Bd. III: 7) 
ANTARCTIC FOSSIL BRACHIOPODA. 
3 
The series of Brachiopods, which the geologists of the Swedish Expedition were 
so fortunate as to obtain, was a fine one considering the difficulties of the task in 
such regions. Though better examples could have been desired in some cases, yet 
as a whole the specimens are in very good condition: some are very beautiful. The 
number of examples is considerable, and the collection is comparatively rich in 
species. 
The Swedish geologists are especially to be congratulated upon their success in 
regard to this collection of fossil Brachiopods; for it is the first series of these 
Molluscoids which has been obtained from the strata of the Antarctic regions. 
The series yielded by the three localities were all entirely distinct: there is no 
species common to any two places. This indicates that the strata of the three localities 
are not only distinct, but that they are separated from one another by comparatively 
long intervals of time, otherwise there would certainly have been some interming- 
ling of species. As the two most distant localities are only about 8 kilometres 
apart the fact of having three distinct Brachiopod-faunas in this short distance is of 
much interest. 
The principal feature of Locality 1 1 is the prevalence of Bouchardia. It is 
evident that the specimens of this genus were very numerous at this place, for 
some small blocks which were brought home are crowded with them. The only 
other Brachiopods obtained from Loc. 1 1 were two specimens of Lingula, one in- 
bedded in a sandstone, which is crowded with examples of a small Ceritliiuin. 
The Brachiopod-fauna of Loc. I2 has a decidedly recent appearance. The 
abundant species is a small Magasella like a living species found off the Aleutian 
Isles; then there are a few examples of a Heinithyris, most like a living Japanese 
form, and a doubtful Magellania. 
Locality 13 provided the most varied and numerous assortment of Brachiopoda both 
specifically and individually. The most noticeable species is a stout Terebratelloid 
form dorsally sulcate and ventrally uniplicate like the living Magellania venosa: un- 
fortunately all the examples of this form are in bad condition — fragmentary or 
crushed. Then there are various Terebratnlœ which are also not in a satisfactory 
condition; four species of the genus Heinithyris ; two of one example 
is very fine; and there are specimens whose generic position is not too certain: they 
are provisionally attributed to Magasella. 
The geological position of the strata which yielded these Brachiopods could only 
be determined in a general way in the field: not to be wondered at considering the 
virgin character of the ground, and the difficulties of working in so southerly a region. 
They were supposed, however, to be from Cretaceous and Tertiary strata; but their 
affinities suggest rather Middle and Upper Tertiary and Post-tertiary. This question 
is discussed more fully after the description of the species (p. 30;. 
