373 
and again, here and there, a little downwards. Erom these facts I am inclined to 
regard such differences simply as the result of pressure or fossilisation, and, in the 
absence of other negative evidence, to look upon the whole as one variable species. On 
the other hand, if, following the valued opinion of Prof. McCoy, we regard the 
Queensland and Clarence River Tceniopterk as distinct from the Talbragar and Vic- 
torian form, the former can hardly be separated from Angiopteridium spaihulatxm, 
McClelland,* a plant possessing fronds of similar size to ours, and a similar variability 
of venation. Indeed Dr. 0. Eeistmantel has already remarked on the similarity of 
this plant to T. Daintreei. If future researches should warrant a separation of these 
various fronds into two species, the only possible characters upon which such a 
division can be made are the somewhat thicker midrib, and slightly wider-apart 
venation, characters which are most strongly marked in the examples from Peak 
Mountain, Moreton District. But here, again, we are met by the Clarence River fronds, 
which are intermediate between this condition and that of the Talbragar and Victorian 
forms. 
With the above exception, the contiguity of the veins to one another in the 
Queensland examples is fairly constant, there being three veins in the space of one 
millimetre, as a general rule. Most of the specimens are fragments, but one or two 
examples observed measure three aud a-lialf and five inches in length. The breadth 
varies, of course, according to the part of the frond measured, but basal portions ha\ e 
been found to be as much as thirteen millimetres wide, whilst higher parts of the 
frond are five in breadth, and at the apices immediately below the tip about three 
millimetres. 
The distal ends or apices of the Queensland fronds are very rare, but in two 
instances observed the terminations taper very gradually to pointed apices, but without 
being acute. 
As in T. Daintreei, so here, some of the veins bifurcate, others do not; when 
division takes place it is either immediately at the midrib or at about half the distance 
between it and the margin. In some few cases bifurcation is almost marginal. 
The whole of our specimens oscillate between T. {Angiopteridium) Daintreei, 
McCoy, and T. spathulata, McClelland, with very strong affinity to the latter, 
and it even becomes a question if the species bo not identical. Speaking of 
these ferns, Eeistmantel remarks : “ Of foreign forms the Australian Txenopteris 
Daintreei, McCoy, can, to a certain extent, be compared with this Indian form ; but 
the veins in the former seem to be still straighter and are thicker than in our species, f 
The latter part of this sentence exactly expresses the difference which exists between 
the Queensland fossils and McCoy’s species, as well as between the latter and 
the Indian plant. It will not, however, surprise me if these species have to bo 
united ; if not, most of the Queensland fronds will have to be referred to A. spathulattm, 
McClelland. 
Loc. Talgai Diggings, Condamine River {Dr. O. Deistmantel Mining and 
Geol. Museum, Sydney) ; Stewart’s Creek, Stanwell, near Rockhampton (i?. D. 
Jack) ; Rosewood, near Ipswich {Son. A. 0. Gregory) ; Starfield, near Mount 
Morgan {A. J. Vogan — Mining and Gleol. Museum, Sydney) ; Beak Mountain, 
Moreton District {The late Bev. J. IS. T. IFoods— Macleay Museum, University of 
Sydney) . 
T. Daintreei occurs also in the Styx Coal Eield (Burrum Eormation). 
* Oldham and Morris, Pal. Indica (Gondwana Flora), 1863, i., Pt. 1, fas. 6, p. 84, t. 6, f. 1-7 5 
Feistmantel, Ihid., Pt. 2, 1877, p. 06, 
+ Pal. Indioa (Gondwana Flora), 1879, i.i Pt- 4, p. 207. 
