE— COOKSEY. 53
sulphuretted hydrogen. The remaining portion of iron was then thrown down by making the solution alkaline with ammonia.
II. 3.0086 grams were separately dissolved in a mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acids to estimate the sulphur and phos- phorus.
III. 2-5045 grams were dissolved in hydrochloric acid, the residue and copper separated, the filtrate made up to 500 cc, and 50 cc, of this taken to estimate the iron, nickel, and cobalt. The iron was separated from the nickel by precipitation with ammonia.
IV. A small piece of very bright iron, shewing brilliant cleavage surfaces, and weighing '.STSS gram, was analysed for iron. It was obtained from the vicinity of a troilite nodule.
IV.
97 05
|
I. |
II. |
III. |
|
|
Residue ... |
•09 |
•07 |
|
|
Copper . . . |
•07 |
•03 |
|
|
Iron |
... 97-09 |
96^65 |
|
|
Nickel ... Cobalt ... |
... 2^91 •21 |
i 3-69 |
|
|
Phosphorus |
•12 |
||
|
Sulphur . . . |
•11 |
||
|
100-37 |
100^44 |
The iron is active towards acids and sulphate of copper.
Troilite. The material for analysis was obtained from a nodule, the specific gravities of two pieces of which, weighing '3746 gram, and 1-3704 grams, were found to be respectively 5*50 and 5-442. On powdering and treating with a concentrated solution of sul- phate of copper, a copious precipitate of metallic copper was very quickly formed. To remove all the iron the powder was boiled with a concentrated solution of sulphate of copper for a quarter of an hour.* A black product was finally obtained after washing, which had a specific gravity of 4'66, and was found to be sulphide of copper containing only 6-94 per cent, of iron. An attempt was then made to separate the troilite from impurities by repeatedly washing and separating the lighter and heavier portions. A pi'oduct was in this manner obtained which curiously had a specific gravity of 4^788, but on analysis was found to con- tain 20*32 per cent, of sulphur and 73^49 per cent, of iron. The iron must therefore be intimately mixed with the troilite. It was finally ascertained that the iron could be removed by standing for some hours with a solution of either sulphate of copper or
* Stanislas Meunier, Encyclopedie chimique, ii., 1884, App. 2, Meteor- ites, p. 57 ; W.Crookes, Select Methods in Chemical Analysis, 1886, p. 201.
54 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
chloride of mercuiy in the cold, the sulphide of iron being unacted upon under these circumstances. The latter method of purification was chosen. '18 gram of iron was extracted from "52 gram of the original powdered sulphide by allowing the latter to stand for twenty-four hours with a concentrated solution of mercuric chloride in the cold. This is equal to 34*6 per cent.
The purified troilite had a specific gravity of 4'645 (uncorr.), and an analysis of "2408 gram, gave : —
Residue trace.
Iron 62-01
Nickel and Cobalt -89
Sulphur 38-28
101-38
From the analysis of the iron it will be noticed that the quantity of nickel present is unusually small. It is not exceptionally so, for several irons have been previously analysed containing about a similar or even smaller quantity.
An examination of the Widmanstatten figures shews the iron to be an octahedrite whose width of lamella? vary from 1mm. to 2-5mm,, the greater number, however, lying between the limits of 1mm. and 2mm. Following Dr. A. Brezina* in his provisional system of classification, it would be placed in Group 47, containing octahedrites with broad lamellte (symbol Og) and therefore classed with the Cranbourne (Victoria) and Youndegin (W. Australia) meteorites more closely, and with the Cowra (N. S. Wales), Moonbi (N. S. Wales), Temora (N. S. Wales), Mungindi (Queens- land), and Thunda (Queensland) meteorites as being with them an iron having an octahedral crystalline structure. The Nocoleche iron, however, agrees much more closely with the Murfreesboro one, both as regards crystalline structure and relative proportions of iron and nickel. The two figures given by Dr. A. Brezinaf of the latter would very well represent the structure of the former, there being merely a slight difference in the average width of the lamellae.
The percentages of iron and nickel in the Murfreesboro iron given by de Troost,J are as follows : —
iron 96-0
Nickel 2-4
Residue 1-6
100-0
* Ann. K. K. Naturhist. Hofmus. Wien., x., 3-4, 1895, p. 85.
t Ibid, p. 270.
J Silliman's Amer. Journ. Sei. (2), v., p. 351, and Hid., xv., p. G.
catalogue of australian meteorites — cooksey. 55
Catalogue of Australian Meteorites.
The following Catalogue represents all the Australian Meteorites discovered up to date, so far as known to me. The name of the meteorite is first given, followed by the more important references bearing on it. These are succeeded by the type, locality, tinder and date, and the collection in which the stones, or slices, or both, are to be seen. Every effort has been made to obtain accurate details, but gaps in the information must of necessity occur when objects like these, often passing through several hands before coming under the eye of the describer, are being dealt with.
Ballinoo. — H. A. Ward, Supplementary Catalogue of Meteorites, April 1, 1897.
Type.— Siderite 1
TTei^/t^.— 92fts.
Log. — Ten miles S. of Ballinoo, Murchison River, W. Aus- tralia.
Finder and Date. — George Denmack, in 1892.
Coll.—B.. A. Ward, Rochester, U.S.A.
Baratta, No. 1. — A. Liversidge, Trans. Roy. Soc. N.S. Wales, 1872, p. 97 ; Ibid., xiv., for 1880, p. 308 ; Ibid., xvi., for 1882 (1883), p. 31; A. Brezina, Ann. K.K. Natur- hist. Hofmus. Wien., x., 3-1:, 1895, p. 252.
Type. — Siderolite, classed with the Black Chondrites.
Weight. — ^145Ibs.
Log. — Barratta Station, thirty-hve miles N.W. of Deniliquin, N.S. Wales.
Finder and Date. — F. Gwyne, of Murgah, 1852.
Coll. — H. C. Russell, F.R.S., Govt. Astronomer, Sydney.
Baratta, No. 2. — :A. Liversidge, Proc. Austr. Assoc. Adv. Sci., ii., for 1890 (1891), p. 387 ; H. C. Russell, Journ. Roy. Soc. N.S. Wales, xxiii., 1889, p. 46.
Type. — Siderolite.
iVeight. — 31fts.
Log. — Near Baratta, No. 1.
Finder and Date. —
Coll. — H. C. Russell, F.R.S., Govt. Astronomer, Sydney.
Baratta, No. 3. — A. Liversidge, Proc. Austr. Assoc. Adv. Sci., ii., for 1890(1891), p. 387 ; H. C. Russell, Journ. Roy. Soc. N.S. Wales, xxiii,, 1889, p. 46.
Type. — Siderolite.
Weight.— iSms.
Log. — Near Baratta, No. 1.
Finder and Date. —
Coll. — H. C. Russell, F.R.S., Govt. Astronomer, Sydney.
56 BECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
BiNGARA. — A. Liversidge, Journ. Roy. Soc, xiv., 1880, p. 308 ; Ibid., xvi., for 1882 (1883), p. 35 ; A. Brezina, Ann. K.K. Naturhist. Hofmus. Wien., x., 3-4, 1895, p. 294.
Type. — Siderite, belonging to the Hexahedrite Group.
Weight.— 2A0-7 grams.
Loc. — Bingara, N.S. Wales.
Finder and Date. — 1880.
Coll. — Greater portion in the Mining and Geological Museum, Sydney ; slice at the Hofmuseum, Vienna ; A. Liver- sidge, F.R.S., University, Sydney.
CowRA.— G. W. Card, Rec. Geol. Survey N. S. Wales, v., 2, p. 51 ; A. Brezina, Ann. K.K. Naturhist. Hofmus. Wien., x., 3-4, 1895, p. 267.
Type. — -Siderite, belonging to the Octahedrite Group.
Weight.— \1^^%,
Loc. — Summit of Battery Mountain, junction of the Burrowa and Lachlan Rivers, near Cowra, N.S. Wales.
Finder and Date. — Mr. John O'Shaughnessy, before 1888.
Coll. — Mining and Geological Museum, Sydney ; small slices at the British Museum (Nat. Hist.), and Hofmuseum, Vienna .
Cranbourne (or Bruce), No. 1 . — W. Von. Haidinger, Sitzungsber. Akad. Wiss. Wien., xliii., 1861, p. 583 ; id., 1861, xliv., pp. 378 and 465; id., xlv., 1862, p. 63 ffide Flight); W. Flight, Phil. Trans., clxxiii., 1882, p. 885 ; G. Foord, Brough Smyth's Gold Fields and Mineral Districts of Victoria, 1869, p. 424 ; K. Hauskofer, Journ. Prakt. Chem., cvii., 1869, p. 333 ; M. Berthelot, Ann. Chim. et Phys., XXX., 1873, p. 419; A. Brezina, Ann. K.K. Naturhist. Hofmus. Wien., x., 3-4, 1895, p. 285.
Type. — Siderite, belonging to the Octahedrite Group.
Weight. — 3 - 4 tons.
Loc. — Cranbourne, near Western Port, Victoria, Lat. 38° 11' S., Long. 145° 20' E.
Finder and Date. — Existence known in 1854.
Co/^._British Museum (Nat. Hist.).
Cranbourne, No. 2. — W. von Haidinger, Sitzungsber. Akad. Wiss. Wien., xliv., 1861, pp. 378 and 465 ; id., xlv., 1862, p. 63; W. Flight, Phil. Trans., clxxiii., 1882, p. 885. Type. — Siderite.
CATALOGUE OF AUSTRALIAN METEORITES— COOKSEY. 57
Weight. — Several hundredweights.
Log. — Near Cranbourne, 3-6 miles N. of Cranbourne, No. 1,
in Lat. 38° 8' S., Long. 145° 22' E. Finder and Date. — Existence known in 1854. Coll. — Technological Museum, Melbourne.
Eli Elwah. — A. Liversidge, Proc. Austr. Assoc. Adv. Sci., ii., for 1890 (1891), p. 388. Type. — Siderolite. Weight.— ?>Utis.
hoc. — Eli Elwah Station, tif leen miles W. of Hay, N.S. Wales. Finder and Date. — Coll. — H. C. Russell, F.R.S., Govt. Astronomer, Sydney.
GiLGOiN, No. 1. — H. 0. Russell, Journ. Roy. Soc. N.S. Wales, xxiii., 1889, p. 47 ; A. Liversidge, Proc. Austr. Assoc. Adv. Sci., ii., for 1890 (1891), p. 388. Type. — Siderolite. Weight. — 67tt)S. 5ozs.
Loc. — Gilgoin Station, forty miles E.S.E. of Brewarrina, N.S. Wales. ' Coll. — H. C. Russell, F.R.S., Govt. Astronomer, Sydney.
Gilgoin, No. 2.— H. C. Russell, Journ. Roy. Soc. N.S. Wales, xxvii., 1893, p. 361.
Type. — Siderolite .
Weight. — 74ft)s. 5ozs. Most probably part of the same meteor- ite as Gilgoin, No. 1.
Loc. — Two miles S. of Gilgoin, No. 1.
Coll. — H. C. Russell, F.R.S., Govt. Astronomer, Sydney.
Haddon. — Illustrated Australian Neivs, 17th May, 1875, p. 68;
W. Flight, Geol. Mag,, (2), ix., 1882, p. 107. Ohs. — A meteor was seen on April 14th, at 030 a.m., and
immediately afterwards an eyewitness thought he saw
matter fall near him. Several pieces of melted matter of
varying colour were found. Type. — Aerolite ?
Loc. — Haddon, Grenville Co., Vict. Coll.—
Le Gould Meteorite.— Le Gould, Geol. Mag., i., 1864, p. 142. Obs. — An aerolite was found ten inches in diameter, which
had struck and broken a tree. Loc. — Two day's inarch beyond the Isaacs, the first branch of
the Mackenzie River, Queensland.
58 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
MoONBl. — J. C. H. Mingaye, Journ. Roy. Soc. N.S. Wales, xxvii., for 1893 (1894), p. 82 ; A. Brezina, Ann. K.K. Naturhist. Hofmus. Wien., x., 3-4, 1895, p. 268.
Type. — Siderite, belonging to the Octahedrite Group.
PTei^A^.— 29tbs.
Loc. — Top of one of the ridges of the Moonbi Range, eighteen miles from Moonbi Township, N.S. Wales.
Finder and Dale. — Mr. Langston, in 1892.
Coll. — Technological Museum, Sydney (main mass).
MoORANOPPiN. — H. A. Ward, Supplementary Catalogue of Meteor- ites for sale, April 1, 1897. Type. — Siderite ? Weight. —
Loc. — Mooranoppin, West Australia. Finder and Dale. — An Aboriginal in or before 1893. Coll. — Perth Museum, Perth, West Australia; H. A. Ward, Rochester, U.S.A.
Mount Stirling. — (Under investigation). Type. — Siderite. Weight.— mQ\%%. Loc. — Twenty-five miles S.E. of Mount Stirling, one hundred
and thirty miles E. of Perth, West Australia. Finder and Date. — Existence known in 1892. Coll. — Australian Museum, Sydney.
MuNGlNDi, No. 1. — G. W. Card, Rec. Geol. Surv. N.S. Wales,
v., 3, 1897, p. 121. Type. — Siderite, belonging to the Octahedrite Group. Weight. — -Sifts. Loc. — In Queensland, three miles N. of Mungindi Post Office,
N. S. Wales. Finder and Date. — Early in 1897. Coll. — Mining and Geological Museum, Sydney.
Mungindi, No. 2.— G. W. Card, Rec. Geol. Surv. N.S. Wales,
v., 3, 1897, p. 121. Type. — Siderite, apparently part of the same meteorite as
Mungindi, No. 1. Weight.— ^mi%.
Loc. — Found with Mungindi, No. 1. Finder and Date. — Early in 1897. Coll. — Mining and Geological Museum, Sydney.
Narraburra. — H. C. Russell, Journ. Roy. Soc. N.S. Wales, xxii., 1890, p. 81. Type. — Siderite. Weight. — 701bs. 14ozs.
CATALOGTJE OF AUSTEALIAN METEORITES — COOKSEY. 59
Loc. — Narraburra Greek,* twelve miles E. of Temora, N.S.
Wales, Lat. 34° 10' S., Long. 147° 43' E. Fhider and Date. — Mr. O'Brien, 1854. Coll. — H. 0. Russell, F.R.S., Govt. Astronomer, Sydney.
NocoLECHE. — T. Oooksey, Rec. Austr. Mus., iii., 3, 1897, p. 51. Type. — Siderite, belonging to the Octahedrite Group. TFei^/i^.— 44-18Ibs. (20,040 grams.) Loc. — Five miles S.W. of Nocoleche Station, near Wanaaring,
N.S. Wales. Finder and Date. — Existence known in 1895. Coll. — Australian Museum, Sydney ; H. A. Ward, Rochester,
U.S.A.
ROEBOURNE. —
Type. — Siderite.
Ifei^/i^.— 19Ufts.
Loc. — Two hundred miles S.E. of Roebourne, N.W. West
Australia. Finder and Date. — H. Reginald Hester, in 1892. Coll. — Perth Museum, Perth, West Australia ; H. A. Ward,
Rochester, U.S. A
Temora. — G. W. Card, Rec. Geol. Surv. N. S. Wales, v ., 2,
1897, p. 52 ; A. Brezina, Ann. K.K. Naturhist. Hofmus.
Wien., X., 3-4, 1895, p. 288. Type. — Siderite, belonging to the Octahedrite Group. Weight. —
Loc. — Between Cootamundra and Temora, N. S. Wales. Finder and Date. — Found by some miners about the year
1890. Coll. — Fragments: — Mining and Geological Museum, Sydney ;
Hofmuseum, Vienna ; H. A. Wai'd, Rochester, U.S.A.
Thunda. — A. Liversidge, Journ. Roy. Soc. N.S. Wales, xx., 1886,
p. 73 ; ibid., xxii., 1888, p. 341 ; A. Liversidge, Proc.
Austr. Assoc. Adv. Sci., ii., for 1890 (1891), p. 387 ; A.
Brezina, Ann. K.K. Naturhist. Hofmus. Wien., x., 3 - 4,
1895, pp. 272, 283. .Z^/jOfl.— Siderite, belonging to the Octahedrite Group. Weight. — 1371bs.
Loc. — Thunda, Wiudorah, Diamantina District, Queensland- Co^^. — A. Liversidge, F.R.S., University, Sydney (main
mass).
* Mr. Russell tells me personally that Yeo Yeo Creek is its proper locality.
60 , RECORDS OF THE AITSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
YoUNDEGiN, No. 1. — L. Fletcher, Min. Mag., vii., 34, 1887,
p. 121 ; A. Brezina, Ann. K.K. Naturhist. Hofmus.
Wien., X., 3-4, 1895, p. 286. Type. — ^Siderite, belonging to the Octahedrite Group. Weight. — Four fragments weighing 25flbs., 241bs., IT^lbs., and
6Ibs., and broken pieces 17ft)s. Loc. — Three-quarters of a mile N.W. from Penkarring Rock,
about seventy miles E. of York, West Australia, Lat.
31° 30' S., Long. 117° 30' E. Finder and Date. — Alfred Eaton, Jan. 5th, 1884.* Coll. — Two fragments in British Museum (Nat. Hist.).
YouNDEGiN, No. 2. — J. R. Gregory, Nature, 1892, xlvii., 1204, p. 90; A. Brezina, Ann. K.K. Naturhist. Hofmus. Wien., X., 3-4, 1895, p. 286.
Type. — Siderite, belonging to the Octahedrite Group.
Weight.— ^^'>m^&.
Loc. — Youndegin, West Australia.
Finder and Date. — Louis Knoop, in 1891.
Coll. — J. R. Gregory, London.
Youndegin, No. ^.— Nature, 1893, xlvii., 1220, p. 469 ; A.
Brezina, Ann. K.K. Naturhist. Hofmus. Wien., x.,
3-4, 1895, p. 286. Tyjie. — Siderite, belonging to the Octahedrite Group. Weight.—IOims. Loc. — Youndegin, West Australia. Finder and Date. — Louis Knoop, in 1892. Coll. — J. R. Gregory, London.
A Contribution to a Bibliography of Australian Meteorites.
Anonymous. — The Meteor of the 14th April [Haddon Meteorite]. — The Illustrated Australian News, 17th May, 1875, pp. 68 and 74. „ [Youndegin Meteorite, No. 3]. — Nature, 1893, xlvii,,
1220, p. 469.
Berthelot (M.) — Nouvelles contributions a I'histoire des Car- bones, du Graphite et des Meteorites. — Ann. Chimie, 1873, XXX., p. 424. „ Nouvelles Contributions a I'histoire du Carbone. — Compt. Rend., 1871, Ixxiii., p. 494.
* Catalogue of Exhibits in the Western Australian Court of the Colonial and Indian Exhibition, London, 1886, gives 1883 as the date of discovery.
BIBLIOGRAPHY OF AUSTRAMAN METEORITES— COOKSEY. 61
Brezina (A.) — Die Meteoritensammlung des K. K. naturhistoris-
chen Hofmuseunas am 1 Mai, 1895. — Ann. K. K. Nalur-
hist. Hofmus. Wien, 1895, x., 3-4, pp. 235, 252, 267,
268, 272, 273, 285, 294, 301, 305, 306, 307, 340, 341,
344, 355. BuCHNER (O.) — Die Meteoriten, etc., pp. 202 (8vo. Leipsig, 1863).
[Cranbourne Meteorite, p. 198]. Card (G. W.) — On the Occurrence and Classiti cation of some
New South Wales Meteorites. — Rec. Geol. Surv. N.S.
Wales, 1897, v., 2, p. 49. „ Mineralogical and Petrological Notes, No. 6. — Rec. Geol.
Surv. N.S. Wales, 1897, v., 2, p. 121. CooKSEY (T.) — The Nocoleche Meteorite, with Catalogue and
Bibliography of Australian Meteorites. — Rec. Austr.
Mus., 1897, iii., 3, p. 51.
Fletcher (L.) — On a Specimen of Meteoric Iron found at Youn- degin. West Australia, in 1884. — Mhi. Mag., 1887, vii., No 34, p. 121. ,, An Introduction to the Study of Meteorites. — Brit. Mus.
(Nat. Hist.) Guides, 1886, pp. 45, 67.
Flight (W.) — A Chapter in the History of Meteorites. — Geol. May., 1875, (2), ii., pp. 264, 552. ,, Supplement to a Chapter in the History of Meteorites. —
Geol. Mag., 1882, (2), ix., pp. 107, 448; Ihicl, 1883, (2), X., p. 59. „ Report of the Examination of the Meteorites of Cran-
bourne in Australia, of Rowton in Shropshire, and of Middlesborough in Yorkshire. — Phil. Trans, for 1882 (1883), clxxiii., p. 885.
FooRD (G.) — Nickeliferous and Meteoric Iron. — Brough Smyth's Gold Fields and Mineral Districts of Ficioria, 1869, p. 424.
Gibbons (S.) — Note on the Cranbourne Meteorite. — Trans. Roy.
Soc. Vict., 1874, X., p. 130. Gregory (J. R.) — A Large Meteorite from West Australia. —
Nature, 1892, xlvii., 1204, p. 90. Haidinger (W. von) — Die Dandenong Meteoreisenmasse in Mel- bourne.— Sitz.K. Akad. Wiss. Wien, 1861, xliv., pp. 378,
465 ; Ihid., 1862, xlv., p. 63. Hauskofer(K.) — Meteorit von Cranbourne, Australien. — Journ.
Prakt. Chem., 1869, cvii., p. 330. „ Meteorite found near Cranbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
— Chem. News, 1870, xxi., p. 12. Le Gould (L.) — Discovery of an Aerolite, and Visit to a Petrified
Forest in Northern Queensland. — Geol. May., 1864, i.,
p. 142.
62 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
LiVERSlDGE (A.) — -The Deniliquin or Baratta Meteorite. — Trans. Roy. Soc. N.S. Wales for 1872 (1873), p. 97 ; Joti,rn. Roy. Soc. N.S. Wales for 1882, xvi., p. 31. On the Bingara Meteorite. — Jonrn. Roy. Soc. N.S. Wales for 1882, xvi., p. 35.
Metallic Meteorite, Queensland. — Jourii,. Roy. Soc. N.S.
Wales for 1886 (1887), xx., p. 73.
[The Thunda Meteorite]. — Journ. Roy. Soc. N.S. Wales
for 1888 (1889), xxii., 2, p. 341.
Australian Meteorites. — Proc. Austr. Assoc. Adv. Sci. for
1890 (1891), ii., p. 387.
The Minerals of New South Wales, etc. — (8vo. London,
1888), pp. 207, 218, 221.
MiNGAYE (J. C. H.) — Notes and Analyses of a Metallic Meteorite from Moonbi, near Tamworth, N.S. Wales. — t/owrw. Roy. Soc. N. S. Wales for 1893, xxvii., p. 82.
Russell (H. C.) — [Meteorite near Hay (Eli Elwah Meteorite)]. — Journ. Roy. Soc. N.S. Wales for 1888 (1889), xxii., 2, p. 341.
,, [The Baratta and Gilgoin Meteorites]. — Journ. Roy. Soc.
N.S. Wales for 1889, xxiii., 1, p. 46.
„ [The Narraburra Meteor]. — Journ. Roy. Soc. N.S. Wales
for 1890, xxiv., p. 81.
„ On Meteorite No. 2, from Gilgoin Station. — Journ. Roy.
Soc. N.S. Wales for 1893, xxvii., p. 361.
,, On a Meteorite from Gilgoin Station. — Nature, 1894,
xlix., 1266, p. 325.
Selwyn (A. R. C.) AND Ulrich (G. H. F.)— Notes on the Physical Geography, Geology, and Mineralogy of Victoria. — (8vo. Melbourne, 1866). [Cranbourne Meteorite, p. 517].
Smith (J. Lawrence). — On the Composition of the new Meteoric Mineral Daubreelite, and its frequent, if not universal occurrence in Meteoric Iron. — Silliman's Amer. Journ. Sci., 1878, (3) xvi., p. 270; Min. Mag., 1879, ii., 9, p. 152^
Ulrich (G. H. Y.)—Vide Selwyn (A. R. C.) and Ulrich (G. H. F.)
Ward (H. A.) — Supplementary Catalogue of Meteorites for Sale, April 1, 1897.
Wilkinson (C. S.) — [The Cowra Meteorite]. — Journ. Roy. Soc. N.S. Wales for 1888 (1889), xxii., 2, p. 341.
I am indebted to Prof. A. Liversidge, F.R.S., Messrs. H. C. Russell, F.R.S., R. T. Baker, G. M. Card, B. H. Woodward, and the Curator of this Museum, for assistance in compiling this Catalogue and Bibliography.
ANKERITE FROM SANDHURST, VICTORIA — COOKSET. 63
ANKERITE from SANDHURST, VICTORIA. By T. CooKSEY, Ph.D., B.Sc, Mineralogist.
Among the specimens of minerals in the Museum Collection are two, which were obtained from the New Chum line of reef, Sand- hurst, Victoria, and which had been placed among those of the Calcite group. That these were correctly named seemed doubtful, as the powdered mineral effervesced very feebly with dilute hydro- chloric acid in the cold. A qualitative test showed that both iron and magnesia were present in considerable quantity and a complete analysis furnished the following results : —
|
CaCO, |
... 48-95 |
|
FeCO, |
... 2312 |
|
MgC03 |
... 25 01 |
|
Insoluble residue |
3-54 |
100-62
•3016 gram of material was taken for analysis, which on treat- ing with hydrochloric acid, left -0107 gram of insoluble matter consisting mainly of albite. By subtracting this insoluble portion from the total quantity taken, namely -3016 gram, and calculating the results on the amount dissolved, that is '2909 gram, the per- centage composition of the three carbonates is found to be : —
CaCOs 50-76
FeCOs 23-97
MgCOs 25-93
Manganese was not present, neither the borax bead test nor the fusion with nitre and caustic potash giving the manganese reaction.
The specitic gravity of the mineral is 2-994 (uncorr.) and its hardness about 3-5.
The crystals consist of very flat rhombohedrons with slightly curved faces occasionally striated, and form the lenticular crystals with sharp edges frequently seen in calcite and more especially in siderite. They are, however, externally slightly altered and the
6.4 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
surfaces have a dull yellowish tinge deepening occasionally towards the edges. Internally they are colourless and translucent and shew the rhomboidal cleavage perfectly.
In the one specimen the crystals of ankerite are associated with large and well formed crystals of quartz, some of which are left- handed, having both the rhombo- and trapezohedral surfaces. A few saddle-shaped crystals of siderite are deposited here and there on both minerals.*
The other specimen contains no siderite, the associated minerals being quartz crystals, and a few large and numerous small crystals of albite.
Normal ankerite has the formula 2 CaCOs.FeCOs.MgCOs assigned to it and requires
2 CaCOj 50-0
FeCOj ... 290
MgCO, 21-0
100-0
The analysis of the above mineral is seen to differ from this in the relative proportions of the carbonates of iron and magnesia. Calculated however for the formula 5 CaC03.2 FeCOs.S MgCOg the percentages found agree exceedingly well with the theoretical
|
Calculated. |
Found, |
|
|
5 CaCO, |
50-81 |
50-76 |
|
2 FeCOg |
23-57 |
23-97 |
|
3 MgCOs |
25-61 |
25-93 |
Borickyt writes the formula for ankerite and similar minerals thus : —
(CaFeC^Oc)-^^ (CaMgC,Oe),
and states that n may vary from ^ to 10. When n is 1 the formula represents normal ankerite, but he assumes that those minerals in which n is 2 or less may be classed as ankerites, while he names tho.se in which n is greater than 2 parankerites. The formula 5 CaCOa. 2FeC03. SMgCOg calculated for the present mineral may be written : —
2 (CaFeC20e)-t-3 (CaMgC^Oe)
* These crystals of siderite have already been figured and described by the late Mr. F. Ratte in " Notes from the Australian Museum," Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, x., 4, 1885, p. 759.
t Boricky— Min. Mitth., xlvii., 1876.
ANKERITE FROM SANDHURST, VICTORIA — CO0K8EY. 6.5
and this again : —
(CaFeC,Oe) + f (CaMgC^Oe)
in which it is seen that n is equal to f. This mineral therefore, according to Boricky's nomenclature, must be placed with the ankerites, but differs from the normal however in that n is f in- stead of 1.
In Australia generally this mineral has been rarely observed. In New South Wales, Queensland, and Tasmania it has not been recorded. In Victoria, A. R. C. Selwyn and G. H. F. Ulrich* state that a mineral similar in composition was met with in veins and patches in decomposed basalt at Philiplsland ; and in South Australia it has been found at Gill'sBlufF, near Lyndhurst, and at theWalleroo Mine. Brown spar and ferroealcite have been observed in several places, but they vary very considerably in composition from anker- ite itself.
* A. R C. Selwyn and G. H. F. Ulrich— Phys. Geogr., Qeol. and Min. Vict., 1866, p. 75.
66 KECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
On a PRECAUDAL VERTEBRA op ICHTHYOSAURUS AUSTRAL IS, McCOY.
By R. Etheridge, Junr., Curator.
The subject of this paper is the imperfect vertebra of a large Ichthyopterigian, referable, I believe, to Ichthyosaurus australis, McCoy.* The original was brought under my notice by the Rev. M. Kirkpatrick, of Bega, N. S. Wales, who obtained it from Marathon, Central Queensland. With his permission a cast was taken for the Australian Museum Collection. As Sir F. McCoy's description was very brief, an extended notice of one of the middle trunk, or anterior pre-caudal vertebrse, may be acceptable to Aus- tralian investigators.
The specimen is the centrum of a large vertebra measuring five inches in its vertical and transverse diameters, and rivals in size those of the gigantic /. campylodon, Carter, from the European Chalk, the vertebra figuredf by the late Sir Richard Owen measur- ing only four inches high. Our example is devoid of the neural spine, neurapophyses, and pleui'apophyses, but having the articular surfaces of the first and last well displayed. The positions of the diapophy.sial and pleurapophysial articular surfaces leads to the belief that the vertebra is one of the middle trunk series. It is subcircular in outline, slightly narrowed and contracted neurally. Measured across the articular surfaces from the neural to the hfemal margins the diameter is exactly five inches, and in a trans- verse direction, from diapophysis to diapophysis it is an eighth of an inch short of a similar measurement. Longitudinally measured V)etween the dia- and pleuraphysial tubercles the centrum is exactly two inches, but on the hajmal surface it is a quarter of an inch more.
The concave terminal articular surface visible is deep, terminat- ing in a central fossa, the extent of the concavity being well exemplified by the matrix cast of the anterior cavity of the succeeding vertebra? at the posterior end of this specimen. This mass of matrix represents the " elastic capsule " that intervened l)etween the vertelDn-e, and retains on its surface portions of the osseous tissue of the succeeding centrum. The periphery or im- mediate articular rim at each end is narrow, the surface thence sloping rapidly inwards, but the edges of the rims project slightly
* Trans. Roy. Soc. Vict., viii., 1868, p. 41.
t Owen — Mon. Foss. Reptilia Cret. Formation, p. 70, pi. xxii.
PRECAUDAL VERTEBRA OF ICHTHYOSAURUS AUSTRALIS — ETHERIDGE. 67
outwards, thus rendering the longitudinal or lateral surfaces of the centrum somewhat concave. The depth of the concavities is an inch, or perhaps a little more, and a longitudinal section of the centrum would be, in consequence, of a strongly hour-glass shaped outline. The floor of the myelonal canal is three-quarters of an inch wide, the joint faces of the neurapophysial surfaces rather triangular on very strongly raised fore and aft synchondrosial articular elevations, the space between these and the diapophysial tubercles is roughly three inches, the latter having descended in close contiguity to the parapophysial tubercles. It is clear, there- fore, that this vertebra from the wide disassociation of the neura- and diapophyses occupied a position in the column certainly more than one-third of the trunk from the head, and, according to Owen's measurements, was near about the forty to forty-fifth vertebra, for in this region in Ichthyosaurus, the dia- and para- pophyses form a pair of separate tubercles on each side near the anterior end of the centrum.
The diapophyses are set further in from the anterior articular edge than the parapophyses ; these are close to the latter, but are not connected with it by a "neck." Both are represented by large and strong rounded tubercles, separated from one another by an interval of two-eighths of an inch, this interstitial surface being deep and groove like. The haemal surface is quite plain.
The posterior concave articular surface is infilled with matrix, affording a complete cast of the next succeeding anterior cup, and even retaining a portion of the osseous tissue of the latter adhering to it. This tissue throughout the centrum is well preserved and dense.
The specimen is certainly of the Campylodont group of Ichthyo- sauri, and occupies an intermediate position in outline between an "early posterior dorsal" and a "late posterior dorsal" vertebra of /. trigomis, Owen.*
The largest Ichthyosauri attained a length of from thirty to forty feet, and the present meridianal species was in no way inferior to its gigantic fellows of the European Secondary seas. If we apply a similar method of arriving at the comparative size of an Ichthyosaurus as that adopted by Prof. Owen, that the jaw was " thirteen times the length of the vertical diameter of an abdominal or anterior caudal centrum," we see in the present fossil the representative of an animal possessing a jaw a little over five feet in length — thus 13 x 5' = 65" = 5' 5" long. Prof. McCoy computed! the remains of his type specimen to represent
* Lydekker — Brit. Mus. Cat. Foss. Reptilia and Amphibia, 1889, pt. 2, p. 26, figs. 13 and 14.
t Trans. Roy. Soc. Viet , ix., 2, 1869, p. 77.
68 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
an animal twenty-five feet long. Similar vertebrae to that now described he states possessed a diameter of four inches, and else- where he remarks* that the longitudinal measurement reached one and a half inches. The elastic capsule was also preserved in some of his specimens.
Mr. R. Lydekker, in the previously mentioned " Catalogue," gives a list of species that " cannot be classified."! Amongst these are /. australis, McCoy, and /. tnarathonensis, mihi. I am afraid he has overlooked Sir Frederick's principal paper on his /. australis, wherein, although the description is meagre, the latter specially compares the teeth of his fossil to those of /. campylodon, and says they " have a rough bony square base like those of /. campylodon (Carter) " As regards /. marathonensis, mihi, less can perhaps be definitely said, but the whole of its structure, so far as we know it, is also after the type of /. campylodon. In my paper on this fossil, I called attention to the necessity of affording another name to /. australis, Hector, a New Zealand species distinct from McCoy's. This has now been done by Mr. Lydekker terming it /. hectori,\ but unfortunately the species is of no value, from the absence of either description or figure, all that Sir James Hector says about it being " this genus is only represented in the collection by a single vertebral centrum."
Ichihyosaurtis indictis, Lydk.,!^ seems to be an allied species to /. australis, and also vied with /. campylodon in size. It is from the Ootatoor Group, the homotaxial equivalent of the Chalk Marl and Upper Greensand of England.
McCoy's original specimens were from Walker's Table Mountain on the Flinders River. The present vertebra is, as before said, from Marathon on the same stream. Both are localities in the Rolling Downs Formation, or Lower Cretaceous.
* Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (3), xix., 18G7, p. 355.
t Loc. cit., p. 113.
X Loc. cit., p. 113.
§ Pal. Indica (4), i., 3, 187H, p. 27.
A NEW BLIND SNAKE FROM THE DTJKE OF YORK ISLAND — "WAITE. 69
A NEW BLIND SNAKE from the DUKE of YORK ISLAND.
By Edgar R. Waite, F.L.S,, Zoologist, Australian Museum.
The species herein described, is represented by two specimens, collected, together with other material, in the Duke of York Island, by the Rev. George Brown, D.D., and forwarded to the Museum many years ago. For this snake I propose the name of —
Typhlops subocularis, sp. nov.
Habit stout, of even thickness. Head flat, much depressed. Snout prominent, with a rather acute, but not sharp, edge. Rostral above, very narrow, about one-sixth the width of the head, reaching but little more than half-way to the level of the eyes ; the portion visible from beneath somewhat longer than broad ; nasal incompletely divided, the fissure extending from the anterior portion of the second labial. Nostrils inferior, preocular, but little narrower than the ocular, separated from the labials by one scale, ocular separated by two scales. Four upper labials, the anterior three very narrow. The mandible is ^-shaped, the symphysis very acute, and the scales adjoining the labials oblique. Diameter of the middle of the body thirty times in the total length. Tail longer than broad, terminating in a large thorn- like spine. Thirty-six (specimen A.) or thirty-four (specimen B.) scales round the middle of body.
Colotirs. — In spirits, dark brown above, yellow beneath, the two areas strongly marked, line of union interrupted.
|
Dimensions. |
||
|
A. (Type). |
B. |
|
|
Total length |
... 360-0 mm. |
280-0 mm |
|
Length of head |
7-5 ,, |
G-0 „ |
|
Width of head |
9-0 „ |
7-5 „ |
|
Width of body |
... 12-1 „ |
9-2 „ |
|
Length of tail |
... 17-3 „ |
7-8 „ |
|
Width of tail |
... 11-5 „ |
6-5 „ |
|
abitat. — Duke of Yo |
rk Island. Two specii |
nens. |
Type. — In the Australian Museum, Sydney.
70
RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
This species will come into Division III. of Boulenger's synopsis,* "a prseocular and one or two suboculars," but will fit into neither of the subordinate groups, the character of the snout not being sufficiently marked. Taking the number of scales round the body, namely, thirty four to thirty -six, the only described species with which it thus agrees is T. acutiis,^ at once distinguishable (apart from its distribution) by the peculiar snout and the remark- able size of the rostral.
A species, T. depressus/i has previously been made known from the Duke of York Island ; in this the pneocular is in contact with the labials, and a comparison of Peters' figures (a reference to which Mr. Boulenger has, in his Catalogue,;^ omitted) with those below given, shows how widely the two species difter.
I
From above.
From below.
In profile. Head of Typhlops suhocularis (enlarged).
* Boulenger— Brit. Mus. Cat. Snakes, i., 1893, p. 14. t Dum. et Bibr., Erpet. gen., vi., 1844, p. 333.
t Peters— Monatsb. K. Preus. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, 1880, p. 220, fig. 3 (p. 309).
§ Boulenger — loc. cit., p. 33.
Publications of the Australian Museum.— Contintted.
III.— MEMOIRS.
1. History and Desceiption of the Skeleton of a new Sperm Whale in the Australian
Museum, by W. S. Wall. 1851. 8vo. pp. 66, with plates. Eeprintl887. Wrappers, 2s. 6d.
2. Lord Howe Island : its Zoology, Geology, and Physical Characters. 1889. 8vo.
pp. viii-132, with 10 plates. Boards, 7s. 6d. ; cloth, lOs. 6d.
3. The Atoll of Funafuti, Ellice Group : its Zoology, Botany, and General Struc-
ture, based on Collections made by Mr. C. Hedley.
Part I., 21st Dec, 1896. 8vo. pp. 86. Price, 5s.
Part II., 2oth Feb., 1897. 8vo. pp. 76. 7 plates. Price, 5s. Part III., 12th July, 1897. 8vo. pp. 63. 5 plates. Price, 5s. Part IV., 27th Sept., 1897. 8vo. pp. 78. 3 plates. Price, 5s.
Part v., 17th Nov., 1897. 8vo. pp. 42. 7 plates. Price, 5s.
IV.— GUIDES.
1. Guide to the Australian Fossil Remains in the Australian Museum. 1870, Svo.
(Out of print.)
2. Guide to the Contents of the Australian Museum. 1883. Svo. pp. iv.-56. (Out of
print.)
3. Guide to the Contents of the Australian Museum. 1890. Svo. pp. 156. Wrapper.
v.— MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATIONS.
1. List of Old Documents and Kelics in the Australian Museum. 1884. Eeprinted
with additions, 1890. Svo. pp. 4.
2. Descriptive List of Aboriginal Weapons, Implements, etc., from the Darling and
Lachlan Rivers, by K. H. Bennett, F.L.S. 1887. Svo. pp. 8. (Out of print.)
3. Notes for Collectors. 1887. Svo. Is.
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pp. 26, with a plate. 6d.
5. Hints for the Preservation of Specimens of Natural History, by E. P. Ramsay.
1891. 4th Edition, pp. 32. Is.
VI.— RECORDS.
Vol. I., March, lS90i to Deer., 1891. Svo. pp. 202. 30 plates. Price 25s. Vol. II., April, 1892, to Jan., 1896. Svo. pp. 112. 23 plates. Price 25s. Vol. III., No. 1, 7 January, 1897. Svo. pp. 17. 4 plates. Price 2s. 6d.
„ „ 2, 5 August, 1897. Svo. pp. 32. 7 plates. Price 2s. 6d.
„ „ 3, 17 November, 1897. Svo. pp. 20. 3 plates. Price 2s. 6d.
May be obtained from the Attendants at the Museum, or from Messrs. Angus & Roberttson, Castlereagh Street, Sydney ; Messrs. Turner & Henderson, Hunter Street, Sydney ; Mr. E. W. Cole, George Street, Sydney, Book Arcade, Melbourne, and Rundle Street, Adelaide ; Messrs. Melville, Mullen & Slade, Melbourne ; Messrs. R. Friedlander & Son, Berlin ; Messrs. Kegan Paul, Trench, Triibner & Co., Paternoster House, Charing Cross Road, London.
[Exchanges of Serials, Works, Reports, and other publications are earnestly solicited op behalf of the Museum Library.]
CONTENTS.
PAGE
The Nocoleche Meteorite, with Catalogue and Bibliography of Aus- tralian Meteorites. By T. Cooksey, Ph.D., B.Sc, Mineralogist .51
Ankerite from Sandhurst, Victoria. By T. Cooksey, Ph.D., B.Sc,
Mineralogist 63
On a Precaudal Vertebra of IcMhyosauras australis, McCoy. By R.
Etheridge, Junr., Curator 66
A New Blind Snake from Duke of York Island. By Edgar E.
Waite, F.L.S., Zoologist 69
RECORDS
AUG 2 lago
llJSJ
AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM
EDITED BY THE CURATOR
Vol. III. No. 4.
PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE TRUSTEES. (Euratcr.
SYDNEY, 13 JUNE, 1898.
F. W. WHITE, PRINTER, MARKET STREET WEST.
PUBLICATIONS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
JUNE, 1898.
I.— CATALOGUES.
1. Catalogue of the Specimens of Natural Histoey and Miscellaneous Cueiosities in
THE AusTEALiAN MusEUM, by G. Bennett. 1837. 8vo. pp. 71. (Out of print.)
2. Catalogue of Mammalia in the Collection of the Australian Museum, by G Krefft
1864. 12mo. pp. 133. (Out of print.)
3. Catalogue of the Minerals and Eocks in the Collection of the Australian Museum,
by G. KreflPt. 1873. 8vo. pp. xvii.-115. (Out of print.)
4. Catalogue of the Australian Birds in the Austealian Museum, by E. P. Ramsay.
Part I. Accipitres. 1876. | Second Edition, revised J 8vo. pp. xii-74.
Part II. Striges. 1890. t by A J. North, 1898. |^ 8vo. pp. vi-31. Wrappers, 48.
Part III. Psittaci. 1891. Sv. pp. viii-110. Wrapper, Ss.
Part IV. Halcyoues. 1894. 8vo. pp. viii-24. Wrapper, 28. 6d.
5. Catalogue or the Australian Stalk and Sessile- eyed Crustacea, by W. A. Haswell.
1882, 8vo. pp. xxiv.-3j4, "wiih 4 plates. (Scarce) Wrapper, 21s.
6. Catalogue of the Library of the Australian Museum. 1883. 8vo. pp. 178. With
two supplements. (Out of print.)
7. Catalogue of a Collection of Fossils in the Australian Museum, with Introductory
Notes, by F Eatte. 1883. Svo. pp. xxviii-lGO. Wrapper, 28. 6d.
8. Catalogue of the Australian Hydroid Zoophytes, by W. M. Bale. 1884. 8vo. pp. 198,
with 19 plates. Wrapper, Ss. 6d.
Descriptive Catalogue of the General ( ollection of Minerals in the Australian Museum, by F. Eatte. 1885. Svo. pp. 221, with a plate. Boards, 2s. 6d. ; cloth, Ss. 6d.
10. Catalogue of Echinodeemata in the Australian Museum, by E. P. Eamsay. Part I.
Echini. ISS-l 8vo. pp. iii. ii.-54, with 5 plates. Wrapper, 3s. 6d. ; cloth, 3s. 6d. 2nd Edit., 1890.
11. Descriptive Catalogue of the Medus-e of the Australian Seas. Part I. Scypho-
medufse. Part II. Hydrcmedusaj, by E. von Lendenfeld. 1887. 8vo. pp. 32 and 49.
12. Descriptive Catalogue of the Nests and Eggs of Australian Birds, by A, J. North.
l*-89. Svo. pp. iv V.-407, with 21 plates. Wrapper, 25s. Coloured plates, £2 15s.
13. Descriptive Catalogue of the Fponges in the Australian Museum, by E. von Lendenfeld.
1888. Svo. pp. xiv.-2C0, with 12 plate.*. Boards. Ts. 6d. ; cloth, lOs. 6d.
14. Catalogue of the Fishes in the Australian Museum. Part I. Palseicthyan Fishes, by
J. Douglas Ogiltiy. 1888. Svo. pp. 34. Wrapper, 2.^. 6d. ; boards, 3s. 6d.
15. Catalogue of the Marine Shells of Australia and Tasmania, by J. Brazier.
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Part II. Pteropoda. 1892. Svo. pp. 22. Paper, 28. ()d.
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16. Catalogue of Australian Mammals, with Introductory Notes on General Mammalogy, by
J. D. Ogilby, 1892. Svo. pp. xvi-144. Wrapper. 3s. 6d.
II.— MONOGRAPHS.
1. Australian Lepidoptera and their Transfoemations, by the late A. W. Scott, with Illustrations by his daughters. Mrs. Morgan and Mrs. Forde. Edited and revised by A. S. Olliff and Mrs. Foide. "Vol. II , Parts 1, 'z, 3, and 4. AVrappers, 15s. each.
AUG 2 18S8
NEW OR LITTLE-KNOWN LOWER PALEOZOIC
GASTEROPODA in the COLLECTION of the
AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
By R. Etheridge, Junr., Curator. (Plates XV., and xvi.)
The following Lower Palaeozoic fossils are either new to Australian Palaeontology, or have been imperfectly described.
Genus Goniostropha, (Ehlert, 1888.
(Bull. Soc. Etudes Sci. Angers for 1887 (1888).)
Goniostropha pritchardi, sj). nov.
PI. XV., Figs. 1 - 4.
Sp. char. — -Shell small, elongately spiral, of seven or eight slowly increasing angular whorls, each bearing two sharp median keels, enclosing between them a smooth, slightly concave band, and the remaining surface of each whorl occupied by a series of fine spiral lyrte that are sometimes finer above than below the band ; sutures deep ; mouth with the outer lip apparently rounded, and the inner lip reflected. Length (of largest specimen) one and a quarter inches.
Obs. — None of the mouths in the specimens before me are perfect, but the outer lip seems to have been rounded in outline, and the inner lip is certainly reflected. The whorls are only rendered angular by the projecting principal keels, enclosing between them the band, and they become less median in j^osition as the apex is approached. This form belongs to a group of rather common 3hirchisonia-\ike shells for which Dr. Daniel (Ehlert has proposed the name Goniostropha, distinguished by more or less angular whorls, the band occupying the angle or greatest periphery of each whorl, accompanied by supplementary finer revolving lyrae. In this respect it differs from an allied genus, Hypergonia, Donald.*
As this is an undescribed species from the Lilydale Limestone of Victoria, I have much pleasure in associating with it the name
* Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc, 1889, xlv., p. 623.
72 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MTTSETTM.
of Mr. G. B. Pritchard, who has done much to advance our know- ledge of Victorian Palaeontology.
Log. and Horizon. — Cave Hill Quarries, Lilydale, Upper Yarra District, Victoria. Lilydale Limestone, Upper Silurian ; pre- sented by Messrs. J. Hinder and E. Smith.
Genus Gyrodoma, gen. nov.* Gyrodoma etheridgei, CresweU, sp. PL xvi., Fig. 1.
Eunema etheridgei, Creswell, Proc. R. Soc. Vict., 1893, v. (n.s,), p. 42, t. 8, f. 2, (2 figs.). Qhs. — Mr. Ores well's figure represents an imperfect shell, and those now before me are also in the same condition, but suflicient characters are deducable to show that it is not referable to Eunema, which is an imperforate genus, with angular whorls. In G. etheridgei, on the other hand the whorls are boldly rounded, certainly seven in number and possibly more ; in PL xvi.. Fig. 1 seven are visible, whilst Creswell assumed five to be the number. In the latter's left hand figure, as above quoted, there seems to me to be an umbilicus, although no mention is made of this in the description. In PL xvi., Fig. 1, a distinct and rather flat or depressed band is visible, bounded by two lyrte that are certainly more prominent than the remainder encircling the whorls. Mr. Oreswell's figures both distinctly portray two bands side by side, but the example now figured has but one. If a double band does exist on some specimens, it indicates a departure towards the Cretaceous genus Disopeta, Gardner. The whorls decrease in size rapidly, the inner lip is almost straight, and with the anterior termination of the outer lip describes nearly a right angle.
The presence of the regular spiral lyme distinguishes the proposed new genus from the allied Goniostropha, CEhlert, Cnlocaulus, Qiihlert, Hormotoma, Salter, Caliendrum, Brown, Cerithioides, Ilaugliton, Stegocn'lia, Donald, Hypergonia, Donald, and Glypho- deta, Donald, aided in some instances by the rounded whorls of Gyrodoma, and the position of the band. The nonderolement of the whorls distinguishes the latter from Loxoplocus, Fischer, and the absence of all tuberculation from Murchiso7iia, the genus proper in its restricted sense. If an umbilicus exists it cannot be a Pithodea, De Kon. I therefore conclude it is a new section of Murchisonia and call it Gyrodoma.
hoc. and Horizon. — Cave Hill Quarries, Lilydale, Upper Yarra District, Victoria. Lilydale Limestone, Upper Silurian ; pre- sented by Mr. J. Hinder.
* Gyro, to turn round, and domus, a house.
LOWER PALEOZOIC GASTEROPODA — ETHERIDQE. 7t3
Genus Mourlonia, De Koninck, 1883. (Faune Calc. Oarb. Belgique, 1880, pt. 4, p. 75.)
Mourlonia duni, sp. nov. PL XV., Fig. 5 ; PI. xvi., Fig. 2.
Sp. char. — Shell conical, or somewhat trochiform, the sides of the cone fairly continuous; spire rather depressed, but acute at the apex ; whorls six, gently rounded ; base convex. Body whorl large, more than twice the height of the penultimate whorl, obtusely angular at the centre ; sutures faintly impressed ; band sutural on all but the body whorl, bounded above by a faint keel, on the body whorl occupying the obtuse median angle, the bound- ing keels very sharp and distinct, with a faintly impressed groove below the lower, and apparently without special sculpture ; sinus unknown ; umbilicus open, although not widely so ; mouth oval, with the inner lip reflected somewhat over the umbilicus, but without concealing it.
Ql)s. — The late Mr. Felix Ratte figured* three univalves from our Lower Palteozoic rocks without assigning specific names to them, nor even generic in the case of two. Whether or no the present shell be one of these I am in doubt, but in some points his fig. 6 is like it, and again in other respects widely divergent ; for instance in the figure quoted there is too great a convexity of the whorls, too elevated a spire, and too prominent a band. At the same time there is the possibility that the two may be identical, allowing for defective drawing.
Mourlonia duni is an exceedingly characteristic species of the Wellington Caves Limestone, and is at present unknown to me from any other horizon. It is named in honour of my former Assistant, Mr. W. S. Dun, to whom I am indebted for much cordial help.
Log and Horizon — Wellington Caves, N. S. Wales. Siluro- Devonian.
Genus Helicotoraa, Salter, 18.59.
(Canadian Organic Remains, 1859, Dec. I., p. 10.)
Helicotoma johnstoni, sp. nov.
PI. XV., Figs. 6-8; PI. xvi., Figs. 3 and 4.
Straparollus (Maclurea) tasmanicus, Johnston, Geol. Tas., 1888, t. 5, f. 7 (excl. f. 1 and la). Sp. char.— Shell discoid, of about four whorls, each nearly twice the breadth of the preceding ; spire short, wholly depressed
* Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, x., 1, 1885, t. 9. f. 6.
74 EECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
below the level of the body whorl, which is traversed on its outer angle by a keel, without nodes, crenulations or echinations, but variable in its degree of prominence and acuteness, on the inner side of the keel the surface of the whorl slopes rapidly away to the suture, with immediately above it a second feeble obtuse keel; on the under side the surface of the body whorl is either gently rounded or flattened, but the inner whorls rounded only ; umbilicus telescopic, but most of the whorls visible ; back in no way concave l)eneath the keel of the body whorl, but rounded and broadening towards the mouth, the surface loosing much of its convexity. Mouth generally rounded, but slightly insinuated at the keel, and more so along the sutural margin, the upper margin, in other words, retreating towards the shallow notch or insinuation referred to, and the lower edge advancing and insinuated. Sculpture of the upper sui'face consists of fine obliquely retreating lyrulpe on the inner half of each whorl, and similar advancing lyrulse on the outer half, giving a faintly V-shaped figure, but on the wide back these lyrulte become more directly transverse ; on the under surface the lyrulje descril)e a sigmoidal curve, becoming much coarser and sub-laminar towards the mouth, the sharpest portion of the curve being immediately above the suture at the obtuse feeble keel.
Ohs. — Under the name of StraparoUus tasinaiiicus, I feel con- vinced Mr. R. M. Johnston has included two perfectly distinct shells. His figs. 1 and la. represent a Rajohistoma that may be known as Raphistoma tasmanicum, Johnston, sp., whilst fig. 7, the subject of the present I'emarks, appears to me to be a Helico- tonia, and I therefore propose for it the name of H. johnstoni. The specimen now figured was received in a collection of fossils forwarded from the Tasmanian Museum. PI. xv.. Fig. 6, repre- sents the upper side, corresponding to Johnston's fig. 7, whilst our PI. XV., Fig. 7, is that of the under or umbilical side of the same specimen. I am puzzled how to distinguish this from another shell that Mr. Johnston has figured as Lituites, sp. indet.,* except that in the latter the transverse laminae are too coarse for the lines occurring on the under surface of Helicotoma johnstoni.
In the faintly V-shaped outline of the sculpture on the upper side, the apex of the V is at the keel of the body whorl, producing a slight notch on the outer lip, after the manner of Helicotoma, without in anyway simulating a true sinus. This reflection of the sculpture lines and the presence of the notch distinguish this shell at once from Polytropis, De Koninck.
Loc. and Horizon. — Gordon River, West Tasmania. Gordon River Limestone, Lower Silurian.
* Johnston— Geol. Tas., 1888, t. 5, f. 8 and 10.
LOWER PALEOZOIC GASTEROPODA — ETHERIDGE. 75
Genus Trochonema, Salter, 1859.
(Canadian Organic Remains, 1859, Dec. 1, p. 24).
Trochonema etheridgei, Johnston.
PI. xvi., Figs. 5 and 6.
Trochonema etheridgei, Johnston, Geol. Tas., 1888, t. 5, f. 13 and 14.
Sp. char. — Shell tux-binate, of five or six acutely keeled and angular whorls, the principal keel occupying the periphery of each whorl ; on the anti-penultimate whorl there are three keels, the first small aixd thread-like bordering the upper suture, the surface thence to the second keel being tabulate or flat, from the latter to the principal keel slightly oblique and concave, and thence to the lower suture the surface is straight-walled ; the pen- ultimate whorl possesses four keels besides the peripheral, the three upper arranged as in the anti-penultimate, whilst between the third and fourth the surface is again straight-walled ; the body whorl (somewhat hidden in matrix) probably possessed four also, the peripheral keel being strong and prominent. Sutures excavated. Mouth almost rhomboidal ; outer lip strongly angled at the peripheral keel, rounded below ; inner lip possibly straight. Umbilicus distinct. Sculpture consisting of oblique sub-imbricat- ing growth lamellfe, faintly varicose along the peripheral keel, and becoming much stronger and rugose towards the mouth on the body whorl.
Ohs. — This well marked shell was figured but not described by Mr. Johnston. In his plate explanation the author remarks that T. etheridgei is allied to T. tricarinata, Meek,* of the Corniferous Group of North America. T. tricarinata, Meek, should be known as T. meekiamim. Miller. f The present shell is readily dis- tinguished from T. montgomerii, mihi, by its much more turbinate form, and difterent arrangement of the spiral keels and sculpture.
Log. and Horizon. — Gordon River, West Tasmania. Gordon River Limestone, Lower Silurian.
Trochonema montgomerii, Eth.,fiL
Eunema montgomerii, Eth., fil., Ann. Rep. Secy, for Mines Tas. for 1895-6 (1896), p. xlvii., pi. f. 21 and 22.
Ohs. — Since the publication of this species, further examples have been received from the Tasmanian Museum, one with an umbilicus exposed. This will necessitate its removal from Eii,nema to Trochonema. The following additional features may be noted :
* Ohio Geol. Report, Pal. I., 1873, p. 218, t. 19, f. 5 a and h. t N. American Geol. and Pal., 1889, p. 428.
76 REC0BD8 OF THE AUSTKALIAN MUSEUM.
Each thread-like lyrula of the sculpture is separated from its neighbour by several times its own thickness, the obliquity of the lyrulpe on the upper part of each whorl being changed on the straight-walled portion to a perfectly vertical direction. The upper part of the inner lip, although not forming a callosity, is revolute, slightly projecting over the umbilicus. The aperture was long oval, angled on the outer lip by the principal keel of the body whorl.
Log. and Horizuji.—Grordon. River, West Tasmania. Gordon River Limestone, Lower Silurian.
Trochonema? nodosa, sp. nov.
PL XV., Figs. 9, 10.
Worthenia, sp. nov., Ratte, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. Wales, x., 1885, pt. 1, p. 80, t. 9, f. 1 and 2.
Sp. char. — Shell turbinate, but not depressed ; whorls more than four (four in part only preserved), the body whorl apparently not free, each whorl horizontal or nearly so on its upper portion around the suture, vertical or straight-walled in the lower ; all, except the body whorl, bear two keels, the latter three, the upper- most keel in each case demarcating the two portions of the whorls, and earring a number of blunt nodes, or tubercles, which on the body whorl become of a variciform nature, and more pronounced with the growth of the whorl ; the second keel is midway between that just mentioned and the suture, and with the third on the body whorl is nodose also. Mouth generally oval, vertically elon- gated ; outer lip quadrangular ; inner lip and minute sculpture not preserved ; umbilicus deep and apparently open.
Obs. — Had not Mr. Ratte figured this shell, and referred it to Worthenia (with which it has no connection), without a specific name, I should not have noticed it in consequence of its poor state of preservation. I am even doubtful of its proper generic resting- place from the same cause, but Trochonema, so far as I can judge, seems to be the most appropriate genus. At the same time it departs from the majority of species referred to the latter by the nodose nature of the encircling keels. There is one species of this genus, however, similarly ornamented — T. yandellana, Hall it Whitfield,* from the North American Corniferous Limestone, but otherwise distinct from T. ? nodosa. It may even be related to our old friend Buccinum breve, Sby., of the British Devonian rocks, and which Whidborne has of late referred! to the recent genus Liotia, Gray, without, however, in my opinion, sufficient reason.
* 24th Ann. Rep. N. York State Cab., 1872, p. 194 ; 27th ibid., 1875, t. 13, f. 3 ; Nettelroth, Kentucky Fossil Shells, 1889, t. 20, f . 3. t Men. Dev. Fauna S. England, 1892, pt. 4, p. 271.
LOWER PALAEOZOIC GATTEROPODA — ETHERIDGE. 77
hoc. and Horizon. — Cave Flat, Murrumbidgee River, N. S, Wales. Cave Flat Limestone, Siluro-Devonian.
Genus Holopea, Hall, 1847. (Pal. K York, 1847, i., p. 169).
Holopea wellingtonensis, sp. nov. PI. XV., Fig. 11 ; PI. xvi., Fig. 7-9.
(Unnamed shell), Ratte, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. Wales, x., 1885, pt. 1, t. 9, f. 3-5.
Sp. char. — Shell ventricose, of six whorls rapidly decreasing in size above the last or body whorl ; apex acute ; whorls rounded, uniformly ventricose, or almost inflated, very much wider than high, slightly horizontally flattened around the suture ; body whorl very much expanded in proportion to the others. Mouth round ; outer lip sharp and fine ; inner lip straight and slightly thickened. Umbilicus open and deep. Sculpture consisting of a large number of regular, fine, equidistant, sharp revolving threads crossed by others exceedingly fine and oblique, giving rise to a beautiful and minute cancellation ; towards the outer lip are a few coarse sub-laminar ridges.
06s. — This species was figured, although neither named nor described, by the late Mr. Ratte, but his figure shows a revoluted inner lip that is not present in any of our specimens.