6 F. CJuipman : 



from the Middle Devonian of New South Wales is very tho- 

 roughly discussed. The examples dealt with by those authors 

 were apparently too fragmentary to afford any precise data for 

 a complete restoration of the external shape of R. australis, for 

 they remark^ on p. 74 : — 



" The evidence as to form is by no means conclusive, but 

 seems to support the view of Billings and Rauff that it was in 

 some degree spherical or top-shaped, as against that of Hiude, 

 who regards Receptaculites as a more or less basin or platter- 

 shaped body." 



By means of an extensive series of more or less fragmentary 

 specimens of R. australis from Queenslaind, described in the 

 sequel, we are fortunately able to arrive at a fairly accurate 

 idea of the external form of this interesting fossil. 



The occurrence of R. australis in the Middle Devonian lime- 

 stones of Buchan and Bindi is of especial interest, as affording 

 further proof of the similarity of the fossil contents of those 

 beds with others in New South Wales. Other fossils from 

 Buchan and Bindi, common to Middle Devonian areas in New 

 South Wales, are the various species of Favosites and Syringo- 

 pora spelaeaiius described by Mr. R. Etheridge, junr. Further 

 investigation of the fossils from the Gippsland localities will 

 in all probability afford additional proof of the contemporaneity 

 of these limestones in the two States. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE VICTORIAN SPECIMENS. 



Genus Receptaculites^ Defrance. 



Receptaculites fepgusoni, sp. nov. 



(PI. I., Figs. 1 and 3; Pi. III., Fig. 1). 



Description. — This is based on a cast of the lower or outer 

 wall of the sponge, preserved in yello-\vish, hardened mudstone. 

 Nearly one-half of the sponge is represented, showing the form is 

 funnel-shaped, with indications of a deep central cavity. The 

 surrounding area is broad, depressed and strongly undulated. 



The identity of this fossil with Receptaculites is clear, on 

 account of its depressed conical form ; as distinguished from 



1 Records of the Geological Survey of New South Wales, vol. vi., pt. i., 1898. 



