193 
G-lossoptebis AMPiA, Dana, PI. 15, fig. 7. 
Glogsopteiis ampla, Dana, Geology Wilkes’ U. S. Explor. Exped., 1849, p. 717 ; Atlas, 1. 13, f. 1. 
„ Eelstmantel, Palaeontographica, 1878, Supp. Bd. iii., Lief. 3, Heft 3, p. 91, t. 11, f. 2, 
1. 12, f. 7. 
Obs. The discovery of this fern in Northern Queensland, associated with a 
I*aIaeozoie fauna, may be regarded as one of the most important pateontological facts 
brought to light by my Colleague’s surveys. It entirely corroborates the often-repeated 
statements of the late Eevd. W. li. Clarke and Mr. W. Keene that Glossopferis, whatever 
Its statigraphieal position might be in other countries, was associated with Palaeozoic 
^larine beds in New South "Wales. I cannot do better than quote here the remarks I 
'^■ginally made when first recording the appearance of this fern in company with 
a-liBozoic shells in the Upper or Freshwater Series of the Bowen Kiver Coal Field : — ' 
“ In the case of the Coral Creek deposit, we have an assemblage of fossils most 
carefully collected, and all presenting traces of one and the same matrix. An 
uirdoubted Glossopferis occurs here, near G. ampla, Dana, in company with Polyzoa of 
Upper Palaeozoic type, such as Fenoslolla, Protoretepora, two species of Stenopora, a 
specimen which is either Productus or Stroplialosia, probably the latter; bivalves of 
*0 genera Pachydomns and Mceonia, another which I cannot distinguish from Aviculo- 
limmfornvis, Morris, and certainly Pterinea macroptera, Morris. An assemblage 
° fos.sil8 such as this would have been considered by all those who have in previous 
yeai's Written on tho subject. Professors Morris, McCoy, Dana, and .lukes, Mr. Daintree 
^''^d others, as representing tho U))per Pala>ozoic Series of New South Wales, &c. 
“ In a Presidential Address delivered to the Royal Society of Victoria on the 25th 
P™, 18G4,’* Professor McCoy tells us that in a discussion which took place at the 
Reading of a Paper by Mr. Daintree, the latter mentioned ‘ a fact of the highest 
Portance, and which may be found in some measure to reconcile the view of Mr. 
det'^ myself, namely, that Mr. Clarke in making his original collections for 
as bad mixed together the fossils of the upper and the lower beds. Now% 
am ^ tbe fossils could be identified with European species, and there were 
of *bein two species of Trilobites {PMllipsia and Prachymetopus), characteristic 
the ^®'^iitain Limestone as found in Ireland and Russia, the clearly marked age of 
tlie^^ have determined the age of the whole, if, as was supposed, they came from 
aj^^ *^*”®^beds ; and in this indirect way the Pachydomi and other new generic 
speeiiic forms which, from their novelty, could not afford any indication of age of 
considered as Paheozoic forms from their supposed associations 
coim„t which certainly were of that age. It is obviously, therefore, necessary to 
and investigate the evidence afresh from each bed by itself with care,’ &c. 
in this ease, for 
showing that Glossopferis does actually exist in a 
at least one specimen of Produefus or 
*^*^beet 
Tiles 
We b ^^^arks, although undoubtedly sound in principle, will not apply 
^^e here careful collecting, obr.wii'Kv +bQf 
de 
f^^ophalo; 
posit with a marine fauna, amongst which is 
tbe ‘A""®®*®- Further, the same species of Polyzoa which are found in abundance in 
Where'fu^ deposit with the Glossopferis are also met with at Pelican Creek, 
ii ‘^b^''8'Cteristic fossil is Sfrophalosia Clarkei. 
tne baking all these facts into careful and unbiassed consideration, it appears to 
b^arboipf doubt, if tho Coral Creek fauna is admitted to bo of Permo- 
*^6tnons(- bJpper Paleozoic, that we now have a tangible 
fa ion of tho occurrence of Glossopferis in actual company with such a fauna.” 
^ 0 . and PEorizon. Coral Creek, Bowen River Coal Field (R. L. Jack) — Middle 
Ma 
* Trans. R. Soo. Vic., 1865, vi., p. Ixvi. 
