192 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



VI. — Cypricardia acutifruiis, Daua, C. (ircodef^, Dana, C iiubricata, Dana, 



and Pterinea viacroptera, Morris, Dana, and de Koninck, in relation to the 



genus MerismopteriK and to one-another. 



Pterinea nuicroptera, Morris, was selected by me as the type of the 

 genus MerisDwpteria in 1892,-^ and since then I have not seen any i^eason 

 to doubt the propriety of the step taken. 



Morris recorded his species from Spring Hill, Tasmania, and although 

 in common with others, I have been in the habit of listing pterinform 

 fossils of Permo-Carboniferous age found in New South Wales, under the 

 name in question, I have now, after a close study of the matter, come to 

 the conclusion Merhiiiopteria macropfera, is not a New South Wales fossil, 

 or at any rate if so, excessively rare, but confined to Tasmania. Even the 

 illustration of this shell by the late Mr. R. M. Johnston in his work on 

 the Geology of Tasmania is but a copy of Morris' Fig. 2. 



Dana was the first to inti'oduce Pterinea macroptera into the New 

 South Wales list in 1849. The replica impression represents a somewhat 

 imperfect shell, but notwithstanding, it is the nearest approach to Mori"is' 

 Fig. 2, I remember to have seen, and may possibly be the species. 



Loc. — " lUawarra." 



l^Cypricardial inibricatK, Dana, a true Merisniopteria, is intermediate 

 between M. macroptera, Morris, and \_Cijpricardia'\ acKtifroit.s, Dana. It is 

 less transversely oblique than the first-named, and although the anterior 

 end projects to some extent, it lacks the peculiar lobate appearance of M. 

 macroptera, proper. 



Loc. — Harper's Hill. 



Pterinea macroptera, de Koninck, from the "neighbourhood of Mait- 

 land," is again not that of Morris, but is the species first referred to, J/. 

 inihricata, Dana, when allowance is made for the relative positions of the 

 anterior adductor scar and clavicle impression. 



Do both Morris' figures of his Pterinea macroptera, represent one and 

 the same species ? ; it will not surprise me to learn from an examination of 

 the type specimens that they do not. His Fig. 8, if a correct represent- 

 ation of the original appears to be so disproportionately long in comparison 

 with Fig. 2, that doubt of its specific identity is aroused. In connection 

 with tliis, arises the question, wliat is Cijpricardia acutifrons, Dana Y 

 Long a puzzle to me, the type replica reveals its }[erisiJiopteria affinity, but 

 distinct from both M. niacroj)ter(v^^ and M. inihricata, and is a moderately 

 common New South Wales fossil. It is remarkable for the extent of its 

 transverse obliquity, extended cardinal margins, and gently insinuated 

 ventral outline. Dana obtained his specimen at " Illawarra." 



[Cypjiu'cardial arcodefi, Dana, is another Merisniopteria, and distinct 

 from any of the foregoing. It is a pronounced Merisniopteria, and althongli 

 a smaller, it is a much more robust species, its chief featui'es being a more 

 " nuggety " outline and pi-opoi'tions, with evenl}' rounded and gibbous 

 posterior diagonal slopes; the clavicle cavity is deep and wide. 



Loc. — Harper's Hill. 



•"' Etheridge— Geol. Pal. Qland, 1892, p. 271. 



•'" de Koninck suggested tlie identity of Pterinea macroptera, Morris, and 

 Cypricardia acuti/rons, Dana (Foss. I'al. Nouv. Gallcs du 6'iirf, pt. 3, 1877, p. 168). 



