FURTHER TRACES OF MEIOLANIA IN N. S. "WALES — ETHERIDGB. 39 



On further TRACES of MEIOLANIA in N. S. WALES. 

 By R. Etiieridge, Junr., Palaeontologist. 



In 1889 I described* the tirst, and so far the only remains of this 

 remarkable genus discovered in N. S. Wales, from the Canadian 

 Lead, Gulgong, The fossils consisted of a small horn-core, greater 

 part of a caudal vertebra, and two annular segments of the tail- 

 sheath. Irrespective of the interest attached to the extended 

 geographical distribution, lies the fact of the much more important 

 geological range, perhaps even indicating a distinct species of the 

 animal. 



Evidence is now to hand, in the form of two horn-cores, of the 

 existence oi Meiolania in the superficial deposits near Coolah. 

 The specimens form part of a small collection, consisting of bones 

 of Diproiodoti, Phascoloiius, Procoptodon, &,c., lately presented by 

 Mr. J. McMaster, of Coolah. The conical processes almost rival 

 in size those of the original Meiolania Oivenii, Smith-Woodw. 

 Mr. McMaster states that the fossils were found in the new 

 channel of the Oaky Creek, branch of the main Weetalabah 

 Creek, and in another branch known as Binnia Craek. The 

 Weetalabah flows into the Castlereagh River, in the Bligh 

 District, County Napier, about twenty-two miles north-west of 

 Coolah. 



The conical processes, in their present state of preservation, 

 when placed on their broad bases, are more or less oblique — one 

 more so than the other — thick bosses, graduating to moderately 

 sharp apices, with an indefinitely quadrate rather than a strictly 

 trihedral section. The peripheral or basal outline is imperfect. 



In the smaller of the two horn cores, or conical processes, the 

 longest basal diameter, i.e., in the direction of the obliquity, is 

 four inches ; the greatest transverse breadth at ri^ht angles to 

 the former is three inches ; the height, taken veo'tically from the 

 base to the apex, is full,y three inches ; whilst the le*igth of the 

 longest, or anterio-apical ridge (for it seems that in the tail-sheath 

 of Meiolafoia Oivenii, figured by Owen,t the longest ridge of the 

 conical processes is always anterior), is tliree and a half incheg. 



* Eecords Geol. Survey N.S. Wales, 1889, I., pt. 3, p. 149. 

 t Bliil- Trans., clixii., t. 65. 

 Feb. 189S] 



