a2, THE LINGULIDZ OF THE QUEENSLAND COAST. 
Its outline resembled that figured by Davidson (1888, fig. 
14, and Sowerby, fig. 7). Others measured 54 by 13 (ratio 
1.58); 65 by 41 (1.59). 
We have examined a specimen in some respects inter- 
mediate between L. tumidula and L. adamsi as figured by 
Davidson. Perhaps the latter may be a young form of the 
Philippine L. tumidula. The proportions however are not 
quite the same (ratio in L. adamsi =1.7), while the described 
coloration is distinct and—judging from the figures—the 
degree of calcification is different. Whether the Philip- 
pine and the Queensland forms belong to distinct species 
we are not at present able to definitely decide, but we are 
of opinion that an examination of fresh undistorted material 
from each locality would show specific differences. In 
such case, Reeve’s name L. compressa would be available 
for the Philippine Lingula.* 
Davidson stated (p. 216) that L. tumidula was the 
largest and finest recent species of the genus with which 
he was acquainted, being broader in proportion than any 
known recent form. Davidson’s sizes were 2.15 inches in 
length and 1.4 in breadth. One valve examined by us 
reached 2.6 inches in length and 1.64 in width. The 
specimen which came from Hervey Bay, appears then to be 
the largest recent Lingula valve of which there is any 
record. 
We do not know what on grounds Davidson considered 
L. tumidula to be closely related to L. murphiana (1888, 
p. 216). In 1879 (p. 402) he went so far as to state “ L. 
tumidula and L. murphiana occur in the same locality and 
are of the same colour. I often ask myself whether they 
are distinct species or whether L. tumidula may not be a 
very wide variety of murphiana. This is a point which 
Australian zoologists must decide, as I have no opportunity 
of so doing as there are only two specimens of the form 
*In his original account of L. compressa Reeve (1841) gave the dimen- 
gions as 1.8 and 1.1 inches respectively, the ratio thus being 1.63 The 
shell was stated to be brown olive, subquadrate oval, attenuated towards 
the apex, with the valves remarkably compressed and rather closely 
united all round ; whereas the shell of ZL. tumidula was described as be*ng 
burnt olive red in colour, subquadrate, and only slightly attenuated towards 
the apex. 
