14 
Sedimentary Formations 
fossils. It will not be so easy to predicate those of Devonian 
type, as there is much similarity between fossils of that age and 
those of either of the other systems, the Lower Devonian species 
being very like Silurian, and the Upper Carboniferous ones. 
But if none of the fossils came from Carboniferous beds, then 
there must certainly be Devonian forms inked with Upper 
Silurian.’* 
Mr. Morris contributed, in IS 15, a paper to Str/.elecki’s work 
of that year, in which he says: “The Palaeozoic series of 
Australia and Tasmania may he regarded as partly the equiva¬ 
lent of the Devonian and Carboniferous systems of other 
countries.” (Sec Appendix VII.) 
In September, 1859, 1 addressed a letter to Mons. Delesse, 
which he communicated to the Geological Society of Prance, in 
November, and in the report of the meeting (Bull, xvii., p. 17) I 
find I expressed myself cautiously as follows: — “ Le devouicn 
ot 1c pprmica sont probables sur quelques points mais peu 
distincts” 
In 1SG1 (Cat. Viet. Exit.) Professor M'Coy stated that “ there 
had as yet been no exact identifications to prove the existence 
in Australia of the Intermediate Middle Paheozoie or Devonian 
formation.” And as recently as 18GG, Yicointe d’Arehiae 
C Gcoloyie ct _P a Iron tolorji e, ’ ’ p. 40$), writes thus : “ Le devcloppe- 
ment dcs series Silimenncs ct Carbonifcres dans l’Australio doit 
y faire soupyonner cut re dies un represent ant de eclle qui vient 
de nous occuper; mais il no soluble pas cju’eUe y ait encore etc 
bicu characterise© par scs fossiles.” 
About the same t ime Professor M‘Coy (“ Exhibition Essays of 
1SGG-7 ”) mentioned that the limestones of Buchan, in Gippsland, 
contained “ characteristic corals, EJacodcrmatous fish and abund¬ 
ance of Sp infer a hericostata , perfectly identical with specimens 
from the European Devonian limestones of the Eifel.” In the 
Melbourne ** OJJicinl Record of the Exhibitions of 1872-3,” the 
addition of some other places in Gippsland (unnamed) and of 
Mount Gibbo, is introduced ; and in 1874 there was included in 
the “ Progress Report of the Geological Survey of Victoria ,” a 
list of fossils of the most characteristic common types, drawn up 
by Professor M*Coy, which, under the head of Devonian, includes 
the following: Eavosiles (two species), Spirifera hevicostota. Gram - 
mjf si a (n. sp.), Orthonota (n. s.), J sterol epic (plates allied to). In 
1847 the same skilful Palaeontologist noticed some striking 
resemblances to Devonian fossils in a lew of the large collection 
I sent in to the AVoodwardiau Museum at Cambridge • and 
Professor De Ivoninck, also in I S 17 V Rcchercltes sur Auimaux 
Fossiles ”) records Sp. Murcliisonianas, a Devonian fossil from 
Tasmania. 
