Page:Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London, vol. 26.djvu/351

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MOORE AUSTRALIAN MESOZOIC GEOLOGY. 243


its separation. I have only seen one specimen, which is also from Wollumbilla.

4. Pentacrinus australis, sp. n. Pl. XVII. fig. 3, and Pl. XVIII. fig. 1.

Pelvis short, compressed, rounded ; plates of the body and arms finely rugose ; scapulae thick, supporting 10 arms, composed of 13 plates, the hands bifurcating from cuneiform joints, the fingers being of considerable length, with 40 or more joints of varying thickness, to which are attached lengthened jointed tentacles. Interior of the pelvis disk-like or concave, exhibiting a central pit.

Two specimens of this fine and interesting species are from the Mitchell Downs, on the Amby river ; and it is seen by the numerous arms that pass through the block of limestone that a whole colony of them must have been present. One of the specimens is lying on its side (exhibiting the base of the pelvis, with its columnar articulation), whilst three arms, with the base of two others, are exhibited. The second specimen shows the interior of the pelvis, and has the arms flattened out. Each arm, above the scapulae, appears to have been about 6 inches in length. In a block from Wollumbilla a portion of a column, with 95 regular joints, is present, of probably the same species. Unfortunately some of the connecting joints of the arms have been washed out, though the impressions are left indicating their direction.

CIRRIPEDIA (BALANUS?).

When the tests of the Australian shells are occasionally broken, or casts only are preserved, it may often be noticed that the interiors were covered by Polyzoa, Serpulae, and other parasitic animals. On the interior of Panopoea are two disk-like impressions with fimbriated radiating surfaces; and it was difficult to decide whether they might not be flattened Corals, or even Cranioe. On consulting my friend Mr. Etheridge respecting them, he suggested that they might be the places of attachment of Balani or some other Cirripeds; and on examining the collection at Jermyn Street, analogous impressions were found produced by the attachment of these shells ; so that, although no other traces of the shells have been found, the family may, I think, be added to the list.

5. Lepralia (?) oolitica, sp. n. Pl. XVII. fig. 2.

Cells long, cylindrical, base soon becoming immersed, so as to resemble Tubulipora or Diastopora. It occurs not unfrequently on the exteriors of the Wollumbilla fossils.

Mr. Busk, who has examined the species, remarks that he has not before noticed it, and that it does not occur in a series (Tertiary) he had examined from Mount Gambier. The genus has not hitherto been found lower than the Cretaceous period.

G. ARGYOPE WOLLUMBILLAENSIS, Sp. n. Pl. X. figs. 3-5.

Shell compressed, transverse; hinge-line extending the entire