MOORE—AUSTRALIAN MESOZOIC GEOLOGY. 235 
quently abraded, indicate that very beautiful examples of this genus 
may probably be obtained from that region. 
On the surfaces of several of the blocks slight traces of carbonate 
of copper may be detected, as though they had been in contact with 
water holding that mineral in solution. 
On comparing the general series of fossils, I at once saw that they 
had nothing in common with the Rhetic beds or any of the Lower 
Secondary formations ; and on referring to the list given by Professor 
M‘Coy of the species determined by him, this was the more apparent. 
The Myophorie (nos. 23, 24, and 29) of his list, which unfortunately 
are not in good condition, and on the strength of which the presence 
of the Muschelkalk in Australia was affirmed, proved to be Trigonic, 
very closely allied to the 7’. gibbosa of the Portland Oolite ; a slightly 
curved tubular shell, referred, but with some doubt, to Orthoceras, 
proved to be a small Serpula; nor were any of the species identical, 
as suggested by Professor M‘Coy, with any belonging to the Triassic 
or Liassic series. Amongst the specimens was a part of a so-called 
““ Ammonite” (from the Upper Maranoa); but this I recognized as a 
portion of the inner whorls of a gigantic Cricceras. Another block 
contained five lobes of the terminal chambers of probably the same 
specimen, which portion alone measured 14 inches in length ; so that 
the shell must have attained a size exceeding that of any which lived 
at the Neocomian period. 
These and other circumstances indicated a higher horizon for the 
Queensland fossils ; and I now proceed to give those of most import- 
ance a more detailed consideration, after which I shall endeavour, as 
well as the difficulties they present will permit, to refer them to their 
probable geological positions. 
Orcanic REMAINS FROM QUEENSLAND. 
Amorphozoa.—This order is represented amongst the Queensland 
specimens by a large siliceo-fibrous Sponge, closely allied to Dactylo- 
calyx, Stutchb. I have been favoured with a description of it by 
Dr. Bowerbank, who proposes for it the new genus Purisiphona, 
and names it P. Clarkei, after the Rev. W. B. Clarke, F.G.S., through 
whose exertions, aided by zealous friends in the interior, the collec- 
tion of fossils now under notice has been brought together. The 
specimen has been decalcified by Dr. Bowerbank by means of hydro- 
chlorie acid, the skeleton-tissue being in a very beautiful state of 
preservation. 
This form appears not to have been uncommon, as numerous frag- 
ments may be detected projecting from the surfaces of some of the 
blocks from Wollumbilla. It is stated by Dr. Bowerbank that this 
Sponge has affinities with a group which hitherto has not been found 
in England lower than the Chalk of Flamborough Head, and that 
he considers the matrix containing the Sponge to be of a similar 
character to the hard Chalk of that district. Only the above species 
is present in the Australian collection. Dr. Bowerbank’s notes on 
the genus are appended hereto (see p. 240). 
Foraminifera.—Of this group five gencra are represented, the 
