Ixv 



also "Notes on fossils from Maria Island" and " Notes on three species of 

 Tasmanian fish." 



FOSSILS FROM MARIA ISLAND, 



Mr. Johnston presented a specimen of Pachydomus globosus, taken 

 from cliffs near Darlington, Maria Island. A diagram was also presented 

 showing the relations of the Pachydomus and Fenestella beds in the 300 

 to 500ft. of perpendicular rocks facing the sea. The lower series exposed, 

 over 200ft. thick, is almost wholly composed of the large shells of Pachy- 

 domus globosus. 



The following is a list of the more common fossils found associated with 

 the latter by Mr. Johnston : — Aviculopecten Fittoni, Morris ; ditto 

 limseformis, ditto ; Spirifera convoluta, Phill. ; ditto Darwinii, Morris ; 

 ditto Tasmaniensis, ditto ; Productus braohythajrus, G. Sowerby ; Protore- 

 tepora ampla, Lonsdale ; Fenestella internata, ditto; ditto plebeia, M'Coy ; 

 Stenopora informis, Lonsdale ; S. Tasmaniensis, ditto ; Favosites ovata, 

 ditto ; Pleurotomaria Morrisiana, M'Coy. 



Scattered here and there are to be found angular blocks of granite 

 quietly embedded in the lower Pachydomus beds. Some of these travelled 

 blocks are estimated to weigh over a ton. It is interesting to speculate 

 how these erratic blocks came to be included in the lower fossiliferous 

 mudstones. The nearest granite formation known in the neighbourhood 

 lies fully five miles to the south. The mudstone series where the granite 

 blocks are found is almost horizontal, and seems to have been little dis- 

 turbed. The various blocks of granite seen do not appear to be waterworn. 

 By what agency were these huge granite blocks carried to the position in 

 which they are now found ? Ice action seems to be most probable, taking 

 all the cu'cumstances into consideration. 



Mr. Johnston stated, with reference to the interesting paper contributed 

 by Baron Von Mueller, that had he been aware of the subject of the paper 

 to be discussed that evening he would have brought a copy of the original 

 work for the inspection of the members of the society : a presentation copy, 

 beautifully illustrated, having been recently kindly forwarded to him by the 

 author. Baron Von Ettingshausen, of Vienna. Mr. Johnston stated that 

 this society, and geologists generally, were under great obligation to Baron 

 Von Mueller for the valuable papers he had contributed from time to time 

 towards the elucidation of the Tertiary Flora of Australia. It was a 

 very difl&cult matter to determine the exact position of vegetable organism 

 from leaf remains only, so far as their exact position in the vegetable 

 kingdom is concerned, and Baron Von Mueller was to be commended for 

 the great care he had bestowed upon such investigations hitherto. Still 

 Baron Von Ettingshausen' s distinguished position in this special field of 

 work is a guarantee that even his conclusions, drawn from the close and 

 careful study of the neuration of leaf remains, are worthy of our liighest 

 confidence. In any case the figures are especially serviceable in proving 

 the relative position of the various leaf beds found so abundantly through- 

 out this island, and also in many places in Victoria and New South Wales. 

 It is somewhat gratifying to consider that Tasmania contributes fully 

 two-thirds of the materials of which determinations have been made by 

 Baron Von Ettingshausen respecting the Tertiary Flora of Australia. 



FISHES OP TASMANIA. 



With lespect to the fishes of Tasmania, Mr. Johnston drew the atten- 

 tion of the members to several matters of interest to ichthyologists. As 

 regards the fish recently described by him as the "Butter Fish," and 

 doubtfully referred to the recently described Chilodactylus Mulhalli of 

 Macleay, Mr. Johnston stated that he had since examined a large number 

 of specimens, and found that the individuals varied considerably in the 

 number of simple rays of pectoral and in the soft rays of anal and dorsal 

 fins, and that the prevailing, or type form agreed in every respect with 

 Richardson's C. nigricans liitherto supposed to be confined to King George's 



