xxxu 



6. From Mr. R. M. Johnston. Specimen of a Cone, probably of a 

 species of Lepidostrobus, from the auriferous sandstones of 

 Campania. [In reference to this presentation, Mr. Johnston read a 

 short descriptive paper,] 



To Library — 



1. From the Author, Baron von Mlieller. "Fragmenta Phytographise 



Australise." Vol. II. 



2. From Dr. Schomburgk. Report of Progress and Condition of 



the Botanic Garden and Government Plantations, Adelaide, 1881. 



3. From Mr. C. Todd, C.M.G., Government Astronomer, Adelaide. 



Meteorological Observations made during 1881 at Adelaide. 



The Chairman read an elaborate and interesting paper on the remains 

 of Trilobites from the Mersey River district, and on other fossils from the 

 boulders in the conglomerate beds near Table Cape, with figures and 

 descriptions, communicated to the Society by Robert Etheridge, jun,, 

 F.G.S., etc., of the Museum of Natural History, London, and a corre- 

 sponding Member of this Society. 



Mr. Stephens said that the specimens which formed the subject of the 

 paper consisted of a collection of Tiilobites and other fossils sent to 

 England by himself several years ago, and comprising representatives of all 

 the forms which have yet been discovered in the Silurian rocks of the 

 Mersey district. Mr. Etheridge having very kindly consented to examine 

 and describe them, a large collection of similar specimens was contributed 

 by Mr. Hainsworth, who also furnished several specimens from the boulders 

 near Table Cape. The result is that two entirely new Trilobites belonging 

 to the genera Conocephalites and Bikelocephalus are described and named 

 by Mr. Etheridge, and six others noticed, which are too imperfect to be 

 described, together with an Ophilcta, and the internal cast of a bivalve ; 

 the fossils identified from the Table Cape conglomerate being a new 

 Pcntamerus, a Tentaculites, an Orthis, three species of Spirifer, and some 

 doubtful forms. The Trilobite beds might now, in Mr. Etheridge' s opinion, 

 be confidently classed as Lower Silurian, and some at least of the Table 

 Cape boulders as Upper Silurian. The arduous nature of the task which 

 Mr. Etheridge had so kindly undertaken might be imagined by anyone who 

 had seen the refractory matrix in which the fossils were found, and he 

 (Mr. Stephens) was sure that a cordial vote of thanks -v^uld be unanimously 

 accorded for his valuable paper. 



Mr. R. M. Johnston stated that the paper read was one of very great 

 importance, as the determination of the horizon of the Caroline Creek beds 

 at Latrobe, with their included Trilobites, and the f ossilif erous conglomerate 

 at Table Cape, will materially help Tasmaniau geologists in relating the 

 undetermined ancient rocks which are found largely distributed all along the 

 western part of the island from North to South. Mr. Johnston further 

 pointed out that the Crassatella bed of the Table Cape Tertiary series, 

 which was formerly described by liim, rested immediately upon the con- 

 glomerates referred to. Much credit was due to Mr. Stephens for the 

 careful selection of fossils made by him in order to have the positions of 

 these important geological horizons truly determined. The members of 

 the Society were under deep obligation to Mr. Stephens, as well as to the 

 able pala3ontologist, Mr. Etheridge, for this very valuable contribution to 

 the Society's papers 



A communication was received from Mr. Aug. Simson, of Launceston, 

 announcing his discovery at " Brady's Look-out," Swansea, of a plant 

 (HeUpterum exiguum), new to the flora of Tasmania, and its identifi- 

 cation by Baron von Mueller. 



A special vote of thanks having been unanimously accorded to Mr. 

 Etheridge for his admirable paper, the proceedings closed with the usual 

 acknowledgment to the donors of presentations. 



