237 
of the united opinion of these distinguished Paleontologists, I so placed this species in 
iny “Catalogue of Australian Fossils.” A subsequent examination of good internal 
casts, however, of Morris’s species, shooh my belief in the advisability of this step, a 
belief still further strengthened on reading Dr. Waagen’s description of his genus 
Martiniofsis. 
If Spirifer sulradiatus, which is, without doubt, one of the most characteristic 
shells of portions of our Permo-Carboniferous deposits, is rightly jjlaced by Messrs. 
Dana and De Koninck, it naturally falls into Martinia, McCoy, a genus now universally 
adopted for shells after the type of Spirifera glahrn, Martin. 
Poliowing "Waagen, Martinia and his MarUniopsii are thus distinguished : — 
Genus. 
Area in d. 
valve. 
Dental plates 
in V. valve. 
Septal plates 
in d. valve. 
Area in v. 
valve. 
Shell Strncturo. 
Martinia 
Martinioi^sis ... 
present 
absent 
present 
absent 
present 
large 
small 
moderately punctate, 
punctate-fibrous. 
“ By the smoothness of the shell, and the general appearance, the forms belonging 
to this genus,” says Waagen, when describing Martiniopsis, “appear to be very closely 
related to Martinia, and I was for a long time inclined to place these shells in that 
genus; but, after a careful study of typical specimens of Martinia gJahr a from Vise, 
which I owe to the kindness of Mens. De Koninck, I found that these shells were 
devoid of dental, as well as of septal plates, and were therefore distinct generically 
from the Indian fossils ” — i.e., Martiniopsis. 
Presuming on the accuracy of Waagen’s discovery in the structure of Martinia 
giahra, it necessarily follows that we have two outwardly similar types of the non- 
costate Spirifers, possessing a widely different internal structure — Martinia and 
Martiniopsis. 
Keferring to Australian members of this family exhibiting this outward appear- 
ance, Waagen says — “ In Australia the genus” (ilartiniopsis) “ appears to have attained 
a Somewhat more extensive development. It seems at least probable that species like 
^pir. Darwinii, Spir. omformis, and the large form figured by Mens. De Koninck under 
tile name of Spin, glaher, belong to the present genus.” 
With the view of following out this suggestion, I have assembled a large number 
of internal oasts of Spirifora sulradiata, Morris, both from Kew South Wales and 
Qneenslan'd localities, and also Spirifora Darwinii, Morris {non De Koninck), and I find 
them to possess the loading characters of Martiniopsis, as laid down by AVaagen, in all 
lit one trivial feature. Taking Spirifora subradiata as the type, by reproducing from 
internal casts the aspect of the shelly plates in some yielding and suitable material, it 
i^ill be found that very strong dental plates exist in the ventral valve. In oasts these 
produce the deep depressions on each side the umbonal projection, and terminating. 
Under the hinge-line, in the thick teeth. In the dorsal valve similar septal or crural 
P ates produce like slits or depressions, and terminate under the hinge-line in sockets 
in’ the reception of the above teeth. It further becomes apparent, from a study of these 
internal casts, that the dorsal valve possessed a small area. 
The presence of these shelly plates will at once remove Spirifora subradiata from 
® genus Martinia to Martiniopsis, under the name of Martiniopsis subradiata, Morris, 
®P-j and it will cease to be a synonym of Martinia glabra, Martin, sp. The internal 
® ructure of this species was not lost sight of, to some extent, by De Koninck, but he 
ned to appreciate its importance. 
