I.-INTRODUCTLON. 
Every new collection of fossils from the Ilawkeshnry-Wianamatta Series of 
New South Wales is of great interest, as contributing further towards the 
solution of the difficult problem of the age of this remarkably barren 
formation. That part of it, at least, is referable to the Triassic period, has 
long been a common belief; and the fine collection of fossil hshes from 
Gosford, described by the present Writer four years ago, exhibits an 
unmistakable Keuper or Ptluctic facies. That the upper part of the Wiana- 
matta beds may he later than the Trias, has also been suspected ; and it is 
the object of the present Memoir to describe a new fish-fauna from the 
banks of the Talliragar River, which seems to have an important l^earing upon 
the question. 
The first indications of the fauna now made known, were obtained l)y 
i\[r. Arthur Lowe, and the district was subsequently examined by Mr. 
AVilliam Anderson, who was unable to arrive at any A'ery definite conclusions 
as to the stratigraphical position of the fish-bearing horizon.^ “ A largo 
collection AAms made by Mr. Cliarles Cullen, avIio liad ])reAuously been so 
successful at Gosford ; and it now seems possible, after a careful study of 
the specimens in connection with the unique series of fossil fishes in the 
British Museum, to determine that the Talbragar strata are much noAver 
than any other part of the IlaAvkcsbury-M'ianamatta Scries that has 
previously yielded fish-remains. The folloAving Memoir demonstrates, in the 
opinion of the present Writer, that the period cannot be earlier than that of 
the Lias.'* 
Tlie specimens from the Tall3ragar River are in a much more satis- 
factory state of preservation than those from Gosford ; and, like the latter, 
tliey are quite as interesting and novel from the point of vicAv of the philo- 
sophical Paleontologist as from the standpoint of the Stratigraphical 
Geologist. They occur chiefly as impressions iii a hard ferruginous flagstone, 
‘ Our examination of the stratigraphical relation of this horizon was made subsequent to the completion of 
the MS. of Mr. Woodward’s Memoir. J'ide introductory note by u.s on tlie stratigraphy of the beds. — T.AA^.E.I). j 
E.F.P. 
- AA’. Anderson, “On the Stratigraphical Position of the Fish and Plant-bearing Beds on the Talbragar 
River, Cassilis District, X. S. AA'ales,” Records Geol. Survey X. S. AV'ale.s, 1889, I, pp. 137-139, pi. xiv. 
^ A. S. Woodward, “On the Discovery of a Jurassic Fish Fauna in t'.ie llawkesbury.AA'ianamatta Beds of 
Xew South AVales,’’ Kept. Brit. .Assoc., 1890, p. 823. 
