436 J. W. Gregory — Australian Fossil Echiiioklen. 



As the species is associated at Fyan's Ford with Sarselln forhesi 

 (Woods and Dune.) Monosti/chia austrnlis, Laiibe, and a specimen 

 which is probably a young Cassidulua [AustralantJms) longianns, 

 Greg., there can be no doubt of its age. 



The reference to the last named species necessitates the considera- 

 tion of the genus Austral nnthns recently founded by Herr Bittner 

 for an Australian species described in 1H90 as Cnssidnlns longianns. 

 Herr Bittner regards his genus as apparently most allied to Hardoiiinia, 

 and as intermediate between Cassididus and Breynella (Echinanihns, 

 Desor no7i Leske). In 1890 I followed Desor in not accepting 

 Hiirdouinia; and as I regarded the new species as occupying the 

 same position in relation to Cassididus as d'Archiac and Haime's 

 genus held to Echinnnthus, it did not seem desirable to found a new 

 genus for the species. The late Prof. Duncan, however, finally 

 accepted Mardouivia as a sub-genus, and as it is also adopted by 

 M. Cotteau and Herr Bittner, the current opinion is strongly in its 

 favour. As Breynella is a large genus, there is much to be said on 

 the grounds of convenience for any sub-genera that are based on 

 characters that are at all satisfactory. The acceptance of Hardouinia 

 necessitates the adoption of AnstralantJms. Herr Bittner seems to 

 ally it most closely to Hardoiiivin. I am, however, still inclined 

 to consider it as nearly related to Cassididus, with which it agrees 

 in its ethmolysian, or almost ethmolysian apical system, in the 

 characters of the tuberculation of the actinal surface, in the sub- 

 petaloid ambulacra, and in the forward position of the anus. These 

 seem more important characters than the large size of the species, 

 and the depression of the peristome. Herr Bittner suggests that the 

 division may be only sub-generic, and as a sub-genus of Cassididus 

 I propose to adopt it. 



Fam. Spatangid^. 

 Schizaster, sp. 

 Mr. H. P. Woodward's collection from Champion's Bay includes an 

 internal cast of an Echinoid which is in all probability a Schizaster. 

 ]n the absence, however, of any knowledge in regard to the fascioles, 

 the generic position cannot be determined. Mr. Woodward' quotes 

 the genus £rissus as occurring at Shark's Bay ; otherwise this is 

 the only Spatangoid from Western Australia. 



Macropneustes decipiens (Tate). 



That the Spatangoidea will always be grouped mainly by the 

 arrangement of the fascioles is not at present likely to be questioned ; 

 but it is attended with the disadvantange that when species are 

 described from but one or two specimens, their true generic position 

 is very likely to be uncertain. Thus the species now known as 

 Sarsella forhesi (Woodw. and Dune.) thrice changed genus owing 

 to better specimens demonstrating the presence of fascioles not 

 shown in those previously' described. In Pi-of. Tate's aduiirable 

 Bibliography and Revised List of Austialian Echinoids, he has 



' n. P. Woodward, Western Australia, Annual General Report for 1890, p. 14. 

 (Perth, 1891.) 



