BY THE REV. J. MILNE CURRAN, F.G.S. 251 



dichotomous, diverging as they ascend, and numbering 30 to 33 at 

 the margin. Length of longest pinnule, 10; width of base, 9. 

 Length of specimen, 67 : all millimetres. 



Loc. Dubbo. 



This beautiful and undoTibted species of Odontopteris (Brong- 

 niart) is very different from M'Coy's 0. microphylla, from which 

 it is easily distinguished by its greater size and general habit. 

 The Dubbo species was found in a shaft sunk on the Railway line 

 at 275 miles 25 chains. It is common in a dark carbonaceous 

 shale, associated with Thinnfeldia odontopteroides, Hymenophyllites 

 dubia, and Alethopteris australis. 



I am of opinion that many of the very fine impressions on the 

 Dubbo Sandstones, considered to be some species of Thinnfeldia, can 

 be referred to this genus. On Plate IX., fig. 4a, I have reproduced 

 a pinnule of Thinnfeldia odontopteroides from Dr. Feistmantel's 

 " Palaeozoische und mesozoische Flora des ostlichen Australiens," 

 for comparison with a pinnule of Odontopteris. In mere 

 impressions or casts, showing no trace of the venation, the one 

 cannot be distinguished from the other. The differences, however, 

 are very great. In Thinnfeldia the veins arise, partly from one, 

 which is almost median, and partly from the rachis ; while in 

 Odontopteris all the veins come direct from the rachis. 



Alethopteris australis. Morris (as Pecopteris). 



Refs — Strzelecki, Ph. Desc. of New South Wales, pi. VIII., 

 figs. 1, 2, 2a. M'Coy, Pake. Vict., pi. XIV, fig. 3, p. 17. 



Feistmantel quotes this fern from the Clarence River — the only 

 locality hitherto known for it in N.S.W. There can be no doubt 

 as to its identity ; as in the case of Thinnfeldia and Hymeno- 

 phyllites. I have been able to mount some pinnules on microscopic 

 slides, so that the venation can be followed as easily as in a recent 

 fern. 



Loc. Same as proceeding. 



