148 THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY 



Eastern has a few peculiar forms, such as Gentrostephanue 

 Rodgersii, Phyll acanthus imperialis, together with Pacific species, 

 such as Metalia stemalis, Mespilia globulus, and Hipponoe 

 variegata, &c. The North-Eastern province seems entirely a 

 derived fauna, in which the E. Australian, Indian, and Pacific 

 species meet. The Echinus mentioned above is the only peculiar 

 species. The N. Eastern province includes the species of Darnley 

 Island and Torres Straits, with say Rockhampton for its centre. 

 The Eastern province would include the East coast from Cape 

 Byron to Cape Howe, including E. Tasmania. The Northern 

 provinces would extend from Cape Howe to Port Lincoln, west 

 of Spencer's Gulf. These provinces are only meant to be some- 

 what roughly estimated, but they correspond with what I have 

 noticed as to the Mollusca fauna. 



I cannot find that there is much connection between our 

 tertiary fossil fauna, and what we see in the present Australian 

 seas. Some few — three in all — are common to both, while not 

 only are Australian genera remarkably absent, but even a whole 

 sub-order — the Desmosticha — is scarcely represented at all in our 

 fossil formations. In fact, the separation between our tertiary 

 and recent Echini is almost complete. A very few species and a 

 small number of genera are common to the Tertiary and recent 

 period, but our commonest forms, Strongylocentrotus erythro- 

 grammus, Amblypneustes ovum, Hipponoe variegata, Echinocar- 

 dium australe, Linthia australis, &c, are not even generically 

 represented. 



I now proceed to describe the Australian recent fauna. In 

 doing so, I have given a brief diagnosis of the sub-orders, families, 

 genera and species. I have strictly followed the arrangement 

 of Prof. Agassiz in this, though I have summarized his details, 

 and re-arranged the most of them, so as to facilitate reference. 

 The notices of habits, depths, habitat, &c, are always from my 

 own observations, unless otherwise stated. The following ex- 

 planation of terms will be found useful : — 



Actinal surface. — The under side. 



