34 PEOCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [NoV. 20, 



tubular spines, which appear to have exceeded in certain places 4 or 

 5 lines in length. The spines lie rather close to the surface of the 

 valves, with their extremities directed towards the margins of the shell. 

 The dorsal valve is convexo- concave, that is to say, gently convex 

 until within a short distance of the margin, where the valve becomes 

 concave or bent. The dorsal area is narrow and linear ; and the 

 entire surface of the valve appears to have been covered with slender 

 spines. In the interior of the dorsal valve the cardinal process is 

 trilobed ; and on either side may be seen some slight indications of 

 dental sockets : a small longitudinal ridge, which first appears under 

 the cardinal process, extends to rather more than half the length of 

 the valve ; and on either side are situated two elongated-oval-shaped 

 dendi'itic muscular scars, which are no doubt referable to the adductor 

 or occlusor muscle. From the inner extremities of these depart the 

 so-called reniform impressions, which extend by an outward oblique 

 curve to near the margin, and, turning abruptly backwards and in- 

 wards, terminate at some short distance from their first point of de- 

 parture. The interior of the ventral valve could not be observed. 



An attentive examination of this interesting species has led me 

 to consider that its affinities lie more with Helmersen's subgenus 

 Aulosteges than with King's Strophalosia. Specifically speaking, it 

 bears some resemblance to A. Wangenheimi (=A. variabilis, Helmer- 

 sen); but it may, I think, be distinguished by its shape, larger 

 dimensions, and internal details. 



The species composing the subgenera Aulosteges and Strophalosia , 

 though represented in the Carboniferous period, appear in Europe to 

 be more specially characteristic of the Permian epoch ; and it may 

 therefore remain a question whether in the Punjab there does not 

 exist, above all well- authenticated Carboniferous strata, some small 

 bed representing the Permian age, and from which A. DaThousii 

 and the variety of StropTi. Morrisiana we have described might have 

 dropped and become mixed with shells of the Carboniferous period. 

 "We may also here remind the reader that another species of Stropha- 

 losia (S. Gerardi, King) was some years ago discovered^by Dr. Gerard 

 in the Himalayan range at 17,000 feet above the sea. 



Of Aulosteges Balhousii a single example has been hitherto pro- 

 cured from the Carboniferous Limestone (?) of Moosakhail. 



In conclusion, we may observe that the total number of Car- 

 boniferous Brachiopoda hitherto discovered by Dr. Fleming and 

 Mr. Purdon in the Salt-range of the Punjab amounts to about 

 twenty-eight species, of which thirteen at least are common to 

 European rocks of the same period, although several of these have 

 in India attained larger proportions. It is also very probable that 

 further research among the Carboniferous deposits of the Punjab 

 would bring to light several more species in addition to those here 

 enumerated. 



