HARVARD UNIVERSITY.
L I B R A K Y
MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY.
V ^ ^-3. S \
SEP
RKCORDS
AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
EDITED BY THE CURATOR
Vol. VI.
F'RINTED BY ORDER OF THE TRUSTEES.
R. ETHERIDGE, Junr., J.P.,
(Cttx-ator*
SYDNEY, 19G5— 1907
A
CONXENT^S.
No. 1. Published 15th Jane, J 905,
Page The Breeding habits of tlie Paradise Fish. By Edgar R. Waite ... 1
Description of the Miitihited Cranium of a large Fish from the Lower
Cretaceous of Queensland. By R. Etheridge, Junr. ... ... 5
Studies in Australian Araneidic No. 4. By W. J. Rainbow ... ... 9
An addition to tlie Lacertilian Fauna of the Solomon Islands. By Edgar
R. Waite 13
The Fiu'ther Discovery of Dugong Bones on the Coast of ]S^ew South
Wales. By R. Etheridge, Junr ... 17
On an Insular Form of Melithreptus brerirostnx, Vigors and Horsfield.
By Alfred J. North 20
Notes on tlie Architecture, Nesting Habits, and Life Histories of Austra- lian Araiieida', based jn Speciuiens in the Australian Museum. By W. J. Rainbow 22
Notes on the Varied Honey-Eater. By Alfred J. North 29
Opal Pseudomorphs from White Cliffs, N.S.W. Bv C. Anderson, M.A.
B.Sc., and H. Stanley Jevons, M.A., B.Sc. ...' 31
Occasional Notes —
I. Climbing Habits of an Australian Snake. By Edgar R. Waite, 38
II. Pxpudaphri/is urvil/ii, Cuv. & Val., a Fish new to Western New South Wales. Hy Fd gar R. Waite, F.L.S
IV RICCOKDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
No. 2. Published 1 5th September, 1905,
Arollusc-a from One Hundred and Eleven Fathoms, East of Cape Bvron,
New South Wales. Bj Charles Hedlej. ... ... ... ... -) I
Notes on Fishes from Western Australia, No. 3. Bv Edgar K. Waite 55
Mineralogical Notes, No. 2. — Topaz, Barite, Anglesite, Cerussite and
Zircon. By C. Anderson, M.A , B So. ... .. ... ... ii'S
On a Large Example of Megalatracius 'iruanus, L. By Cliaries Hedley. 98
Notes on Australian Siphonaptera. By W. J. Kainbow ... ... 101
TJie Osteology of tlie New Guinea Tvu-tle. By Edgar K, Waite 110
Occasional Notes —
III. Western Australian Prawns and Sponges. By T. Wliitelegge. .11'.}
No. 3. Published 1 9th June, 1906.
On Two Karly Australian Ornithologists. \',y Alfred J. North 121
The Cranial Buckler of a Dipnoan Fish, from the Devonian Beds of tlie . Murrumbidgee River, N.S.W. By R. Etlieridge, Junr. ... .. 129
]\lineralogical Notes: No. 3. — Axinite, Petterdite, Crocoite, and l)afi']ite.
By C. Anderson, M.A., B.Sc 133
A Synopsis of Australian Acarina. By W. J. Rainbow ... ... ... 145
Description of and Notes on some Australian and Tasmanian Fishes. By
Edgar E. Waite, .'.194
Mollusca from Three Hundred Fathoms, off Sydney. Bv C. Hedle\-, aiui
W F. Petterd ' " ... 211
Studies in Australian Shark.^, No. 3. By Edgar E. Waite 226
Ona \ nrieiy oi Gov.ra coronata. By Alfred J. North ... ... ... 230
Occasional Notes —
V\ . Crustacea new to \ustralia. Bv Allan E. McCiilloch ... ... 231
COXTKN'TS. V
No. 4.
Published 23rd January, 1907
Aborij^iiial WVirkshups ou ihe Oo.ist of New South Wales, and their Con- tents. J3y R Etheridge, Junr, and Thomas Whitelegge ... ■ ^-^^
On the Oligoclueta from the Blue Lake, Mount Koseiusko. Bv Prof. W.
B. Benliam, D.Sc, M.A. " 251
Mineralogical Xotes : No. 4. -Ortlioehise in Xco' South Wales. By C.
Anderson, .M. .\., B.Sc. ... ... .. . 2(55
The Re-sults of Deep Sea Investigation in the Tiisman Set. I. Tlie Ex- pedition of II.M.(;.S. '• Miner."
1. Introductory Note osi tlie First Deep-t^ea Cruise. Bv Prof.
W. A . Haswell, M. A., D.Sc. and C. Hedley ..'. .271
2. Tlie Colonial Radiolaria of the Tasman Sea. By Prof. W.
A. Haswell, M. A., D.Sc 273
3. Mollusca from Eighty Fathoms off Xarrabeen. By C. Hedley 283
J-. Koraminiieral Sand Dredged Twenty-two Miles east of Sydney at a Depth of Eighty Fathoms. By E. J. Goddard, B.A./B.Sc ■ ■ 305
Note upon Mas tompsoni, Ramsay. By Allan R. McCullocli ... 312
Two New Species of Ct;//e?MAoZa. Bj W. J. Rainbow .. ... .313
Occasional Notes —
V. The Gi-eneric Name C/'e/?iV/o^a.9<e/'. By Edgar R. Waite ... 315
VI. Note on an Unusual Set of Stone Plover's Eggs. By .1. J. North 315
No. o.
Published 1 8th July, 1907-
Lower Cretaceous Fossils from the Sources of tlie Barcoo, Ward and
Niva Rivers, South Central Queensland. By R. Etheridge, Junr. ... 317
Notes on the Architecture of Australian Arcineida>. Part 6, Entelegynaj.
By W. J. Kainbow 330
Additions to the .\-vi-Fauna of the County of Cumberland. By Alfred
J Nortli * 339
VI RECORDS OF THK ACSTKAMAX MUSKUM.
Results of Deep-Sea Investigation in tlie 'I'asnian Sea. 11. The Expedition of the " S.S. Wo_v Woy."
1. Fislies and Crustaceans from Eiglit Huinh-ed Fathoms. Bv
Allan R. McCulloch ".345
Mollusca from Eiglit Hundred Fathoms, Thirty-five Miles East of Sydney. By Charles Hedley. .. .. 356
?(ovt]i Queensland Etlinograph\ . Bulletin No. 9. Hurial Ceremonies
and Disposal of the Dead. ■ Hy Walter E. Koth 365
Mineralogieal Notes : Xo 5. — Ca-siterite, Cerussite, Zeolites and other
Australian Minerals. By C. Anderson, M yV., B.Se. .. .. 404
Occasional Notes —
VTT. Elytra oi ('ircoiii'iiifis iiis/if^n/fiis. {i^ini\i\. Hy A. J. North ... 423
No. 6. Published 20th March, 1908
Title Page and Index.
LIST OF THE CONTRIIU TOPvS.
With Reference to fhe Articles contributed by each.
Anderson, Chas —
Puare Miticralof^it-al Nolu:^, No. IF.— T<)))az, Barite, An^lesite, Ceriissiteinui
Zircon 83
Xo. III. — Axinite, Petterdite, Crocoite, and Datolite .
Xo. IV. — Ortlioflaife in New South Wales
No. V. — Cassiterite, Cevussitc, Zeolites and other Aus tralian Minerals
133 265
404
Anderson, Chas-, and H S- Jevons —
Opal PseiidoiiK.r])lis from WliiteClitfs, X.S.W 31
Benham, W B -
On the Oligoclia'ta from ihe Uliie Lake, Mount Kuseiusko ... 251
Etheridge R , lunr. —
Description of the Mutilated Cranium of a large Fi?li from the
Lower Cretaceous of Queensland . . ... . . ... 5
The Further Discovery of Dugong Bones on the Coast of Xew South
Wales ■ 17
The Cranial Buckler of a Dipnoan Fi^h, from tlie Devonian Beds of
the Murrnnibidgee River, X.S.W. ... ... ... ... 129
Lower Cretaceous Fossils from the Sources of the Barcoo, Ward, and
Xive Rivers, South Central Queensland . . ... .. 317
Etheridge, R , Junf. and Thos Whitelegge —
Aboriginal Workslio])s on the Coast of Xew South Wales, and their
Contents ... ... ... ... ... ... .. ... 233
^1" RRCOKDS OF Till-; AUSTUALIAX MUSEUM
Goddard, E. J —
Foraminifei-al Sand Dredged Twenty-two Miles eiist of Sydney at a
Deptli of Eiglitv Fatlioms ... " " ... 3o5
Haswell, W. A -
TIu- C'uloni;il Eiidiolnrin of the 'I'a^niaii Sea ... ... ... .. 278
Haswell, W. A. and Chas- Hedley—
Introductory Note on the rirst Deej) Sea Cruise ... ... 271
Hedley, Charles —
MoUusca from One Hundred and Eleven Fathoms, East of Cape
Byron, New South Wales ... ... ... ... ... 41
On -A l^ar^ti TLxAmple of .1/egn/a/rirctit.s- arKariii.i ... ... ... 98
.Mollusea from Eighty Fathoms off Narrabeen ... ... ... 283
Mollusca from Eight Hundred Fatlioms, Tliirty-five Miles East of
Sydney. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 85(i
Hedley Chas- and W- F- Pettctd—
Mollusea from Tliree Hundred Fathoms, off Sydney .. .. ... 211
McCuIIoch, Allan R.—
Crustacea new to Australia ... ... ... ... ... 231
'Note \i\:)on 31 iix fompsoni. Rfimsay ... ... ... ... ... 312
Fishes and Crustaceans from Eiglit Hiuidred Fathoms, thirty-five
miles East of Sydney ... . . , ... ... ... 345
North, A. J.^
On an Insular Form of Melithreplia hrevirostrit, Vigors and Hors-
field 20
Notes on the Varied Honey -Eater ... ... ... ... ... 29
On Two Early Australian Ornithologists ... ... ... ... 121
On a Variety of Go»ra eoro««!^rt ... . ... 230
Note on an Unusual Set of Stone Plover's^ Eggs .. ... 315
Additions to the Avi-Fauna of the County of Cumhei'land ... ... 339
Eggs of Cacowaw//.'.- i^.v/ie^'a^^M*, Gould ... ... ... ... 423
LIST OF THE CONTRIBUTORS. IX
Ratnbow, W. I —
Studies ill Australian Ai'cineida-, No 4.... ... ... ... ... 9
Note.s oil tiie Airliitecture, Nesting Habits, and Life Histories of Australian .A.raneida% based on Specimens in the .Australian
^ruseuin ... ... ... .. ... 22
Notes on Australian Siplionaptera .. ... . ... inl
A Synojjsis of Australian Acarina ... . . . . ... ... 1 45
Two New Speeies of ''o//e>H/>o/'f ... ,., ... ... 313
Notes on the Airhiteeture of AustiMJian .\i'aiieid!e, Part (i. Entele-
gynse ... ... ... 330
Roth, Walter E.—
North Queensland Ethnography. Bulletin No 9. Burial Ceremonies
and I)is)3osal of the Dead . ... ... 365
Waite. Edgar R.—
'i'he Breeding habits of the Paradise Fish ... ... . I
An Addition to the Laeertilian Fauna- of the Solomon Islands ... 18
Climbing Habits of an Australian Snake ... .. .. ... 38
Pseudaphriti^ urvillii, Ciiv & Val., a Fish new to Western New
South Wales 38
Notes on Fishes from Western Australia, No. 3 ... ... . . 55
The Osteology of the New Guinea Turtle ... ... ... ...IIU
Description of and Notes on some Australian and Tasnianian Fishes 194
Studies in Australian Sharks, No. 8 ... ... ... ... ... 226
The Generic Name CrepUlopaxter ... ... ... .. ... 315
"Whitelegfge, T- —
Western Au-tialian Prawns and Sponges ... ... ... ... 119
LIST OF THE PLATES.
PART J.
I-II. Ichlliyodectts marathonensis.
III. Portion of web of Amanrobiiix socialis.
IV. Portion of rib of Halicore diiqotiff. V. Mdithrcpins hreciros-tris.
Melithreptus nioqn irosfris. Nest and Eggs of Ptilotia versicolor. VI. Opal Pseudouiorplis. VII. Glauberite Crystals and Opal Pseudomorplis
PAKT 11
|
VIII. |
iSi/,iu(lii-s .stiffen f 111. |
|
tj i/iioff/oss-i'x hroinllni I'sli. |
|
|
IX. |
Terapoii /iiniier/i/ix. |
|
X |
NeafiipKH uhliquHS. |
|
XI. |
dhij'fodon assarius. |
|
Dipi(/ifs crecKS. |
|
|
XII. |
Hi^psi/p ops micro Irp is . |
|
XIII. |
Psendoluhrus punctulati's. |
|
XIV. |
Bram ichthi^s icoodivfirdi. |
|
XV. |
Patreciis wacii/afiix. |
|
XVI. |
Pseudomonacatithus ffitlii. |
|
XVII. |
Ch(Ftodermis maccHllochi. |
|
XVI II. |
Topaz. |
|
XIX. |
Topaz. |
|
Earite. |
|
|
Aligelsite. |
|
|
XX |
Ceriissite. |
|
Zircon. |
|
|
'CXI. -XXII. Meqalatractiin aruanus. |
|
|
XXI T I |
EcJiidnophaga amhii/nns. |
|
XXIV.- |
X XV IT . Carettocheltis inscn 1 pta |
RKCOHDS (JF THE AUSTRALIAN' MISEUM.
xxvria
XXVI II XXIX-XX X VXI.
XX. VII. XXXIII. XXXIV
XXXV. XXXVI.
XXXVII
XXXVITI
XXXIX. XL.
XLI.
PAET III.
\Iuial I'alilct ill St. James Cliurch, Sydney, erecteJ in i;iemoiy of John Gilbert, Oniitlidlogist.
Giniurhynchus sussmilchi. Eth. fil.
X. Axinite.
Axinite, Pettfi-dite, and Crocdite.
Petiei-flite (Miuietite).
Datolite
Peltorharnph ii %• hKxsenxi-s.
nil otn boftolea lU^xoidcs.
ClieUohra-'chns vufux. Crepidoijasiier spatula. Diplocre/i is purripinnix,
,, cardinalin,
Bleiniins faxmaniamts. Op/iiuch''iv» i/aljrif^Ii.
„ ffraciUx.
JJoni/ea oleacea. li Issoa Jiloci icta. Bathi/toma agnata. Cerithiopsis caciiminatus. Pleurotoma casearia. Murex liciiiun Emayginula superha. Te.rehra lauretanm.
1> ifU urn fuscocapitui tun. Caneellaria scohinn. Tiheria nUidula. Limopsi.s eiectus. I'oromi/a undosa. Aiiiusii(m thetidis.
Carcharicn firachi/urti.s.
Cctiilns aaaiis, egg-case.
rrirasci/ Ilium collare, egg-case.
PART IV.
XLII-XLIV. Flint luiplenienis from Aboriginal AVorksliojJs.
XLV. Views of the principal sandhill at Eellambi.
XLVI-XLVII. Oligochffita I'rom Mt. Kosciusko, X.S.W.
XLVIII-LII. Orthoclase. New England, X.S W.
LIII. Radiolaria of the Tasman Sea.
LIV-LVI. Alollusca from eighty fathoms off X.iirabeen.
LIST OF THE PLATKS.
PART V.
LVII-LXII. Lower Cretaceous Fossils froin tlie li-.n-coo, W'ai.i, and Nive River?, Soiitli Centra] Queensland.
LXIII-LX\'. Fishes and Crustaceans from eight hnndred fatlionis.
LXYI-LXVII. Molhisoa fVoni eight hundred fatlumis, tliirtj -five miles Eas.t of Svdnev.
LXVIII LXXIV. North Queensland Ethnograpliv.
LXXV. Cassiterite.
LXXVILXXYII. Cerussite.
LXXYIII Ijarite, Mona/.ite, Si-licclitc. Vesuvianiteand Heulandite,
LXXIX-LXXX. Chabazite.
CORRECTIONS.
Page 34, in description of text figure — for " h" read " B"
„ 83, line 7 — for " and " read " witli."
„ 92, line 16 — for " anlirydroiis" read " anliydroiis."
,, 134, line 14 — for " ortliogonal " read " ortliograjjliic."
„ 256, footnote — for "portion " read " position."
„ 367, line 18- for " off " read " of."
„ 390, ] ine 21 — for " born " read " borne."
„ 393, line 18 — for " dessication " read '' desiccation."
„ 404, line 18 — for " the faint line " read "a faint line." Plate XX. explanation line 7 add o (112).
,, xxvii. — read xxviia.
Plnd's xlii., xliii., xlv., at foot of plate — for " H. Barnes, Junr., read " T. Wliitelegge."
Plate liii — substitute tiie plate inserted in part 5 for that previously issued in jKirt 4, on which the figure numbers were omitted.
,, Ixxii. explanation — for " Rosewell " read " Russell."
Ixxii explanation — for " dessicnticjii " re:id " desi<'cation."
RECORDS
OF THE
AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
EDITED BY THE CURATOR.
Vol. VI, No. 1.
PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE TRUSTEES
R. ETHERIDGE, Junr., J.P., Curator.
SYDNEY, 15th JUNE, 1905.
The Swift Printinsr Co., Ltd., .5 Jatuieson Lanp, Sydney.
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
The Breeding habits of the Paradise Pish. By Edgrar R. Waite,
F.L.S, Zoologist ... ... ... ... 1
Description of the Mutilated Cranium of a large Fish from the Lower Cretacious of Queensland. By R. Etheridge, Junr., Curator . . . . . . . . . . .5
Studies in Australian Araneidse No. 4. By W. J. Rainbow, F.L.S.,
F.E.S., Entomologist ... .. .. .. 9
An Addition to the Lacertilian Fauna of the Solomon Islands.
By Edgar R. Waite, F.L.S., Zoologist . . . . . . 13
The Further Discorery of Dugong Bones on the Coast of New
South Wales. By R. Etheridge, Junr., Curator ;'...' i/ ... 17
On an Insular Form of Melithreptus hrevirostris, Vigors and Hors- field. By Alfred J. North, C M.Z.S., C.M,B.O,U., Ornitho- logist .. .. .. .. ..20
Notes on the Architecture, Nesting Habits, and Life Histories of Australian Araneidae, based on Specimens in th« Australian Museum, By W. J. Rainbow, F.L.S., F.E.S., Entomologist . . 22
Notes on the Varied Honey-Eater, Bv Alfred J. North, C.M.Z.S.,
C.M.B.O.U., Ornithologist ... ' ... ... ... 29
Opal Pseudomorphs from White Cliffs, N.S.W. By C. Anderson, M.A., B.Sc, Mineralogist to the Australian Museum, and H. Stanley Jevons, M,A., B.Sc, Lecturer on Mineralogy and Petrology, University of Sydney .' ^ ..< ... ... 31
Occasional Notes. —
I. Climbing Habits of an Australian Snake. By Edgar R. Waite, I.L.S., Zoologist ... ... ... 38
II. Fseudaphritis urvilUi, Cuv. & Val., a Fish new to Western
New South Wales. By Edgar R. Waite, F.L.S., Zoologist 38
THE BREEDING HABITS of the PARADISE FISH,
(POLYACANTHUS OPERCULARIS, Limunis).
Bv Edgar R. Waitk, F.L.S., Zoologist.
In a former paper^ I described the nesting habits of the Fighting Fish (Betta jni^jnax, Cantor) as observed in my aquaria. I have since had the good fortune to secure a number of living specimens of the Paradise or Rainbow Fish, Polyacanthus opPTcularis, Lin- naeus," which name, according to Dr. Boulenger,^ represents the original species whence the domestic Macropodui^ viridianratuH, Lacepede,^ is derived.
This fish is breeding very freely with me, but as its life history is well known I do not propose to do more than point out in what respects its habits differ from those of Betta.
The male is larger than tlie female, has the fins more produced and the caudal filamentous. Ordinarily the coloration of the sexes is similar, but when breeding the hues of the male are intensified, while the female becomes very pale and loses the beautiful greenish blue bars on the body. None of the illustra- tions I have seen do justice to this beautiful fish. My specimens exhibit ten bars as described by Linnaeus ; published figures show a smaller number.''
The nest of Folyacdidluis is usually not so extensive nor so dome-shaped as that of Betta : this may be accounted for by the former fish showing a greater preference for nesting beneath some shelter, as the leaf of a Nardoo {Marsilea) or the crossing- ribbons of Valisneria. The first batch of eggs is frequently produced when but a few bubbles are formed, others being added below as oviposition proceeds. As a consequence the eggs are raised quite out of the water and hatched in this situation. The young ones may be seen wriggling within the egg on the surface of the nest : this lends support to the observation that some existing shelter is used, beneath which the bubbles are blown, otherwise the young would be very conspicuous to an enemy above.
1 Waite— Ree. Aust. Mus.. v., 1904, p. 293, pi. xxxviii.
2 LinnfEus — Syst. Nat., ed. x, 1758, p. 283.
3 Bouleiiijer — Cambridge Nat. Hist., vii., 1904, p. 669. * Lacepede— Hist. Nat. Poiss., iii., 1802, p. 417.
^ Cuvier et Valenciennes — Hist. Nat. Poiss., vii,, 1831, pi. 197; Valen- ciennes— Rep:. Anim. 111. Poiss., pi. Ixxiv., fig. 2; Pouchet — Rev. Mag. Zool., xxiii., 1872, pi. xxv.
5i RECOKDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
A marked diiFerence is observable in the relative specific gravity of the eggs of Betta and Polyacanthus.. As previously described those of the former are heavier than water, and the male collects them as they sink and places them beneath the nest. In the latter the eggs are lighter than water, and thus ascend to beneath the bubbles without the aid of the male. At the moment of extrusion the female is quite inverted, so that the eggs, apart from their relative lightness, are directed upwai'ds. As the nest may be of but little extent, say, at first, of the size of a shilling, the eggs frequently rise to the surface in the clear water beyond its margin ; these are collected by the male and placed beneath the bubbles. This does not, however, occur until some little time after the eggs are produced, for, unlike the con- dition in Betta, it is the male who is most exhausted, the female being the first to move away.
The female Paradise Fish seems to have greater motherly instinct than the female Betta, and frequently takes part in collecting the eggs and placing them in the " cradle," though this is quite subject to the whim of the male, who assumes complete control.
I now have eight pairs of Polyacanthus breeding, and there is much diffei-ence in the amount of toleration extended to the female by their respective mates. Though I had three nestings of Betta the progeny was the i-esult of but one pair, so that my generalisations in this respect may not be quite fair. The female Betta certainly devoured all eggs and young that came within her reach. One of the female Polyacanthiis, on the other hand, obtained three or four eggs from the nest, evidently with the view, like the male, of rearranging their position. She was, however, driven away, but at the first oppoi'tunity returned the eggs to the nest, having had them in her mouth for more than a minute.
As I had so many pairs breeding I could afford to sacrifice one family in order to ascertain, if possible, what real object the male has in so zealously tending and guarding the eggs. To this end, as soon as a complement of eggs was pi'oduced I removed them en masse, by means of a tablespoon, to another vessel. They hatched in the usual course, and the larva3 developed, so that now, at the end of six weeks, they are as lai'ge, active and healthy as those left under the care of the male.
With the view of asceitaining the function of the bubbles, I removed from another nest some of the newly-deposited eggs, and carefully rejected all bubbles. As before, these eggs de^^eloped equally with those left under paternal care. It would seem,
BREEDING HABITS OF THE PARADISE FISH — W'AITE. 6
therefoi'e, that the pui-port of the nest and care of the parent is simply protective. The mass of spume hides the eggs or young from aerial or teri-estrial enemies, while the attendance and vigilance of the male secures them from attack of aquatic foes.
In Betta, whose habits are, apparently, more highly specialised, the nest must have a more important function, seeing that without it, and the care of the male, the eggs would naturally sink and doubtless perish.
I had not hitherto numbered Utricularia among my aquatic plants, but having procured a spray, I placed it in a vessel in my study at the museum : this contained a pair of Paradise Fish and fry a few days old. Paying me a visit next day, my colleague, Mr. T. Whitelegge, warned me of the jiossible fate of the young, having in mind the well-known carnivorous habit of the Bladder- wort.
An inspection of the vessel showed that the number of young had very seriously diminished, and the missing ones were found in the bladders of the plant. Some were seized by the head, and some by the tail, as originally described by Mr. Simms in the case of roach fry.
In the hope of seeing a fish actually caught, my assistant, Mr. A. R. McCulloch, watched the plant, and had scarcely seated himself at the aquarium before he called me. I saw one of the fry caught by the extreme tip of the tail. It had been swimming close to one of the bladders, and possibly touched the mouth, when instantly it was trapped. At intervals its struggles were frantic, and the bladder was shaken by the vibi'ations. At the end of seven minutes the tail was entirely engulfed, and con- tinued to wriggle within the bladder, while the head and body were shaken without.
The little fish lived for an hour and a half, but it was not until the following morning that the whole was taken into the bladder.
Articles dealing with the carnivorous habit of Utrindaria are very numerous. The following refer especially to its piscivorous practice : —
Moseley (Sinims) — Nature, xxx., 1884, p. 81.
Simms — Loc. cit., p. 295, figs. 1-3.
Halperine — Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm., v., 1885, p. 353, pis. i., ii.
The housing of the fry has provided an interesting example of the principle detailed by Semper*" as to the influence of the volume of water on the growth of an individual.
'' Semper — Animal Life, 1881, p. 159, et seq.
4 EECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
In order to study the de^•elopment of the j'ouiig, I i-emoved as I thought, the whole of a young family from a large aquarium, where they had been bred, to a small vessel at the Museum.
I aftei'wards discovered that five young ones had escaped my search and remained in the original aquarium. These grew at a rapid rate, whereas those placed in the smaller vessel showed no increase at all. So marked was the difference that I took one of the former- from my home and placed it with its smaller brethren. It appeared as a veritable giant among them, and had all its fins properl)" differentiated, whereas in the othei-s the}- had not developed beyond the lar^•al stage.
To say that the later-introduced fish is twice the length and four 01- five times the bulk of the others may give some idea of its relative size, but its greater development may be better appi^eciated when I mention that it took to feeding on the smaller fish, so that now, after a partnership of about three weeks, it is the sole vertebrate occupant of the vessel.
As regards food, this fish may be said to have had what Semper calls its optimum, and yet about the time it assimilated the last of its companions it was noticeably inferior in size to the other four with which it was previously associated, though tliey had not been so lavishly supplied with food. They had, howe^'er, abundance of water. The i-emoval of the fry j^laced the volume of water for the individual also at its optimum, so that now it appears to have regained its ratio of development. Thus Semper's conclusions receive interesting confirmation.
I may mention that we have had a tadpole of one of the Hylido', in a small body of water for over a year ; it has grown to a large size, but has never got beyond the lai-val stage. Other larvae left in the pond, whence this was removed, completed their metamorphoses months ago.
DESCRIPTION OF the MUTILATED CRANIUM of a
LARGE FISH, from the LOWER CRETACEOUS of
QUEENSLAND.
By R. Etheridge, Junr., Curator
(Plates i. — ii.)
A comparatively recent visit to Queensland yielded to Mr. P. G. Black's researches in the Lower Cretaceous beds at Mara- thon, Flinders River, the mutilated skull of a fish. A reproduc- tion of this fossil has been made for the Museum collection, with Mr. Black's permission, the original returning to his cabinet.
The skull is crushed from above downward, and consequently expanded to some extent laterally, and also pressed backwards Above, the bones are firmly encased in the close-grained argillace- ous limestone forming the matrix, but below are weathered to a great extent free of the latter. The displacement arising from this downward and backward pressure renders the determination of the osseous members of the cranium difficult and uncertain ; but the jaws ai^e in a much better state of preservation. A pre- liminary inspection shows considerable portions of the maxillaries, and mandibles i7i situ, parts of the opercular apparatus, the hyoid bones, the pectoral fins, some of the anterior vertebne, and remains of some ribs.
Photographs of this head were forwarded to Dr. A. Smith Woodward, who has been good enough to afford me some valu- able suggestions as to its affinity. In correspondence, I indicated the genus Portheus, Cope, a species of which is believed to exist in the Lower Cretaceous of Queensland, but Dr. Woodward sug- gested Elapopsis, Heckel, as a more fitting resting-place. As, however, the teeth are implanted in sockets, and not merely at- tached to the margins of the jaws,^ I have rejected this referenct in favour of one that appeal's to me to suit the case better. Irx the Ichthyodectida? (Crook), the margins of the jaws bear a row of strong, conical teeth implanted in sockets,^ and the maxilliB
1 At least, so I infer from Dr. A. Smith "Woodward's remarks (Brit.
Mus. Cat. FosP. Fishes, pt. 4, I'JOl. p. 8); see also J. J. Heckel— Denks. K. K. Akad. Wiss. (Math. Nat. Classe), xi., 1 Abth., 1856, p. 251.
2 Zittel— Text- Book Pal. (Ed. Eastman), ii, 1902, p. 95.
6 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
are long and stout. Within this family we meet with two genera, Portheus, Cope,^ and Ichthyodectes, Cope/ the latter of which appears to possess stronger affinities with our fossil. In the first of these, the maxillary and dentary teeth are large but of variable size, but in the latter the teeth are of uniform proportion. Fur- thermore, in our fossil the vertebral centra bear lateral longitu- dinal pits, and not mei'e ridges, as in E/o2x>2)sis.^
In its present depressed condition, the skull measures seven and a half inches, whilst the transverse width across the combined maxilla? and dentaries is three inches.
The maxillfe (m.) are stout bones approximately four and a half inches long, but are not perfect anteriorly. The pi-emaxilla has disappeared, leaving a large, open space between the anterior ends of the maxilla;. The dentaries (de.), in consequence of compression, are overlapped by the maxillae, and are stout and strong, approxi- mately five inches long, by five-eighths of an inch deep, with deeply V-shaped posterior ends for the insertion of the articulars (ar.) ; the latter are stout bones also, in keeping with the den- taries, and are about two and a quarter inches long. The superior bones of the skull, in common with the orbits, are so crushed togethei- that an attempt to distinguish them can result only in provisional determination, but perhaps, on the right side parts of the ethmoid and frontal (pth. &/.) ai'e I'epresented by the crushed mass of osseous matter seen above the maxilla. Immediately behind the gape is a curved transverse bone that may be a portion of the hyomandibular or preoperculum {hvi. ■pr-)i and behind that again, particularly on the right side, a flat exfoliated bone, which cannot be other than the operculum {op). From this obliquely inwards to the middle line of the head, is a thick pro- minent surface (])■(/ ■), but thinly-covered with bone here and there, and again repeated on the left side. The two halves form be- tween them a wide open V-shaped figure, casting a deep shadow over the depression in which the vertebra? lie ; possibly this re- presents some portion of the pectoral gii-dle.
Between the dentaries (de.) at their posterior ends may be seen the diverging hyoids {hi/.), and a number of the branchiostegal rays {br.), the anterior vertebne {v.), some ribs (v.), and the sup-
8 Cope— Eept. U.S. Geol. Survey Territories (Hayden's), ii., 1875. p. 190. ^ Cope — Loc. cif., p. 205. By Woodward both these <j;enera are placed
in the Chirocentridse (Brit. Mus. Cat. Foss. Fishes, pt. 4, 1901,
p. 87), and by Dr. G. A. Boulenger in the Saurodontidse (Cambridire
Nat. Hist., vii.. Fishes, 1904, p. 561). s Smitl) Woodward— Brit. Mus. Cat. F<iss. Fishes, pt. 4, 1901, pp. 9
and 99.
MUTILATED CRANIUM OF A LARGE FISH — KTHERIDGE, 7
posed pectoral fins {/.). Of the branchiostegal rays there are portions of nine protruding through the matrix on the right-hand side, and a less number on the left. There are ten anterior vertebne partially weathered out, occupying a length of four and a half inches, but as the four posterior have slid slightly from their normal position, the actual fore-and-aft space occupied by the series of ten will be rather less. The normal anterior vertebrte are from five-sixteenths of an inch to three-eigths in length, and all bear defined rims at both ends, and pits, almost round on the second and third from the front, but more oval in a fore-and-aft direction on the succeeding centi^a. The ribs are long and moderately stout, no trace of neural arches remaining. At the sides of the vertebrje, but separated from them by mati'ix, ai-e roughened bony surfaces of some extent, which my colleague, Mr. E. R. Waite, suggests may be the larger basal joints of the pectoral fins compressed together and transversely displaced. Teeth are visible on both maxillte, but not on the dentaries in consequence of the overlapping of the former over the latter, ex- cept at their immediate fractured anterior ends ; at these points one tooth is visible on either side. The teeth are strong, hollow, and conical, and not compressed to a sharp edge, extending along the whole length of the maxillae as far as these bones are pre- served, and set in alveoli. The remains of about twenty-four are visible on the right maxilla and about fifteen on the left. The single teeth preserved at the anterioi- fractured ends of the den- taries do not appear to differ in size or character from those along the maxillae.
The vertebrae closely resemble those figured by Dr. A. Smith Woodward "as possibly referable to [his] Claclocycliis siveeti"*^ a species dependant on certain detached scales from the Lower Cre- taceous of Queensland. Dr. Woodward has also figured the left lateral view of the anterior portion of a skull from the same series of rocks as Foi-thp'ii,s mistralis,'' to which the present fossil bears a very suspicious resemblance. In the light of Cope's type figure of the cranium of Portheiis^^ and his remarks on the teeth — " Sizes irregular ; the premaxilla, median maxilla, and anterior dentary teeth much enlarged"" — there is a possibility of Dr. Woodward's fish being an Ichthyodectes also. In the figui-e of Fortheus aush-alis
s Woodward— Ann. Mag. Nat. Hi&t., (6), xiv., 1894, pi. x„ f. 7.
■^ Woodward — Loc. ft/., pi. x., f. 1, la.
** Cope — Report U. S. Geo). Survey Territories (Hayden's), li, 1875, p.
184, f. 8, pis. xxxix and xli (P. molossus). 3 Cope — Report U.S. Geo). Survey Territories (Hayden's), ii, 1875, p.
190.
» KECOKDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
there is no greater degi'ee of variation in the size of the teeth than there is in those of our fossil. The maxillae and dentai-ies in both are large bones, although larger in P. mistralis, whilst in Ichthyodectes marathonetisis, as I purpose terming Mr. Black's specimen, the space left by the accidental removal of the pre- maxilla, would accommodate nearly as large a bone as that repre- sented in the figure of that of P. australis.
If my selection of Ichthyodectes be correct, /. marathonensis resembles /. ctenodon, Cope,^° in possessing straight maxillte, and apparently similar dentaries also. /. ctenodon, in common with /. anaides, Cope,'^ is a much lai'ger fish, and the bones are cer- tainly moi'e massive. With /. serrideiis, Sm. Woodw.,^- /. tenui- dens, Sm. Woodw.,-'^ /. Ttiinor (Egevton), Newton," and /. elegans, Newton,^* hardly any comparison is necessary. In /. hamatus, Cope,"' tlie maxillae are again much curved.
^^ Cope — Loc. cit., pi. xlvi., f. 1 and 2.
11 Cope — Loc. cit., pi. xlv., f. 1.
i-^ Smith Woodward— Brit. Mus. Cat. Foss. Fishes, pt. 4, 1901, pi. viii.
13 Smith Woodward — Loc. cii., pi. ix., f. 6.
1^ Newton — Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc, xxxiii., 1877, pi. xxii., f. 14.
Newton — Loc. cif., pi. xxii., f. 15. 1" Cope — Report U.S. Geol. Survey Territories (Hayden's), ii., 1875, pi. xlvi., f. 5, 5a.
STUDIES IN AUSTRALIAN ARANEID^.
No. 4.
By W. J. Rainbow, F.L.S., F.E.S., Entomologist.
(Plate iii. and text fig. 1).
Familij DICTYNID^.
(rf'.fms Amaurobius, C. Koch.
A.MAUROBIUS SOCIALIS/ .y}. aov.
$ Cepholathorax, 5-5 mm. long, 3-5 mm. broad ; abdomen, 61 mm. long, 4*2 mm. broad.
Cephalothorax. — Obovate, dark brown, hairy. Pars cephalica large, sti'ongly arched. Pars thoracica broad, sloping posteriorly, arched, median depression and normal grooves distinct.
Eyes. — Eight, disposed in two transverse, nearly parallel rows, and occupying almost the entire space in front ; front row almost straight, rear- row gently recurved. Of the front row the median pair ai'e very slightly the largest, and are placed closely together, nearly touching one another ; each lateral eye is sepai'ated from its median neighbour by a space equal to once its own diameter ; those compi'ising tlie rear row are slightly smaller than their anterior neighbours ; the median pair are separated from each othei" by a space equal t(i aliout twice their individual diameter, and from their lateral neighbours by about two and a half diameters.
Lexis. — Robust, yellow-brown, clothed with long hairs, and armed with strong spines. Measurements (in millimetres): —
1 SocirilLs — Social, sociable.
10
RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
|
Leg. |
Coxa. |
Trochanter and Femur. |
Patella and Tibia. |
Metatarsus and Tarsus. |
Total. |
|
1 |
11 |
4-4 |
4-4 |
3-8 |
13-7 |
|
2 |
M |
4-4 |
4-4 |
3-8 |
13-7 |
|
3 |
1-0 |
3-6 |
3-6 |
3-4 |
11-6 |
|
4 |
1-0 |
4-2 |
4-3 |
3-8 |
13-3 |
Palpi. — Concolorous, short, similar in clothing and armature ^0 legs. Measurements : Coxa, 04 mm., trochanter and femur, I'S mm.; patella and tibia, 1"8 mm.; tarsus, 1"3 mm.; total, 5 "3 mm.
Falces. — Dark brown, long, robust, arched, hairy, margins of the furrow of each falx armed with three teeth.
Alaxilhr. — Longer than broad, robust, arched, inclining inwards, hairy, the surface dark brown, apices and inner angles pale yellowish.
Lahiiun. — Concolorous, longer than broad, hairy, apex trun- cated.
Sternum. — Concolorous also, shield-shaped, convex, hairy.
Abdomen. — Ovate, moderately overhanging base of cephalo- thorax, hairy, yellow-brown, with faintly-visible broad transverse bars, the first three of which are straight, or nearly so, whilst the lower pair are each formed like a short, broad, inverted V ; below these, again, there is a large concolorous elongate-oval patch. Laterally and beneath, the surface is hair}", and yellow-brown.
E'pigyne. — As in figure (fig. 1).
Crihellum. — Transverse, nearly parallel, and divided into two plates.
Ohs. — In gravid females, the abdomen appears much ligliter in colour.
Hab. — Grand Arch, Jenolan Caves.
Some time ago, Mr. J. C. AViburd presented to the Trustees two large shawl-like webs, taken from the roof of the Grand Arch, Jenolan Caves. Each web was closely and densely- woven, and had been fabricated by a large number of individuals living
Fig. I.
STCDIES IN AUSTRALIAN ARANEIDiE — RAINBOW. 11
together as a community. No spiders wei'e forwarded w'ith the first example, but from its folds I picked a quantity of exuvm, which convinced me that the architects belonged to the genus Ammifobius, C. Koch. I thereupon wrote Mr. Wiburd — who has on different occasions presented the Trustees valuable Arach- nological collections from the Cave districts — asking him to try and secure some of the spiders responsible for the construction. This he succeeded in doing, so that I am now enabled to describe both the spider and the web.
The larger web presented by Mr. Wiburd measures twelve feet in length, and rather more than four feet at its greatest width, and when hanging in, situ was festooned amongst the stalactites depending from the roof of the cave. The webs are full of holes, each of which had evidently been the entrance to a retreat tube. These webs are closely and densely woven, and are suggestive of a fabric — such as a shawl. Scattei-ed over the surface of this huge web are a large number of empty cocoons, or ova-sacs. These are pure white. Hat, more or less discoidal and closely woven. Each sac consists of two strong, paper-like discs — an upper and a lower — between which the eggs had been placed. None exhibited any trace of loose, flocculent silk. The discs do not appear to vary in size. A number were measured, and from seven to eight milli- metres in diameter was the result obtained.
Family (ECOBIID^.
In my last paper of this series, I recoi'ded for the first time in Australia the occurrence of the family Mimetidii^J' The present paper records, also for the first time here, the family (Ecobiidfe. The family is a very small one, consisting of only one genus, and fifteen species. The genus (Ecobius, Lucas, is distributed over " Regio mediterranea ; ins. Atlanticse j Arabia me rid.; Japonia ; Nova Caledonia; America septent. et merid.; Antilla?,"" to which I now add — Sydney, N. 8. Wales.
The species occurring here appears to be, unquestionably, the widely distributed CE. navus, Bl. This form has been previously recorded from the islands of the Atlantic, Japan, New Caledonia, Venezuela, southern parts of the United iStates, and the Antilles. This distribution Simon suggests is, without doubt, due to the agency of commerce.
■2 Kainbow— Rec. Austr. Mus., v., 1904, p. 329.
3 Simon— Hist. Nat. des Araignees, 2nd Ed., i., 1892, p. 247.
12 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
The species are all microscopic. Their webs, which are also small, are closely woven and transparent, and are usually con- structed under stones, and in the angles of walls. When at rest in the web, these spiders hang motionless, but when disturbed they ai'e decidedly active, and in endeavouring to escape des- cribe circles. Their cocoons are flocculent, rather transparent, plano-convex, fixed, and contain each seven or eight non-agglu- tinated eggs.
There are three specimens in the Australian Museum cabinet and they were collected by myself in the Museum building.
An addition to the LACERTILIAN FAUNA of the SOLOMON ISLANDS.
By Edgar R. Waite, F.L.S., Zoologist.
(Fig. 2).
The Trustees have received a fine female Gecko from Mr. Charles M. Woodford, British Resident, Solomon Group.
Mr. Woodfoid's knowledge of the fauna of the group under his administration led him to suggest that the Gecko was an undescribed species ; though previously known, it indeed proves to be new to the Solomon Islands. This is the more interesting as the group has been so well worked by Messrs. Guppy and Woodford. In this connection Dr. G. A. Boulenger remarks^ : — " The fact that, in spite of the extent of the collection (over 200 specimens) and the special attention paid by the collector [Mr. Woodford] to this group of animals, only four species are there- by added to the herpetological list of the Solomons, shows that our knowledge of this part of the fauna approaches completion." In the paper quoted Boulenger gives a complete list (28) of the reptiles of the Solomon Group, to the date of publication. Several species have, however, been added since that time, and it is now my piivilege to add another.
Mr. Woodford's Gecko proves to be : —
Gymnodactylus louisiadensis, De Vis.
Ann. Rep. Brit. New Guinea, App. cc, 1892, p. 5, and Ann. Queensland Mus., ii., 1892, p. 11.
The type was obtained at Sudest Is. (Tagula Is.) Louisiade Archipelago. A species from Moroka, British New Guinea, was described and figured by Boulenger'^ under the name G. h>ri«'. Dr. Franz Werner^ thoroughly reviewed these two forms and inclined to the belief that they are not specifically distinct. For present purposes I assume this to be so. Mr. Woodford's speci- men, however, seems to be a typical example, differing from the type only in respect to arrangement of the colour bands, in having the internasal plates broken up into four, and the subdigital lamellae and labial plates slightly different in number,
1 Boulenger— Proc. Zool. Soc. 1888, p. 88. , -^ Boulenger— Ann. Mus. Civ. Sto. Nat. Genova, (2), xviii., 1897 (1898), p. 695, pi. vi. 3 Werner— Verb. Zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, li., 1901, p. 604.
14
RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
In 1901 Mr. Samuel Garman^ reported on the reptiles of Mr. Alexander Agassiz's Expedition to the Barrier Reef, and des- cribed a member of the genus Gymnodactylns under the name G. olivii. He contrasts its characters with those of G. pelayicus and evidently did not consult the descriptions of G. lotcisiadensis or G. lo7-i(f. G. olivii is certainly identical with our specimen, agreeing with it in the disposition of the colour bands which, as above mentioned, differ somewhat from those of the type.
In G. louisiadensis there are but five body bands, the first of which, connecting the eyes across the occiput, is V-shaped ; the disposition of the other bands is not mentioned, but their arrangement is probably similar to those of G. Im-icp. In this form there are three pairs of markings between the fore and hind limbs, and a fifth at the base of the tail. The markings are not in the form of bands, but consist of pairs of oblique streaks, each pair forming a V-like figure, those only of the nape and the base of the tail, howevei-, produce a complete V.
In both Mr. Garman's and Mi-. Woodford's examples the bands are six in number ; the first is U-shaped, the second connects the shoulders, three occupy the space between the fore and hind limbs, and the sixth connects the thighs, having a much more anterior position than the last band in G. louisiadeAisis or G. lofice. These bands are incomplete below.
Of Dr. Werner's adult examples, one resembled G. louisiadensis the other G. lorice, while a young one exhibited eight pairs of spots or streaks. This author ^particularly i-efers to structural details, tabulated below, the characters of G. olivii and Mr. Woodford's specimens being now included.
|
Name. |
Lamellae under |
Supralabials. |
Rows of body |
|
4th toe. |
tubercles. |
||
|
G. louisiadensis . . . |
10-11 |
12 |
26 |
|
G. loi-id" ... |
|
12 |
— |
|
Dr. Werner, i. ... |
18 |
U-15 |
26 |
|
, ii. |
12 |
17-18 |
28 |
|
„ iii. |
12 |
11-13 |
22 |
|
G. olivii ... |
— |
13 |
24 |
|
Mr. Woodford ... |
12 |
13 |
26 |
* Gartnan — Bull. Mua. Coinp. Zool. Harv. Coll., xxxix., 1901, p. i., pi. i. fig. 1.
AN ADDITION TO THE LACERTILIAN FAUNA WAITE. 15
In both examples which have been figured {G. lorim and G. olivii), the tail has been reproduced, and as usual in such cases the colour-pattern and distinctive scutation of the original member is lost. In our example the tail has not suffered mutation and opportunity is taken to illustrate its character. It is covered with flat juxtaposed scales which are smallest above, increasing in size towards the lower surface ; those bordei-ing the large inferior scutes are quite one-third the width of the scutes. The tubercles upon the upper and lateral aspects of the proximal portion, as far as the hinder edge of the first caudal colour band, are similar to those of the body ; thence the arrangement assumes a distinctive character, the tubercles being confined to the upper surface and disposed in widely spaced transverse rows. Of these the first three ai-e composed each of six tubercles, the two in front having a sup- plementary row of four tubercles an- teriorly ; the next five rows are formed each of four tubercles and the three fol- lowing of two each only, the latter of which is but little differentiated from the ordinary scales. The tubercles occupy the proximal three-sevenths of the tail only.
As on the body, the markings are in the form of bands though of darker hue, and similarly they do not compass the lower surface. The colour increases in intensity posteriorly and the distal two- fifths is without markings. There are five dark bands on the tail, each twice the width of the interspaces, and on the median line above they are deeply in- cised befoi-e and behind. The accom- panying figure (fig. 2) illustrates the features described.
The type was, as before stated, taken at Sudest Is. in the Louisiades, and the British Museum possesses examples from Fergusson Is., Wood- lark Is., and British New Guinea. From the latter locality the types of G. Im-icE were obtained, Dr. Wer- ner had three specimens from Dutch New Guinea, and Mr. Garman's G. olivii is recorded from Cooktown. Mr. Woodford
Fiij. 2.
16 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
informs us that his example was taken in the chart drawer at the Government Residence, and that he has since seen another specimen about the grounds. During a subsequent conversation with Ml'. Woodford, in Sydney, he told me that when disturbed this Gecko walks very high upon its legs, and curves its tail over its back in a menacing mannei*. The Queensland locality must, I think, be accepted with some reservation ; Cooktown is the port of call for vessels trading to New Guinea, the Louisiades and the Solomon Group and it seems highl}' probable that the Lizard was obtained by some trader and taken to Cook- town, whence it passed into the hands of Mr. Agassiz's collectors. Further evidence will be required of the occurrence of this species in Australia before it will be safe to admit it as an undoubted membei' of our fauna.
On March 19th, more than two months after the above was penned, I received a letter from Mr. E. A. C. Olive : he writes : — "I have your letter of February 3rd with sketch of reptile enclosed. I think I must have obtained the original from New Guinea, as I do not recognise it as one of our local lizards, and I remember receiving a variety of specimens from that place."
THE FURTHER DISCOVERY of DUGONG BONES ON THE COAST OF NEW SOUTH WALES.
By R. ETiiEKiDfiE, Juni'., Curator.
(Plate iv.)
Fur an opportunity of again recording the occurrence of honea of the Dugong (Halicore duyoruj, Gmelin, sp.) on the coast of New South Wales, I am indebted to Mr. P. E. Williams, Comp- troller of the Government Savings Bank, and Secretary to the Sydney Etlniological Committee.
During the excavation of Shea's Creek, Cook River, Botany Bay, for the canal bearing the same name, portions of a Dugong skeleton were discovered near the top of the estuarine clay, iind just above the extensive estuarine shell bed which is so marked a stratigraphical feature in the alknial section laid bare by the canal cutting. " They were five feet six inches to eight feet six inches below the present high-water level, and a total depth of four feet six inches to seven feet six inches below the swamp surface level, previous to excavation."^ The bones re- covered were vertebra^, ribs, and the nearly perfect skull. It was pointed out by Messrs. T. W. E. David, J. W. Grimshaw, and the writer, that the present southerly limit of the Dugong is probably Wide Bay, on the Queensland coast, although it was formerly to be caught in Moreton Bay.- Only two reliable records of the
1 Etlipridije, David, and Grimshaw — Journ. Roy. Soc. N.S. Wales, xxx 1896, p. 171.
^ I have since learned that the Du^ono^ is still caught in Moreton Bay Mr. C. Hedley has called my attention to a footnote in Britton and Bladen's " History of New South Wales" (ii., 1894, p. 97) quoting a paragraph from Collins, which reads as follows: — " Abouc this time (March, 1795j, the spirit of inquiry being on foot, Mr Cummings, an officer of the Corps, made an excursion to the southward of Botany Boy, and brought bacii with him some of the head bones of a marine animal, which on inspection Cap- tain [William] Patterson the only naturalist in the country, pronounced to liave belonged to the animal described by M. de Buffon, and named by him the Manatee (Collins — Ace. English Colony N.S.W., 1st Ed., 1.. p, 409.)" The wording in the second edition differs slightly. If for Manatee we read Dugong we have confirmatory evidence of the Shea's Creek occurrence, and at a slightly more southern locality.
18 RliCORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
Dugong's presence on the coast of New South Wales, i.e., further south than either of those mentioned, are extant, viz., at the Tweed and Richmond Rivers', and Broken Bay, immediately to the north of Port Jackson.^
The chief point of interest in connection with these bones from Shea's Creek was the presence of transverse and oblique curved cuts and scars, particularly on the ribs at their outer or distal ends, as if produced by a blunt-edged cutting or cliop- ping instrument. No doubt whatever was entertained by my co-wi'iters and myself that sucli was the origin of these markings. The fact was used as corroborative evidence, pointing to the occupancy of this part of the coast by man at a much earlier date than previously supposed. It was felt at the time that any additional facts relating to the Dugong's presence so far below its usual haunts would be most welcome.
The fortunate discovery of Dugong bones by Mr. C. A. Rudder in a large kitchen-midden on " Arakoon" at the entrance of the Macleay River, supplies the needed evidence. The midden in question lay about one and a-half miles from the ocean and was in course of removal for the construction of oyster beds. It consisted of shells, black sand, and stones with oysters attached, in diameter about thirty feet, and seven feet in thickness. The bones found near the bottom of the midden are four rib pieces, portion of a lai'ge worn molai' tooth, and a rib of a seal. Three rib pieces exhibit traces of hacking. Like the ribs found at Shea's Creek, one of the Arakoon bones is deeply scarred and cut by some blunt instrument, in fact even more so than either of those from the metropolitan locality, and a second, the most perfect rib (Plate iv., fig. 2), less so. The bones still retain the solid homogenous appearance and weight characteristic of those of the Dugong ; no other objects of interest were discovered duringthe removal of the midden material. One may infer a considerable age for the Arakoon bones from their appearance, so much so that the markings on the most complete rib have nearly disappeared, but not so with the two smaller portions. At the thicker end of one of the latter (PL iv., fig. 1) are several deep sub- parallel cuts lengthwise, united in places by cross-hacking, and at the other end, one or more pieces of bone have been chipped off
» Ramsay — Cut, N.S. Wales Court Gt, Interiiaf-.Fisheiiefi Exliib. Lond., 1883, p. 50.
^ Etlieridufe, David, and Griiiisliaw — Journ. Roy. So(\ N.S. Wales, xxx., 1896, p. 172.
FURTHER DISCOVEi;V OF DUGONG BONES —ETHEKIDGE. 19
tlie surface, but still leaving traces of sharper blows. On the other (PI. iv., fig. 3), the scars are confined to the centre of the bone and are transverse to its lengtli.
The occurrence of these hacked bones at the Macleay iliver adds corroborative evidence f)f the use of the Dugong as fcxxl by the old Aborigines just as it is now partaken of by their descend- ants fuither north, and adds another record of the animal's presence on a part of the eastern coast-line not now frequented by it. This case may be accepted as an example of the good results likely to arise by a systematic examination of our coast middens before they have totally disappeared through the agency of modern man. The importance of midden exploration cannot be too forcibly impressed on those who may have facilities for such work. It is only through the excavation of similar heaps, the examination of interments, the exploration of the hearth-refuse heaps of rock-shelters, and the opening up of ossiferous caves that we can now liope to learn much about the habits and manners of the earlier inhabitants of this Continent.
ON AN INSULAR FORM of MELITHREPTUS BREVIROSTRIS, Vigors and Horsfield.
By Alfred J. North, C.M.Z.S., C.M.B.O.U., Ornithologist.
Melithi'fiptus nuu/nit'ostris, sp. nov.
(Plate v., figs. 1-2.)
Being at present engaged on the Jfeliphagidce for the next [)art of " Nests and Eggs of Birds found breeding in Australia and Tasmania,"^ among other species, Mr. A. Zietz, the Assistant Director of the South Australian Museum, Adelaide, has kindly drawn my attention to three skins of which he writes — " You will notice three specimens of Jfelithreptus hrevirostris with I'emarkably strong bills ; the birds were shot on the 3rd October, 1901, by my son Mr. F. R. Zietz out of a flock at Eastern Cove, Kangai'oo Island. This might be an insular form of the mainland species."
On the head and nape these specimens, two adult males, and an adult female, more closely resemble New South Wales examples of Melithreptus hrevirostris. the forehead and crown being of a lighter brown, and the dull buffy-white and blackish-brown bands on the nape being but slightly indicated in comparison with South Australian specimens ; they resemble the latter in having •a dull white loral streak but which is even moi'e pronounced ; the cheeks and sides of the throat of an adult male are dull white, which passes into a very faint creamy buff" on the remainder of the under surface, darker on the centre of the breast and abdomen, the centre of the throat and the fore-neck having a, greyish tinge, the flanks slightly washed with brown. The bills of all three specimens are distinctly larger than in continental bxamples. The adult male previously referred to measures — iotal length .5-3 inches, wing 2-75, tail 2-4, tarsus 0-65, exposed portion of bill from base of forehead where the feathers end to tip 0'55, breadth of cutting edge at centre of nostril O'l 9, height ■)f bill at centre of nostril 0"19.
Remarks. — The outer secondaries of the type are externally •fudged with olive, as is also found in some adult New South Wales .specimens. The white cheek stripe of the specimen labelled a
North — 4mtr Mu8. Spec. Cat , i.
AT^ INSULAK FORM OF MEUiUREPTUS BREVIROSTKIS — NORTH. 21
feinaU' is shorter, the under surface is more distinctly tinged with brown, and the wing measurement is 2-8 inches. There is only a slight indicati(jn of the white cheek stripe in the other male. Wing measurement, 2-75 inches. The bill of the type is mea- sured as are the bills of all the specimens in the already (juoted Catalogue from the end of the feathers at the base of the forehead to the tip, with a pair of finely-pointed calipers irrespective of any curve of the culmen.
Types. — To be placed m the South Australian Museum, Ade- laide.
Co-ty])e. — Australian Museum, 8ydney.
Habitat. — Kangaroo Island, South Australia.
These birds with the larger bills constitute a well-defined and apparently constant insular form, ^\■hich I propose in contradis- tinction to specifically distinguish under the name of Mpliflircpfus maytiirostris, the Large-billed Honey -eater.
The figures in the accompanying plate are of the natural size, and ai'e reproduced from a ])hotograpli of two bird skins laid side by side. One is of an adult male of Jlelithreptus hrevirostris, Vk;. and Horsf., from the collection of the South Australian Museum, Adelaide, procured by Dr. A. M. Morgan at Laura, South Australia ; the other of the type, an adult male, of Mdi- thrrpfiis nuu/nirdstris, obtained by Mr. F. R. Zietz on Kangaroo- Island.
NOTES ON THE ARCHITECTURE, NESTING HABITS, and
LIFE HISTORIES of AUSTRALIAN ARANEID^E, based
ON SPECIMENS IN THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
By W. J. Rainbow, F.L.S., F.E.S., Entoinolijoist.
(Fig. 3.) Part v.— ENTELEGYN.(E (vonfinufd).
Family PHOLCTD^.
The genus Fholcnn, Walck., was erected by C. Koch, in 1S50, tu family rank.' Prior to this date, it had been inckided in tlie family TheridiidiF. Simon, in his masterly work,'- lius defined its position, and to this the student is I'eferred.
The family Pholcidse has since been divided into two sub- families— the Pholcinse and Ninetidinye. With the first of these, twenty genera are now associated, of which thi'ee occur in Aus- tralia : the second embraces only one {Xiupfis, Sim.), and its habitat is defined as " Arabia felix."'
The genus Artmna, Walck., has a wide range, its distribution being: "Africa tota : Arabia; Asia occid., centr. et merid.; Malaisia et Polyne.sia ; America antillana et merid."* This being so, it is quite possible tl'.at it may liereafter be recorded from the Australian I'egion.
The genus FholcuK, Walck., is exceedingly ubicjuitous, its range being : " Orbis utriusque reg. calid. et temp. ""' Only one species — P. litoralis, L. K. — is known to me as occuii'ing in Australia. It has been recorded from Rockhampton and Biisbane, and is very common in the neighbourhood of Sydney, where it is known popularly as " Daddy Longiegs."
The Pholcidie are of sedentar}^ habits, and are most fre^juentl)' met with in buildings, whei-e they construct theii- webs in the angles of walls and ceilings. Their snares are irregularly con- structed, the lines comprising them being drawn in e"\ery con- ceivable direction. The Pholcid* have been formed into a ^■roup under the name of Filiteles, from their habit of spinning long fila- ments of silk whenever or wherever they move. When an insect
1 C. Kocli— Ueb. Ar. Syee., v., 1850, p. 31.
- Simon — Hist. Nat. des Araignees, 2nd Ed., i., 1892, p. 456.
•'' Simon — Loc. cit., p. 487.
^ Simon — Loc. cif., p. 466.
-' Simon — Loc. cit., p. 471.
NOTES ON ARCHITECTURE UF AUSTRALIAN! ARANEID.^ — RAINBOW. 23
is captured in the wel) of one of these spiders, the owner imme- diately shakes the snare violently in order to secure its i)rey. When irritated or disturbed they will gyrate rounfl and rcjund most rapidly, usually describing circles from right to left. When I'esting in the web, they invariably hang body downwards, as illus- trated in the figure (fig. 3) ; occasionally they may be de- tected resting in a vertical position, in which case the usual posture is head down- wards. The eggs are held together in an agglutinated spherical mass ; sometimes the}' are covered with silk. Fit'. 3, rkolcus /itoralis, L. K.
The female carries the mass of ova with the falces, and always approximated to her sternum ; nor will she for one moment relin- ([uish lier burden until the spiderlings have hatched out. The eggs includefl in the splierical mass are numerous, and are usually of a whitish-yellow tint.
These spiders may sometimes be collectetl from under over- hanging rocks, in rock-shelters, and in the hollows of trees.
In 1877, Mr. H. B. Bradley erected the genus Micromeri/>:, for the reception of a species collected by the " Chevert" Expedition at Cape Yoi^k. The genus, however, is widely distributed. Simon gives its geographical area as " Africa occid. ; ins. Madagascar {marjagascfo-ensifi, E. 8im.) ; ins. Philippine (rirnilfiyrmift, E. Sim.); Nova-Hollandia septr. {(/raei/is, Bradl.) ; America trop.; Venezuela (conica., E. Sim., etc.).'"^
J/, (jracilis, Bradl., is long and cylindrical, being about 8 mm. ]ong and 1 mm. broad, witli excessively long and thin legs.
Psilochorus, Sim., occurs in "America sept, et merid. : India orient; Oceana."' In this genus also, (jnly one species is known to occur in Australia — P. sph(eroides, L. K. It was placed by its author in the genus Pholcus, but Simon has removed it to Psilo- choriiK. This species occurs at Rockhampton. Nothing has been recorded of its life habits.
Family THERIDIID^.
This family includes upwards of seventy genera, and an immense number of species. Of the genera recorded at least a dozen ai'e known to occur in Australia, and one in Tasmania. These spiders are also sedentary, and foi"m a group by themsehes
* Simon — Loc cit., p. 474. ^ Simon — Loc. cit., p. 482.
24 KKCOKDS 01" THE AL'STRALIAN MUSEUM.
— the lletitele.s, spiders which form webs with open meslies and irregular chambers, and which lurk in the centre or at their sides.
Individually considered, the members of this family are small, the largest being those of the genus Latrodectus, Walck. — spiders ha^•ing a somewhat evil reputation.
Many of the sjjecies are remarkable for their bright and strik- ing colours, as well as inteiesting and curious forms. All — or nearly all — sedentary spiders construct webs for the capture of prey, and these are of two distinct types — (1) the irregularly- formed snare, or retitelarian web : and (2) the wheel-like, or orbic- ular web. The first of these is characteristic of the Theridiida?.
Morphologically, this family is a most interesting one. It has been studied by many authors, no two of whom are wholly in accord as to its classification, while some are absolutely at vari- ance. The reader who desires to pursue the subject further sliould carefully peruse Simon's remarks on this family."
In order, however, to satisfactorily study this group, it would be necessary not only to bring together an extensive collection, but to devote possibly years to patient and laborious investigation. Simon found he could not satisfactorily divide this family into sub-families, but in order to facilitate its study he broke it up into about eighteen groups, of which six occur on the mainland of Australia and one in Tasmania.
Argyrode^.
This group embraces thi'ee genera, each of which is widely dis- tributed. They are Ariamnes, Thor., Rhompha^a, L. K., and Argyrodes, Sim. The range of the fii'st of these is defined as " Orbis reg. tropic, omn.;"" and of the second and third, " Orbis totius I'eg. trop. et sub-trop."'" Ariamnes and Argyrodes each occur in Australia.
Ariamnes colubrinns, Keys., was originally recorded from Peak Downs, but I have had it from various parts of this State. Mr. A. M. Lea collected it in the Northern Rivers District, and I have collected it at Guildford and Waterfall. It is a long, vex'miform spider, and constructs a small web amongst the branchlets or spurs (^f shrubs and coarse herbage. When disturbed or alarmed it drops out of its web and hangs suspended by a thin silken line. Owing to its colour, and the manner in which it folds its legs when dangling in the air, it has the appearance of a piece of dead stick hanging on a web.
** Siiiidii — Loc. cif., pp. 488, et seq.
^ Simon — Loc. cif., p. 502.
19 Simon— Loc. cif., pp. 502 and 503.
NOTES ON ARCHITECTURE OF AUSTRALIAN AKANEID.?:— RAINHOVV. 2o
The spiders of the genus J/v/y/-orA\s' are small, and many of them exceedmgly lirilliant, lot)king, when suspended in their webs, like atoms of burnished silver, or dewdrops glistening in the sun. In habits they are parasitic, and usually construct their irregular webs among the outer lines of the snares of large orb-weaveis such as Ch-ytopliura, 8im., and Xephila, Leach. Their food consists of the smaller insects that have become entangled in the huge orb-webs, and which are too minute to attract the attention of the legitimate tenant. A. lo/fipodiana, Cambr., occurs both in New Zealand and Australia. I have collected specimens around Sydney in the autumn. A. incif<i/rons. Keys., has been recoi'ded from Bowen and Sydney : and Mr. Lea collected A. nKdyarifarin.^, mihi, at the Clarence River, N. 8. Wales.
Episin.e.
Nine genera are included in this group, two of which, EpisivKs, Latr., and Janiilna, Thor., occur in Australia. The spiders of the former genus ai-e, according to Simon, " walking Theiidiides," and are most frequently met with outside their webs. All these spiders are of striking form. The first, second, and fourth pairs of legs are long, and the third pair very short. The abdomen is usually rhomboidal, wide and high in front, and attenuated behind. The genus occurs in " Europa et reg. medit. ; Asia centr. ; ins. Tapro- bane ; Africa austr.; N. Hollandia {anstralis, Keyserl.) ; N. Zea- landia (((ufijxKlianus, Cambr.) ; America sept, et merid.; Vene- zuela, Brasilia, Paraguay. "'^^ Keyserling's species, E. auatrrdis, originally recorded from Peak Downs, is the only form so far re- corded from Australia.
The genus Ja>tuhi.s, Thor. (of which our Australian form, ./. hicornix, Thor., is the type species), is recorded from " ins. Tapro- bane ; pen. Malayana ; N. Hollandia sept.; America merid.; An- tillje, Venezuela, Brasilia.''^- Although so widely distributed, only a dozen species have, so far, been assigned to this genus. ./. bicovitis is at present unknown to me ; the type was collected by D'Albertis, at Somerset, Cape York.
EuRYOPEiE.
There are six genera in this section, three of which occur in Australia. The first of the Australian series, Enryopis, Menge, is widely distributed, its range being: "Europa et. reg. medit.; Asia centr., merid. et orient; Nova-Hollandia et Polyn.; Anieri. sept, et merid. "^" Only one species occurs in Australia — E. am-
11 Simon — Loc. cit., p. 520. 1- Simon — Loc. cit., p. 521. 1^ Simon — Loc. cit., p. 529.
26 HKCORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
bilicata, L. K. This species is widely distributed. I liave seen specimens from many localities. Koch's tpye specimen came from Port Mackay. The species is common around Sydney, and may be collected all the year round. It lui-ks undei- stones, or almost any refuse lying upon the ground, under which it may rest in security. When disturbed it rushes off in (}uest of shelter with great rapidity. It constructs a small web, consisting of a few lines, but this is useless for the capture of prey. I have often sought, and in vain, for the ova-sac.
Diaprocarns, Sim., is recorded from "Nova-Hollandia merid.""'^ This contains only one species, D. nndtipunctatun, Sim., from " Nova-Hollandia merid.," and it is unknown to me.
Phylarchus, Sim., contains six species. The range of this genus is '' Asia centr. ; ins. Taprobane ; ins. Philippin^e ; N.-Hollandia ; N. -Caledonia. "^^ P. splendens, iiim.( — E^iryop is elegcms, Keys.), occurs in Australia and New Caledonia. Keyserling's tpye came from Peak Downs. This species has the same habit as B. nmbili- cnta.
THERIDIE.f:.
The spiders of this group are distinctly sedentary. They are to be found inside buildings, in caves, under rock-shelters, on the spurs and bi'anches of shrubs and trees, and sometimes on the trunks of trees. Their retitelarian snares are of indeterminate form, and are composed of brilliant threads, which cross each other at every conceivable angle. The cocoons are, as a general rule, globose in form, rai-ely elongate. They are composed of a tough, silken tissue, closely Avoven and opaque ; the outer and inner walls have a somewhat woolly appearance. The colour varies : some are white, some yellowish, some brown, and some are of a dull greyish tint. With few exceptions, the cocoons are attached to and suspended from the web. 71iPridio7i himaculatnm, Linn., and Thfirid^ila, sj^p., are recorded by Simon as carrying their ova- sacs attached to their spinnerets, in exactly the same manner as those of the genus Lycosa, Latr. Those species which suspend their cocoons to the web, usually construct three or four, or even more, and these are generally placed close to each other ; but those which carry their ova-sacs make only one. Each ova-sac contains an immense number of eggs. In addition to being sedentary, the Theridiete are, as a rule, solitary. Thpridion pximuim, Keys., of South America, is a social species, many individuals living to- gether, each uniting its web to that of its neighbour, the whole thus making, apparently, one large, comprehensive snare.
'^ Simon — Loc. cif., p. 529. 1' Sitjioii — Loc. cit., p. 529.
NOTKS OX ARCHITKCTL'HE OF AL'STKALIAX ARAXEfD.t: — KAINBOW 27
Ten genera have been assigned by Simon to this group, and of these one occurs in Australia, namely, Thpvidion, Walck. This genus is widely distributed, its geographical area being : " Orbia totius reg. calid., temper, et frigid."^" Some of the species asso- ciated with it are also ubiquitous, for instance, 1\ rujipes, Lucas, and T. tppidarioriim, C. Koch. The latter is common around Sydney, and sometimes invades buildings. It occurs in Europe, Africa, Asia, and America. The snare constructed is large and usually dome-shaped, and the lines of which it is composed, al- though exceedingly fine, are nevertheless strong enough to arrest large insects. Some of the victims, if there be too many for the owner's immediate neerls, are carriefl to the upper part of the web, and enswathed with silk. Tlie ovti-sacs are more or less round, and are usually of a reddish-brown tint.
The genus Theridion is one of the most numerous of the entire order. Koch has recorded ten species from Australia in his stan- dard work.^^ One of the species, T. nJho-xtriafirm, L. K., i« widely distributed, and occurs not only on our Australian mainland, but also in the South Pacific Islands. Keyserling, in the supplement to Koch"s monograph,^" records four others, all of which appear to be peculiar to Australia.
PlIOROXCIDIiE.
The Phoroncidiie includes some very striking and grotesque forms. The abdomen is large, and in some species, such as Pharuncidia, Westw., armed with long, strong spines. This genus does not occur in Australia, so far as we know at present, but seeing that its geographical area is "India et ins. Taprobane ; Malasia et Papuasia ; ins. Madagascar ; Africa trop. occid.,"^^ we may certainly expect it to occur in Northern or Tropical Aus- tralia.
Ulesanis, L. K., is distributed over " Reg. medit. occid.; Africa trop. orient, et Afr. austr. ; ins. Taprobane ; ins. Philippine ; N. Hollandia, N. Zealandia et Polynesia ; Amer. sept., trop. et austr. "■^" Six species of this genus are recoi'ded from Australia and Polynesia. U. sextuhei'cnlata, Keys., occurs in Queensland, where it was originally recorded from Gayndah ; it is also found in the Richmond River District. These spiders are usually found on shrubbs or bushes, where they construct their retitelarian snares.
^'■' Simon — Loc. riY., p. 5.50.
" L. Koch — Die Arachniden Australienp, i., 1871, p. 256, et serj.
^'^ Keyserling — Die Aracliniden Australiens, Suppl., 1890, pp,24l,f^ .vf^.
^'•' Simon — Loc. cU., p. 561.
'■^^ Simon — Lop. cit., p. oW.
28 I.KCORDS OF THK AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
DlPCENE^.
This is a small group, consisting of three genera, only one of which occurs in Australia, namely Latrodpctiis, Walck. Tlie range of this genus is " Orbis totius reg. trop. et sub-trop."-' For this genus Thorell desci'ibed what he supposed to be two distinct Aus- tralian species — L. hasseltii and L. srelio.'^'^ They are, howe^■er synonymous, and hasseltii must be accepted as the specific name.
L. hasseltii is widely distributed throughout India, Malaysia, Papua, Australia, New Zealand, and Polynesia. The Indian form (L. hasseltii var. indicus, Sim.) has been recorded by Simon from Arabia.*^ In Australia it is known as the " Venomous Spider," and in New Zealand by the Maori name " Katipo, which is said to mean " night-stinger." In respect of the bite and its effects, the matter is at present under investigation, and will be dealt with on a future occasion.
The webs of this species are established in all sorts of dark corners, in old and empty cans, or amongst any loose rubbish ; they also occur under stones and I'ock shelters.
The snare is of the usual retitelarian type, somewhat dome- shaped ; the lines are very strong, and are capable of arresting- large and powerful beetles. The cocoons are yellow, closely- knitted, somewhat woolly in appearance, and each encloses a large number of eggs. The inner walls have much the same appearance as the outer. A large number of cocoons are made, and these are always suspended together.
ASAGENK.E.
This is a group of stridulating Theridions. It is remarkable that of the ten genera referred to it by Simon — some of which are most widely distributed — none are known to occur on the main- land of Australia. There is only one genus which may be considered as part of our fauna, namely, Aiicoccelus, Sim., of Tasmania, and that has only one species — A. livens, Sim. This genus is most nearly allied to the European and American Steatoda, Sund. The Tasmanian species is unknown to me.
'•^1 Simon — Loc. cit., p. 569.
'^* Thorell — Aranea nonnullse Nova Hollnudia, in Oiv. Kontcl.
Vet.-Akad. Forhandl., 1870, 4, p. 369 ; also Koch— Die Aracliiiidwii
Australieiis, i., 1871, pp. 276 aud 279. ■i» Simon— Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat.. 1897, 3. p. 95; and 1902, 4. u.
252.
NOTES ON THE VARIED HONEY-EATER {PTILOTIS VERSICOLOR, GOULD.)
By Alfred J. North, C.M.Z.S., C.M.B.O.U., Ornithologist.
PtUotis versicolor, North, Vict. Nat., xxi., 1905, p. 167.
(Plate v., fig. 3.)
The Varied Eoney-eater was described by Gould in 1842 from a fiingie specimen contained in a collection of bird skins from Northern Australia, and was for many years regarded as a rare species. It is an inhabitant of the coastal districts and adjacent islands of Northern and North-eastero Queensland and Southern New Guinea, and is also found on some of the intermediate islands of Torres Strait. Off the coast of North-eastern Queens- land, MacGillivray obtained this species on Dunk Island, and Elsey on Albany Island. Many specimens were procured by the "Chevert" Expedition, fitted out by the late Sir William Macleay, since when it has been obtained by various collectors both in New Guinea and Australia.
Among a small collection of bird skins sent me for examination, made by Mr. Albert F. Smith, principally near Cairns, North-eastern Queensland, and the neighbourhood, was a specimen of Ptilotin versicolor, Gould, collected by him on one of the Frankland Islands on the 16th October, 1901. Subsequently I received a second specimen from him, shot in company with the other, also their nest and a set of two eggs taken at the same time.
The nest of PtUotis versicolor, as will be seen from the accom- panying plate, is an open cup-shape, and somewhat scanty struc- ture, daylight being visible through the greater portion of the sides. Externally it is formed of fibrous rootlets, held together with plant down and spider webs, with which are intermingled a few egg-bags of spiders and their green silky covering, the inside being sparingly lined with fine pale brown rootlets and fibre, and at the bottom with a small (quantity of silky- white plant- down. It is attached by the rim on one side to a leafy horizontal branch from which springs a thin twig at right angles, but this is concealed in the structure, two leaves being worked on to the side of the nest. Externally it measures three inches and three- (juarters in diameter by two inches and a quarter in depth, the inner cup measuring three inches in diameter by one inch and a half in depth.
30 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
The eggs, which were in an advanced state of incubation, are two in number, oval in form somewhat pointed at the smaller end, the shell being close-grained, smooth and lustrous. They are of a uniform tieshy-buff colour, being of a slightly richer shade on the larger end, where on one specimen, with the aid of a lens, a few very minute darker dots may be seen. The eggs of this species are indistinguishable in colour from a variety of those of its close ally Ftilotis sonm'a, Gould, also from those of the Pallid Cuckoo (Cucuhis pallidus, Latham).
Relative to taking the above nest and set of eggs, Mr. Smith has kindly supplied me with the following notes: — "This species is fairly plentiful on one of the Frankland Islands off the coast of north-east- ern Queensland. It has a loud call that attracted my attention as our boat drew near the island, as something quite difierent to anything I had heard befoi'e, but cannot describe it at all. There is a shrub with a number of thin upright leafy twigs which grows over half the island, and it was in one of these about ten yards from the beach the nest was built. It was seven feet from the ground, and attached to thin upright twigs on one side, and the horizontal branch on the other side which remains fastened to the nest. It contained two eggs very much incubated, and while I was taking them the pair of birds perched on a tree alongside and uttered their loud cries. I brought both down with one shot without damaging either as specimens."
OPAL PSEUDOMOPvPHS from WHITE CLIFFS, NEW SOUTH WALES.
By C. Anderson, M.A., B.Sc, Mineralogist to tlie Australian Museum, and H. Stanley Jrvons, M.A., B.Sc, late Lecturer on Mineralogy and Petrology, University of Sydney.
(Plates vi — vii., text fig. -1).
The occurrence of Opal at White Cliffs as pseudomorphic crystals, called locally "fossil pineapples" has been known for some time ; they have been described by several observers, but no agreement has yet been i-eached as to the species of the original mineral. Recently se\eral good specimens have I'eached Sydney and were examined by Professor T. W. E. David and the authors, the conclusions arrived at being set forth in the present paper.
Occnrreuce. — Before proceeding to the description of the speci- mens themselves, their mode of occuirence, so far as known to us, may be briefly alluded to. The White Cliffs Opal-field was first geologically examined in detail by Mr. J. B. Jaquet, and it is cliiefiy to his report^ that we must turn for our knowledge. The opal is found in the Upper Cretaceous or " Desert Sand-stone" Series, wliich at White Cliffs rests on Palyeozoic slates of probably Silurian age. Overlying the Palaeozoic strata are (d) coarse grits and sandstones, succeeded by (c) a thickness of fine white, kaolin- like material of highly siliceous composition and containing large waterworn boulders of quartzite with Devonian fossils. Con- cretionary nodules, and moi'e rarely thin beds of gypsum occur in these deposits. Above this are [h) conglomerates consisting of small pebbles in a white siliceous mati'ix similar to c. It is in the beds h and e that the opal occurs. It is often found replacing various oi'ganic remains as Sauropterygian bones, Crinoid calices, stems, and separate ossicles, Belenniite guards and bivalve and univalve shells, as well as coniferous w'ood-^.
1 Jaquet— Ann. Kept. Dept. Mines and A<?ric. N. S. Waler, 1892
(1893), pp. 140—14.2. - Ethpiidtre— Rec. Austr. Mup., iii., 2, 1897, p. 19; Mem. Geol. Surv. N. S, Waifs, Pal. No. 11, 1902, p. 10; Rec' Austr. Mu.-.. v., 4, 1904, pp. 248. 251 ; loc. cit., v., 5, 1904, pp. 306-316. Pittman— Min. Kes. N. S. Wales, 1901, p. 405. Tate— Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Austr., xxii.. 1898, p. 77.
32 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
The presence of Crinoids indicates an open fairly deep sea, whilst the conglomerates, boulders, opalised saurians and wood rather point to shallow water conditions with land at no great distance. In the absence of exact knowledge as to the vertical distribution of these fossils, it is idle to speculate on the geo- graphical conditions obtaining at the time when the beds con- taining these enigmatical specimens were laid down. The presence oi gypsum is not conclusive, for gypsum may originate either as a chemical deposit in an inland sea, or salt lake, or, on the other hand, may be formed subsequently to the deposition of the beds in which it occurs, for example by the action of decomposing pyrites on calcareous matter. According to Prof. J. D. Dana^ where gypsum occurs not as continuous layers but in embedded, nodular masses, it was formed after the beds were deposited. This criterion does not help us to a conclusion, for Mr. Jaquet says^ that the gypsum occurs both as isolated masses and as thin beds. In the recent surface deposits of the western districts of New South Wales gypsum is commonly met with as crystalline masses, where it is undoubtedly of secondary origin and due to chemical interaction between the constituents of the soil, and it is possible that a similar origin is to be assigned to the gypsum found in the opal-bearing beds. Against the likelihood of the gypsum being the result of evaporation in a land-locked sea is the compaiutive abundance of organic remains, for, when the water of an enclosed basin has reached a degree of concentration that permits of the deposition of gypsum from solution, animal life is usually absent. But it is conceivable that a temporary lake may have been formed as a remnant of a retreating ocean, and then subsequently re-united to the waters of the Cretaceous sea. Any solution of the problem presented by the pseudomorphs must be compatible with the pre- sence of gypsum in the same beds.
Both gypsum and the mineral now known to us only as opaline casts have been converted into opal, the former partially, the latter entirely, by the action of highly silicated springs to which the general opalisation of the Desert Sandstone is usually attributed.
Previous Ohse7-vers. — The pseudomorphs were apjiarently first observed by Jaquet,* by whom they wei-e referred probably to
■'' Dana — Manual of Geolojry, 4th pd., 1895, p. -Doi. ^ Jaquet — Loc. cit., p. 141. ■' Jaquet — Lor cif., p. 141.
OPAL PSEDDOMORPHS FROM WHITE CLIFFS — ANDERSON AND JEVONS. 33
uypsum. Later Weisbach^ measured the angles and came to tlic conclusion that the original mineral was oi'thorhombic in system ; lie suggested sulphur. He was followed by Pelikan'', who compared them to aggregates of gypsum crystals. Giirich" gives a more detailed account and concludes that the original mineral was monoclinic and probably identical with the original of the well-known " barley-corn"' pseudomorphs from Sangerhausen, and similar pseudomorphs from elsewhere. But even if this conclu- sion be justified it does not settle the question, for at least five mifierals have been suggested as the original of the 8angerhausen and similar specimens, celestite, perhaps, being regarded as the most likely,^
Description nf SpecimPMs. — The material for this paper was furnished by two specimens in the collection of the Geological Department, Sydney University, and five from the Australian Museum collection. That represented in PL vi., fig. 1, is the largest and best developed, hence it has supplied the bulk of the angular measurements by the contact goniometer. Unfortunately it is found that the angles vary somewhat, thus giving an element of uncertainty to the conclusions di"awn therefrom ; yet, by making a large number of measurements and taking means, it is hoped that a fair approximati(m has been made to the true angles.
The seven specimens vary in their greatest diameter from 1 1 cm. to 7"5 cm. approximately. They present a fairly unifoini appearance, which is that of an iii-egular, radial aggregate of acute, tapering, four-sided pyramids. Owing to the curvature of the faces it is scarcely possible to secure exact measurements of the angles, tliough an attempt was made to counteract this source of error by making the goniometer arms tangent tt) the part of the faces close to the edges. An important feature in most of the pseudomorphic crystals is the w(>ll-mark(!d cleavage (PI. vi., fig. 2)" Tt generally crosses one <mly of the four terminal edges, but sometimes passes over the apex and appears, though less strongly
6 Weishach— Neues Jahrb., ii., l.syS, p. 150.
» Pelikan — Tsehermak's Min. petr. Mitth.,xix., 1900, p. 336.
« Giirich— Neues Jahrb., Beil. Bd., xir., 1901, pp. 478-483, fit;.
9 Dana— Bull. U.S. Geol. SurT., 12, 1884, pp. 2.5 28 ; Sjst. Minora) . Gth Ed., 1892, pp. 271, 907.
Miers— Min. Map^., xi., 1897, p. 26*.
84
RECORDS OF THE AT'STRATJAN MUSEUM.
marked, on the opposite edge. In direction it is appi-oximatelv parallel to the plane of two opposite edges, nameh' the iilanc bisecting the angles bq and pd (tig. 4). There is no sign of a second cleavage perpendicular to this plane. Three systems of striations are j^resent, but they will hv more fully described below.
As regards their composition, the pseudomoi'phs consist of precious opal of inferior quality and prevailing green or bluish tints, in other cases of common milky opal, or of clear glassy livalite, with patches of the rarer black opal.
Measurements were made as a rule by each of us independently, but the agreement being close, only the mean values are given in the subjoined table. Provisional letters are assigned to the four
pyramidal faces, the crystal being oriented by means of the edge on which the cleavage appears (fig. 4). The mean normal angles obtained plainly indicate that we are dealing with a monoclinic mineral having a plane of symmetry bisecting the angles hd and pq.
h'i^. 4. So.lieraatic projection on a plane at right angles to the axis of elonga- tion, with cleavage traces on edge h.
Conchisioiis. — The problem now is to find a mineral, mono- clinic in symmetry, having a prominent cleavage perpendicular to the plane of symmetry, with angles approaching the values found, and the mode of occurrence of which is compatible with the geological conditions of the AVhite Cliflf's Upper Cretaceous beds. Obviously the facts of form ali-eady l)rought out dispose of the claims of gypsum, anhvdrite, celestite and sulphur, while the angles do not even approximate to those of gay-lussite. After passing in review all the likely minerals that suggest themselves, we huxe come to the conclusion that the species most nearly fulfilling the requireri conditions is glauberite, sulphate of soda and lime, which is mono- clinic in crystallisation, and has a perfect basal cleavage. In accordance with this theory, we have incorporated in the table the theoretical angles of glauberite, which we regard as cor- responding to the measured angles of the pseudomorphs,
Oi'AL I'SEtJDOMORPHS FKOSl WttlTK CLIFFS ANDEKSON ANT) .1 K\(iNS '6b
|
. 1 |
_.^ |
|||
|
3 |
"M t- |
X |
X |
|
|
■»-f« |
o |
I" |
||
|
^ |
||||
|
^ |
r: i-~ |
l~ |
)~ |
|
|
vr X |
1- |
'~ |
||
|
• |
||||
|
x »: |
||||
|
2 -2 |
r: I-- |
\Z |
» |
|
|
OJ |
•^ P |
iC X |
I- |
1- |
|
^ |
;h 3 |
|||
|
<o |
■< |
|||
|
a |
F— r— ■ |
1 »— ' |
l""^ |
|
|
C |
^ |
'— 1 |
— ( |
r— |
|
o |
< < |
< |
< |
|
|
M |
1 |
|
__ |
|
|
■~ |
— |
— |
||
|
^ |
^ |
^ |
||
|
=3 '^ |
||||
|
- <1> |
X ^ |
|||
|
i t |
< < |
< |
< |
|
|
S5 -fl |
•A ;^ |
x |
"v: |
|
|
— "M |
||||
|
s |
t'^, 1*^ |
:^' |
:^ |
|
|
a) |
iX> X |
X |
X |
|
|
^irj. ^^ |
||||
|
HH |
ri ^ |
cc |
X |
|
|
> |
t- |
1^ |
||
|
■t^ 1 |
c^ |
X |
||
|
f* |
to 1 |
t^ |
1^ |
|
|
1— 1 |
<fj 1~ |
-t" |
-^ |
|
|
> |
tr> X |
X |
X |
|
|
m |
||||
|
"3 |
||||
|
—I'M -^ITI |
||||
|
> |
O X |
X |
X |
|
|
^j |
||||
|
^ |
||||
|
1 1 |
||||
|
o |
K-»< r-ri |
— TI |
— 71 |
|
|
> |
• S X |
X |
||
|
-§ |
||||
|
s g |
||||
|
Ph |
||||
|
"M "M |
~ I |
|||
|
!- |
X |
X |
||
|
-I'M |
||||
|
M |
Xi Ci |
^ |
X |
|
|
(-C |
CO oc |
t^ |
t^ |
|
|
^ -+ |
1-^ |
X |
||
|
■-D X |
1 - |
X |
||
|
"3 O! |
?> -^ |
■^ |
►o |
|
|
2 -1 |
< < |
< |
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C P |
-^ |
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y. < |
"^ |
"^ |
an
KECOKDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
If we are correct in regarding these specimens as pseudouiorplis after glaiiberite, the original crystals must ha^e been acute pyra- midal in habit, with elongation in the direction of the clino-axis (PI. vii., figs. 7, 9).
As the amount of error in measurements does nut exceed 2'^, the disagreement between the values obtained for the same angle on different crystals must be due to the varying amount of curva- ture and imperfection of form.
We next proceeded to confinn our results, and to explain, if possible, the divergence of the measurefl angles from the true values by determining the terminal angles between the edges A and B, and C and C '^" (fig. 4), and the terminal pyramidal angles Hii" and .s'';^'" (using the lettering of glauberite for corresponding faces of the pseudomorphs). The results are tabulated below : —
|
Augles. |
Measured. |
No. et Detei- uiiuatious. |
Cplculated. |
Error. |
|
o |
o ' |
0 |
||
|
cac AaB |
681 64^ |
10 4 |
78 42 79 1.311 |
10 15 |
|
s n" } s n" j |
50i |
12 |
61 :W |
11 |
The difference between the measured and the true angles is considerable, and some explanation must be forthcoming if our conclusions are correct. Now, on several specimens it is apparent that the cleavage is not exactly parallel to the plane of the two opposite edges C and C. (fig. 1). This would be explained (assuming the oi'iginal mineral to have been glauberite in which the cleavage is parallel to this plane) by a curving downward of those edges towards the cleavage. This downward curving could be accounted for by oscillatory combination of the s faces with a form hkh (k>h). No such form is recorded in Dana, but observation reveals the presence of a set of striations on the faces s and s' running parallel to the edge A. These striations would be a natural result of such an oscillatory combination, which
A is the edge between -v and -s'; B tlie edtje between j/' and «'"; C and C the edges between s and u" and s' and w" respectively.
Taken fioiu stereos^ram by Penfleld's protractor.
OPAL PSEtJDOMORPHS PROM WHITE CLIFFS ANDERSON AND .TEVONS. 37
would have the effect of displacing the edges C and C ' towards the cleavage lines crossing the edge B (PI. vii., figs. 8, 9), and also of rendering the angle CC measured over the apex more acute (PL vii., figs. 2, 3). Another series of striations observed on the *• faces of other crystals, and having a diiection nearly parallel to the edges C and C ' may be due to the coming in of the m (110) face. The n faces are strongly striated, and in some cases distinctly stepped, the direc- tion of the strife and steps being parallel to the cleavage. These must be due to oscillatory combination of u with C (001), or ti with 71 (112) or v (113), any of which would make the angle be- tween the edges A B more acute than it would be in a perfect crystal (PI. vii., figs. 8, 9).
We may now enquire what effect the oscillations described would have on the normal angles. It is readily seen that by their means the normal angle ss ' would be enlarged, and the angle n"n' ' ' diminished, while the angles su would be either diminished or enlarged according as the effects of the oscillation of (hkh) on s or of (001) on n predominate. Now, from the mean values obtained by measurement, it will be observed that the departure from theory of the angles ss ' and n''n" ' is in the direction we should have expected. The mean value for the angle hu was found to be greater than the theoretical, which accords with our observation that the oscillation on the n faces is frequently much more pro- nounced than that on the s faces.
Glauberite is commonly found in association with rock salt, thenardite, mirabilite, and other sulphates, carbonates, itc, char- acteristic of salt lake deposits. It is soluble in water, and can, therefore, occur only in jDrotected places or in arid regions. Most likely at White Cliffs it was formed in deposits of mud or ooze and not directly from solution. The consequent interference with the regular growth of the crystals may possibly account for the cur\ature of the faces through oscillatory combination. It is noteworthy that with the single exception of the thinolite of Lake Lahontan all the pseudomorphs resembling the 8angerhausen mineral, as also the pyramidal crystals of celestite from Virginia described by G. H. Williams,'- which furnish the chief argument for the celestite origin, have been found embedded in clay, mud or marl. Thus it may be that the resemblance between specimens from different localities, which after all consists mainlv in the curved and tapering form, is to be referred rather to the similar conditions of growth than to identity of species.
1- Williams — Am«i-. Journ. Sci., xxxix., 1890, p. ls;3.
OCCASIONAL NOTES.
I.— CLIMBING HABITS of an AUSTRALIAN SNAKE.
Mr. Percy G. Peard, of the Public Scliool, Dal wood, New Soutli Wales, recently forwarded some snakes for identification from the vicinity of Lismore, Richmond Rivei-.
Respecting llojducephalus stephensii, Krefft, Mi-. Peard writes : — " I neglected to mention, in describing the ' Banded specimen,' that it was caught climbing an ironbark tree."
This is an extremely interesting obsei'vation, and confirms any suspicion one may have had as to the use of the notched keels of the ventral plates.
When describing the species, Krefft drew attention to the similarity in structure to members of the genus Deud?-ophis. Mr. Peard's happy remark shows that the structural peculiarity has been independently developed for tree-climbii:ig purposes in two widely different genera of reptiles.
In future, therefore, Hoplocephalus atephensii, If. bitorquatus, and, perhaps in a lesser degree, //. buuyaroides, should be regarded as partially arboreal in habit.
Edgar R. Waite.
ll.^PSEUDAPUlilTIS UEVILLII, Cuviku c^- Valen- ciennes, A Fish new to Western New South Wales.
As this fish is known from South Australia, it might naturally be assumed to occur in the western waters of our State.
Dr. C. C. Cocks, of Wentworth, Darling River, has forwarded a specimen to the Trustees for identification, remarking that it was caught by one of the oldest fishermen of the district, who had never seen its like before. To Dr. Cocks, hhnself an angler (if
OCCASIOKAL NOTES. 39
tlie locality for thirty years, tho fish was a novelty. Tt was taken in the Murray Kivpr, about a quarter of a mile below its junction with the Darling Ri\er, and is a new record for our western fauna.
Oiiginally described fi-om Tasmania, the species is also known from South Australia, Victoria., and the southern rivers of New South Wales.
Ogilby^ suggests that Fseudaphritii^ urvi/lii, is itlentical with Eleghius hu7;siuus, Cuvier and Valenciennes, said to have been taken in Port Jackson, in which case the name would be Pi^puda- phritis bvrsimis.
Edgar IJ. W'ArrK.
1 Offilby— Proc. Linn. Sgc. N. S.Wales, xxii., 189S. p. .560.
Sufi IS
RECORDS
OF THE
AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
EDITED BY THE CURATOR.
Vol. VL, No. 2.
PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE TRUSTEES. R. ETHERIDGE, Junr., J.P.,
SYDNEY, 15th SEPTEMBER 1905.
The Swift Printing Co., Ltd., 5 Jamieson La ne, Sydney.
CONTENTS.
PAGK.
MoUusca from One Hundred and Eleven Fathoms, East of Cape
Pyron, New Soutli Wales. By Charles Hedley, Con chologisfc 41
Notes on Fishes from Western Australia, No. 3. By Edgar E.
Waite, F.L.S., Zoologist ... ... ... ... 55
Mineralogical Notes, No. II, — Topaz, Barite, Anglesite, Cerussite
and Zircon. By C. Anderson, M.A., B.Sc, Mineralogist ... 83
On a Large Example of Megalafraetus aruanus, L. By Charles
Hedley, Conchologist ... ... ... ... 98
Notes on Australian Siphonaptera. By W. J. Rainbow, F.L.S.,
F.E.S., Entomologist ... ... ... ... 101
The Osteology of the New Guinea Turtle. By Edgar E. Waite,
P.L.S., Zoologist ... ... ... ... 110
Occasional Notes —
III. Western Australian Prawns and Sponges. By T. Whifcelegge, Zoologist ... ... ... ... 119
JiJN X3 I9G6
MOLLUSCA FROM ONE HUNDRED AND ELEA^EN FATHOMS, EAST of CAPE BYRON, NEW SOUTH AVALES.
By Charles Hedley, Conchologist.
(Figs. 5-L>L>).
Incidental to his official duties on the Coast Survey, Mr. G. H. Halligan, L.S., Government Hydrographer, took, on the 10th of November, 1902, a haul of the dredge in 111 fathoms, at twelve and a half miles due east of Cape Byron, itself the easternmost point of Australia.
The product was at once sent to the Australian Museum for examination, but constant pressure of work has delayed an earlier report.
The contents of the dredge were mostly shells and foraminiferal sand. Accompanying these was an interesting Hydro-coralline, identified by Mr. T. Whitelegge as Conopara tenuis, Moseley,^ hitherto known only from the Kermadec Archipelago.
Mr. H. J. Jensen has given an account of the Foraminifera obtained.'^
A number of the shells discovered by the "Thetis" Expedition recur here, thereby extending their range northwards.
Omitting the pelagic shells dropped from the surface the knowii ^tollusca taken at this station are as follows : —
Area reticidata, Gmelin. Amusium thetidis, Hedley. Bathyarca jiervpvsidfns, Hedley. Ccdyptr(Pa calyjitrreformis, Lamk. Cardita caratica, Hedley.
,, (lilerta, Smith.
Capidns drratiis, Hedley. Chione denprcta, Hedley. Ciraonclla ireldii, Ten. Woods.
i Moseley— Phil. Trans. Eoy. Sqc, 169, 2. 1S78, p. oO:5 ; Chall. Rppt..
Zoo],, ii., 1881. p, 82, pi. xii.. f. 5 a, b, 6. - Jensen — Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. Wales, xxix., 1L(0.3, pp. S17-822,
42 RECORDS OF TUB AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
Crassatdlites securifonne, Hedley. Crossea carinata, Hedley. (hoia particula, Hedley.
„ coucentrim, Hedley. ('liclofttrciiia )iiicron, Ten. Woods.
,, inacnptiuii, Tate.
Ci/lichna protnmida, Hedley. VentalUnn crectum, Sowerby. Dimya comuiata, Hedley. Dn'llia dilecta, Hedley.
„ ncnia, Hedley. Kniari/inida dilecta, A. Adams. Kidunella titrrita, Petterd. Led a iniliacea, Hedley. Leinstraca lodderce, Hedley. Leuvotina micro, Pritchard and Gatliff. Lima hullata, Born. Limopux tenisoni. Ten. Woods. Jiiotia anniilata, Ten. Woods. „ rninpacta, Petterd. „ minima. Ten. Woods. ,, taamanica, Ten. W^oods. Mar;iinella ant/ad. Brazier. „ Irerii/ata, Brazier.
,, )nustelli)ia, Angas.
„ (ichracea, Angas.
„ stilla, Hedley.
irhani, Pritchard and Gatliff. MatJdlda decorata, Hedley. Melanella c(iiiiiiiensali.s, Tate. Mitra strawiei, Angas. (hcilla liiiata, Angas. Purpura sertata, Hedley. Pedictdaria ^ti/lasteri.^, Hedley. Pseudoriss()i)U( exitjiia, Hedley. /?/.s.sofl oliracea, Frauenfeld. Scala minittida, Tate and May. ScJdsmope atkinsoni. Ten. Woods. Siliqiiaria n-eldii, Ten. Woods. Siriua badiiis. Ten. Woods, Turhonilla rcricifer, Tate. 'rurritclla scitida, Donald. Tliraciopis arenosa, Hedley, Ver)iietiisjtaitei, Hedley,
MOLLUSCA EAST OF CAPE BYKON.
43
Tlie Bracliiopoda are : —
Liothijris lira, Brod. '!'( iihratuUna raJula, Hedley. Miiji'iiia irillciiKicfii, Davidson.
BRACHIOPODA.
CAMPAfiES, (jeii. nov.
A genus of the Terebratellida", whicli externally lias the aspect of Magellania, but whose adult brachial frame has developed only to the Miihlfeldtian stage.
Type — C. Jn'fcij'era.
Campages furcifera, cj). nov. (Figs. 5-6).
Shell rather solid, compressed at the sides, subtrigonal, broadest anterioi'h'^, in front deeply bifurcate. Pedicle valve very deep, brachial valve lid-like. A fairly deep and broad sinus extends along the latter half of the pedicle valve. .Surface smooth with fine con- centric growth lines, but no radial sculpture, microscopi- cally punctate. Colour pale yellow. Beak short, incurved. Foramen large, ciicular, com- plete. Deltidium a trun- cated triangle with emargi- nate base. Hinge teeth well - developed, placed at the base of the deltidium. Hinge plate with four rays divided by deeply incised grooA'es. Beneath tlu' median groove is the
Fiif. 5. Campages furcifera.
44
RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
septum. From the two side grooves branches descend and con- verge to produce the crura ; again descending and broadening, they unite on the one side to the septum and on the other form a recurved dorsal margin to the loop wings (fig. Qa). From the septum the brachial process arises directly. It does not here develope into the ordinaiy loop, but assumes the aspect of a
Fi?. 6. Campages fiircifera.
hood with large outstretched wings, narrowing posteriorly into a funnel with an open neck. Under the hood the base of each loop wing is pierced by a small rent. This structure seems to represent in adolesence that which elsewhere appears as a phase of early life.
Length — 24 mm. ; breadth, 17 mm.
A single specimen attached to a stone.
Hemithyris colurnus, sjj. nov. (Figs. 7-8). Shell shallow, triangular-cordate, smooth except for faint o-rowth lines, glossy, translucent though solid, pale horn colour.
Edges of valves broad and bevelled.
The brachial valve has the beak incurved. Crural plates separate to the umbo, projecting, forked distally, furrowed along the upper surface. Teeth sockets sharply transversely gro- oved. There is no septum, but in old and thickened individuals a bilobed shelly mass appeal's in its place. The pedicle valve has the The small oval foramen completed by the Teeth strong projecting. Tn front the central
Ficr. 7. HemitJij/ris coin runs.
beak pi-oduced. deltidial plates.
MOLLUSCA KAST OF CAPE BYRON.
45
third of the valve projects outward and upward into the mesial sinus of the corresponding valve ; behind it is a broad shallow sinus.
Heii,'ht, 18 mm.; breath, 18 mm.; depth of pedicle valve, 6 mm.
This species appears to be nearest to H. beecheri, Dall.,' from 313 fathoms, off Honolulu ; but, so far as I can judge, ours is a broader, shallower shell, less flexed in front.
Besides its occui'- rence in 111 fathoms east of Cape Byron, it was taken by ]\Ir. Halligan and myself in 1 00 fathoms east of Wollongong. From tills parcel the type was selected. Re- cently it was again procured by Mr. W. F. Petterd and myself in 250 fathoms twenty three miles east of Sydney. The species appears to be common, since every haul on the margin of the con- tinental shelf has yielded single and broken valves. No perfect specimen has yet appt^ared.
AVhile on the subject of the Brachiopoda, I might here notice that Theculea maxilla, Hedley,* has lately been taken by Mr. D. IMawson in the New Hebrides.
"Fig:, 8.
Hemithyris colurnus.
PELECYPODA.
Adacnarca squamea, sj). nov. (Fig. 9).
Shell minute, rounded-cordate, oblique inflated. Colour pale yel- low. No epidermis apparent. External sculpture, faint, regular, concentric growth lines. Prodissoconch depressed at the summit, radially punctate, passing into the dissoconch without an elevated margin, Hinge line straight, exactly divided by a small chon- drophore, finely perpendicularly striated. The valve edge has yentrally a broad, smooth, contact surface, like that of Limopsis ; dorsally it carries on both anterior and posterior sides a series a
s Dall—Proj. U.S. National Miisenni. xvi^., 1894, p. 717. ^ Hedley— Aiiptr. Mup. Mem., iii.. ls()9, p 508.
46
RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
interlocking tubercles, which are probably the homologues of what Bernard described as the dysodont teeth of Fhilohrya. Three or four radial grooves and complementary ridges, directed to the extreme ventral margin, which they undulate, traverse the interior,
Fig. 9.
Adacnarca sqiiamea.
but are not visible externally. Perhaps the interlocking tubei'cles aid the weak hinge by clasping the ventral margins. Pallial line indistinct. Anterior and posterior adductor scars pi'esent, situated high up. Height, 1'8; length, 1-81 ; depth, 0-5 mm.
The genus Adacnarca was formed by Prof. P. Pelseneer for the reception of a larger species taken by the Belgica Expedition.^ It appears to me to belong to the sub-family Philobryinae, froni the known members of which it chiefly differs by its greater symmetry. Hochstetteria forms a link between it and the more eccentric Philohrya. Some chai-acters of Adacnarca suggest a more distant relation to the Limopsida?. I would prefer to range the Philobrj'infe rather with the Taxodonts like Pelseneer than with the Pearl shells like Bernard. Indeed an ideal sketch of the primitive Taxodont stage by H. Fischer* would almost serve as a picture of our shell.
Prof. Paul Pelseneer has very kindly compared specimens of this with his type. He remarks (5 April, 1905) that the hinge of the Australian species is shorter, and that the two stiiated plateaux on either side of the ligamentary fossette are higher than in the type. These differences he regards as specific, and accepts the species for inclusion in his genus.
LiMEA ACCLINIS, sp. nov.
(Fig. 10). Shell small, thin, oblique, inequilateral, subangled anteriorly, externally resembling L. linguatula, Lamk. Colour white. Sculp- '" Adacnarca nitens, Pelseneer — Voy. " Belgica," Moll., 1903, p. 24,
pi. vii., f. 83. * Fischer — Journ. de Conch., xlv.. 1897, p. 211, f, 1.
MOLLUSCA EAST OF CAPE BYKON.
Fior. 10.
Limea acclinus.
tuiv of alxHit forty narrow sharp radiating ribs, most prominent in the centre, where they strongly denticulate the margin, gradually vanishing at the sides; in the groove between each a row of minute prickles. At intervals concentric zones mark rest stages of growth. yj^jv-w^^^
Prodissoconch smooth, sliarply defined. Hinge line short, with a broad, shallow central pit, and three or four feeble teeth radia- ing from each eiid. Interior slightly grooved by external rib- bing. Height, 9-6 mm.; length, 6 mm. : depth of single ^•alve, 2'5 nnii.
Tlie thin, inequilateral shell readily distinguishes this from other Australian species which have been referred to this genus. It was also taken by jSIi'. Halli- gan and myself in 100 fathoms off Wollongong ; and again re- cently by Mr. W. F. Pettei-d and myself in 300 fathoms, twenty seven and a half milos east of Port Jackson Heads. It seems a characteristic species of this zone.
CUSPIDARIA TRUNCATA,
(Fig. 11). _
Shell small, thin, rather convex, trapezoidal, very inequilateral ; dorsal mai'gin straight, the length of the shell ; posterior side oblique sinuate ; ventral margin slightl}' rounded ; anterior side abruptly truncate. Colour white. Sculpture, of delicate spaced lamella?, obsolete anteriorly, developed most on the rostrum, on either side of which they form scales. Between the lamellse are
fine hair lines. Rostrum blunt, short, broad, running up as a flat wedge towards the umbo. A broad, shallow furrow runs from the apex beneath the rostrum to the dorsal margin. Prodisso- conch smooth, distinct. In- terior smooth, muscle scars indistinguishable. No la- teral teeth ; a small car-
Fi^. 11. dinal tubercle under the
Cuspidarid fruncata.
S]).
48
RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
umbo. Length, 3 '5 mm.; height, 2 '-to mm.; depth of single valve, 1-5 mm.
Only two left valves were obtained of this species, which be- longs to the same section of the genus as C brazieri, Smith, from wliich, as from other co-generic forms, the abrupt anterior end distinijuishes it.
BORNIA RADIATA, ^j). HOV.
(Fig. 12).
Shell thin, diaphanous, rather compressed, oblong, inequilateral, the posterior side being twice the length of the anterior ; a slight median sinus. Umbo prominent, prodissoconch conspicuous.
Surface dull. Colour pale yellow, irre- gularly zoned with opaque white. Sculp- ture, of fine, dense, radiat- ing hair lint s, which gi'ow coarser on ap- proaching the valve margin, with reticu- Fi? 12. late fine and
Bornia radiata. COarse con-
con centric growth lines. Hereand there concentric sulci, indicating- growth interruptions, break the continuity of the surface. Within smooth and glossy; muscle scars hardly visible; external sculpture appearing through the valve. Height, 4"6 mm.; length, 6 mm.; depth of single valve, 1 "25 mm.
Numerous odd valves were secui'ed.
GASTEROPODA.
ASTELE BILIX, sjy. noi\
(Fig. 1.3).
Shell small, depressed-conical, a little broader than high ; spire gradate. Nucleus lost, six whorls remain. Colour, base white; upper surface lemon yellow, articulated on the periphery with
MOLLUSCA EASl' dl' CAPE IIVKON
i9
X
white and chocolate. Sculp- ture, of fifty sharp beads arranged as a projecting keel around the periphery. Above the suture and perip- hery runs a spiral cord which doubles on the last whoi'l. P^i'oni suture to peiiphery, overriding the spirals in their ct)urse, radiate sharp, narrow, elevate lamellte. They con- spicuously lattice a furrow beneatli the peripheral bead row, and there end abruptly. The radiate lamellre continue from whoi'l to whorl, here and there fresh rows are intercalated. Base flattened, oi-namented by eight narrow-spaced spiral riblets, broken into fine close-packed granules. Umbilicus a quarter of the diameter of the base, deep and steep, margined by a row of small tubercles. Aperture simple, rhom- boidal. Columella margin a little reflected, inserted on the' um- bilical bead-row. Height, 2-6 mm. ; maj. diam., 3-2 mm,: min. diam., 2 -75 mm.
A single specimen, apparently not adult, was collected. Like several other Aside it resembles Basilissn, to which, when perfect examples arrive, it may have to be transferred. The peculiar sculpture will, at any rate, serve to distinguish the species in any stasi'e of lii'owth.
Fi^. 13. Asle/e hilix.
LlOTIA ALAZON, Sjy. ttOV.
(Fig. U).
Shell minute, solid, turbinate, elevate, tricarinate, descending at the aperture, narrowly umbilicate. Surface smooth and glossy.
Colour, porcelain white. Wliorls three, the first a protoconch. Sculp- ture, of three projecting lamellate keels revolving from the protoconch to the aperture. The third keel of the penultimate whorl is half covered by the suture of the following whorl. From the first keel, which runs along the shoulder, a nearly flat shelf extends to the suture. From the first to the third keel the side of the shell is nearly perpendicular.
Fig. 14. Liotia alazon.
48
KECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
umbo. Length, 3-5 mm.; height, 2-45 mm.; deptli of single vahe, 1-5 mm.
Only two left valves were obtained of this species, which be- longs to the same section of the genus as C. hrazieri, Smitli, from wliich, as from other co-generic forms, the abrupt anterior end distinguishes it.
BORXIA RADIATA, ^7^. VOV.
(Fig. 12).
Shell thin, diaphanous, rather compressed, oblong, inequilateral, the posterior side being twice the length of the anterior ; a slight median sinus. Umbo prominent, prodissoconch conspicuous.
Surface dull. Colour pale yellow, irre- gularly zoned with opaque white. Sculp- ture, of fine, dense, radiat- ing hair lint s, which gi'ow coarsei' on ap- proacliingthe valve margin, with reticu- late fine and coarse con-
Fie 12. Boriiia radiata.
concentric growth lines. Here and there concentric sulci, indicating growth interruptions, break the continuity of the surface. Within smooth and glossy; muscle scars hardly visible ; external sculpture appealing through the valve. Height, 4 '6 mm.; lengtli, 6 mm.: depth of single valve, 1 -25 mm.
Numerous odd valves were secured.
vm
GASTEROPODA.
ASTELE BILIX, SJ). UUV.
(Fig. 13).
Shell small, depressed-conical, a little broader than high : spire gradate. Nucleus lost, six whorls remain. Colour, base white; upper surface lemon yellow, articulated on the periphery with
MOLLUSCA EASL' oK CAPE BVRON
i9
white and chocolate. Sculp- ture, of fifty sharp beads arran<^ed as a projecting keel around the periphery. Above the sutiu-e and perip- liery runs a spiral cord which doubles on the last whorl. From suture to peripheiy, overriding- the spirals in their course, radiate sharp, narrow, elevate lamellfe. They con- spicuously lattice a furrow beneath the peripheral bead row, and there end abruptly. The radiate lamell:« continue from whoi'l to whorl, here and there fresh rows are intercalated. Base flattened, ornamented by eight narrow-spaced spiral riblets, broken into fine close-packed granules. Umbilicus a quarter of the diameter of the base, deep and steep, margined by a row of small tubercles. Aperture simple, rhom- boidal. Columella margin a little reflected, inserted on the' um- bilical bead-row. Height, 2-6 mm. ; maj. diam., 3-2 mm,: min. diam., 2-75 mm.
A single specimen, apparently not adult, was collected. Like several other Astele it resembles Basilissa, to which, when perfect examples arrive, it may have to be transferred. The peculiar sculpture will, at any rate, serve to distinguish tlie species in any stasje of iri'owth.
Fitf. 13. Astele hilix.
LlOTIA ALAZON, sp. UOV.
(Fig. U).
8hell minute, solid, turbinate, elevate, tricarinate, descending at the aperture, narrowly umbilicate. Surface smooth and glossy.
Colour, porcelain white. Whorls three, the first a protoconch. Sculp- ture, of three projecting lamellate keels revolving fi'om the protoconch to the aperture. The third keel of the penultimate whorl is half covered by the suture of the following whorl. From the first keel, which runs along the shoulder, a nearly flat shelf extends to the suture. From the first to the third keel the sitle of the shell is neai'ly perpendicular.
Fig. 14. Liotia alazoii.
50
RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
Around the umbilicus are three spiral cords. Aperture oblique, angled above, rounded below, outer lip neither thickened nor reflected. Umbilicus deep, narrow, contracted by the columella. Major diam., 1*75 mm.; minor diam., 1'37 mm.; height, 1-5 mm. A single sjiecimen occured.
Adeorbis axgulata, sp. nov. (Fig. 1.5). Shell of moderate size, surface dull. The summit a Hat expanse, from which the protoconch and fii'st whoi'l project, and which is bounded by an angle or spiral rib, whence the side descends per- pendicularly. A similar keel occurs where the side meets the base, and a third margins the wide concave umbilicus. Colour, pale yel- low. AVhorls four and a half, rapidly increasing. Sculpture, some- what like that of Vanikm\h The first adult whorl has strong spaced radial lamellate ribs which gradually fade away with the increase of the the shell, but which persist longest as scales upon the keels. Fine, irregular growth lines occur on the
Fi^. 15.
Adeorbis (mgulata.
last whorl. Spiral sculpture absent. Aperture oblique, rhom- boidal, lip thin. The type is 3"65 maj. diam.; 2-5 min. diam. 2-0 mm. height, but a fragment of a larger individual indicates that the species forms another whorl, and attains a height of 6 mm.
There are but three species of the genus reported from Australia, A. angasi, from New South Wales, A. vincentina, Angas, from South Australia, and A. plana, A. Ad. i^A. siyaj-etiniis, Pilsbxy) from Queensland.
The keeled whorls readily distinguish the novelt3'from A. angasi, which it approaches nearest.
MOLLUSCA EAST OB' CAPE UYKON.
51
Ckkitiiiopsis halli(;axi, Kp. nor.
(Fig. 16).
Shell small, slender, elongate-conical, pale yellow, the upper rib on each whorl white. Whorls twelve, incliuUng a three-whorled protoconch. .Sculpture, on the first adult wliorl, two, on the following three, and on the last four, sharp pi'oject- ing spiral keels. The third or anterior keel of the spire whorls is larger than the others, and is sepai-ated from them by a broader sjjace than in- tervenes between the first and second. The fourth keel of the body whorl reappears on a few of the preceeding whorls as a small supersutural thread. Fine radial strife cross the grooves between the keels. The protoconch is smooth, with whorls bulging in the middle like that of C. turbonilloidet<. Aperture quadrate, canal short. Base rounded. Length, 5-6 mm.; breadth, 1-4 nnii.
A single specimen.
The species is related to C imrpihrea, Angas, but differs by being half the size, more conical in outline, with closer ribs, round base, and different colour.
Ficr. 16,
Cerithiopsis
haUif/aiii.
PsKUDORISSOIXA ELEOAXS, sp. 7(.rn\
(Fig. 17).
Shell minute, glassy translucid, tapering. Whorls six, and an involute tilted protoconch. Below the suture appears an opaque flattened zone, defined by a revolving groove. The zone grows narrower with the increase of the whorls. Aperture effuse, pyriform ob- lique, peristome slightly thickened and incurved, outer lip retreating to tlie suture. A callus is spread on the pre- ceeding whorl. Behind the columella is a minute umbilical crevice. Length, 3-15 mm.; breadth, 1-15 mm.
Several specimens were taken. This species is a northern representative of P. tasmanica than which P. elpgans is a third smaller, but has an extra whorl, tapers more rapidly, and has the sub- sutural stricture more defined.
Ficr. 17. Pneudorissoina elegans.
52
RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM,
8CALA TURRISPIIARI, Sp. ttOV,
(Fig. IS).
Shell minute, solid, very tall and slender, conspicuously tabu- late. Colour, pale cream. Whorls eight and a half (including two and a half whorled protoconch), deeply con- stricted at the suture, flattened medially, and angled above and below. Sculpture, the proto- conch smooth and glossy, extreme apex asym- metrically protuberant, remainder with two spiral keels, and a third margining the suture. After the protoconch the adult sculpture commences suddenly without transition. The adult whorls are obliquely crossed by about seventeen blunt, close set, widely and squarely projecting lamella, which disappear on the base. Both lamellse and interstices are crossed by fine, dense, spiral grooves which fret the lamellti? blades. Aperture I'ound. Length, 2-64 mm.; breadth, 0-8 mm.
The four specimens before me are not suffi ciently perfect to furnish full details of length, number of whorls, apertui'e, and base. The turrited spire, peculiar ribbing, and small size of the novelty, amply distinguish it from any Austra'ian species.
Fig. 18. Scala turnxphari
ScALA MINUTULA, TcUe and May.
(Fig. 19).
Scalaria {Acrilla) mimitula, Tate and May,
Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Austi"., xxiv., 1900, p. W^*
This species has not hitherto been traced so far noi'th. It appears to me to be i-elated rather to the Eissoidse than to the Scalida?. ^'^0ff
Fisr. 19. Scala minntula.
MOLLUSCA EAST OF CAPE BYRON.
53
Mangelia emixa, .yj. nov.
(Fig. 20).
Shell fusiform, variable in contour, colour, and development of sculpture. Whorls, five and a half, including a two-whorled protoconch, rapidly increasing, slightly shouldered. Protoconch smooth, glassy, globose. Colour variable ; sometimes entirely drab or buff, often with the protoconch and the subsutural space darker. The example figured has a ground colour of pale cinnamon, banded or spotted with pale cream, below the suture a band of chocolate, deep within the inner lip a tinge of purple, proto- conch a clear hazel-brown. Sculpture, longi- tudinal wave ribs sharply bent near the suture, fading away on the base, and leaving a bare space behind the aperture, wider spaced above, more crowded and irregular below ; on the last whorl are fourteen, on the penultimate eighteen. Both ribs and intei'spaces are crossed by sharp, minute, close, waved, spiral grooves. The flat-topped interspaces of these grooves, four times their width, are again cross-cut by close minute furrows into oblong beads. Aper- ture narrow, thi-ee-fifths of the shell's length, fortified without by a broad but low incurving \arix, which rises above the suture, enclosing a shallow sinus ; a layer of callus ovei'spreads the inner Canal short and broad. Length, 11 mm.; breadth, -I'O mm.
One specimen.
I have long been acquainted with this species, though an example perfect enough for description has hitherto evaded me. The " Thetis " took it in 63-75 fathoms off Port Kembla ; in 50-52 fathoms off Botany Bay ; and in 22-38 fathoms oft' Port Hacking. It occurred to me in 100 fathoms off Wollongoiig.
In its immature state it has a general resemblance to Cythara kubgensis, Petterd, from which the varix of the adult immediately severs it.
McDir/elin emina. lip
BaTIIVTO.AIA SAKCINULA, i^p. noV.
(Fig. 21).
Shell small, solid, ovate-fusiform. Colour, pale yellow, with a rusty tinge at the suture. "Whorls, three and a half, including a protoconch of one Hat wliorl. Sculpture, on the protoconch
54
RECORDS OF THE AUSTKALIAN MUSEUM.
Fitf. 21. liarthytoma sarcinula.
fine spiral grooves, continued on the adult as broad, shallow furrows, which are- broadest at the sutuie becoming smaller and closer antei iorly. On the last whorl are twenty-two spiral i-ibs, on the penul- timate six ; the latter ai-e latticed by fine radial riblets. The whole shell is crossed by fine, arcuate growth lines. Aperture narrow, sinus deep, lip thin, straight, pro- duced medially, edge crenulated by the sculpture. No callus on the inner lip. Columella broad and twisted ; canal not produced. Length, 7 mm.; breadth, 4 mm. ,
One specimen represents this species, which is broader than B. biconica,' at a corresponding length.
Cylichxa tenuis, sj). nov.
(Fig. 22).
" Shell small, elongate, subcylindrical, a little contracted at each extremity ; trun- cate at the summit, smooth translucent, .sometimes with an o^jaque belt or row of patches around the upper quarter of the body whorl, Sculpture, a small spiral thread keel runs around the vertex, fine growth lines radiate the summit, but are scarcely perceptible on the sides of the shell. .•\pical perforation narrow, deep, a seventh of the shell's diameter, partly showing tlie pen- ultimate whorl. Aperture long, perpendicular, narrow, a slight callus laj'er spread on the iinier lip. Columella a little thickened, spirally twisted.
Length, 245 mm.; breadth TOo mm.
Two examples.
h Fig. 22. Ciilicna tenui-^.
7 Hedlev— Austr.Mus. Mem., iv., 1903, p 385 f. 98.
NOTES ON FISHES from WESTERN AUSTRALIA.— No. 3.i
By Edgar R. Waite, F.L.S., Zoologist.
(Plates viii. — xvii., and fig. 23.)
A third collection of Fishes from Western Australia has heen forwarded to the Trustees, by Mi-. Bernard H. AVoodward, Curator of the Western Australian Museum.
This collection is larger, and richer in novelties than the pre- ceding ones, and yields three new genera : —
Neatyiyns of the family Scorpididse Bramichthys of the Bramidte Dipulus of the Brotulidte.
Nine species are described as new : —
Catidus labiosus. Synodus sayeneus. Neatypus ohliquus. Ch(ftodon assaritis. Bramichthys woodwca rlL Cynoglossus broadhursti. Diptdus cjHcus. PseudomonacmitJi us (jalii. Chddoderm is viaccidlochi.
Figures of the^e are supplied, and also of the following known species, not previously illustrated : —
Terapon hiimeralis, Ogilby. Hypsipops viicrolepis. Giinther. Pseudofabfus punctulatns, Giinther. Fat(fcus mncnlatus, Giinther.
Many of the fishes received are duplicates of those pre^•iously determined, and *are not included in the present paper. A number of species, however, known from Western Australia is herein enumerated ; these claim inclusion by virtue of the precise localities recorded. The majority of such are new to the west coast, they having previously been known from King George's Sound only, which, though politically in the Western State, is on the south coast of the Continent.
1 No. 1. Rec. Austr. Mus., iii., 1900, pp. 210-216, pi. xxxvii. ; No. 2. Ihid., iv., 1902. pp. 170-194. pis. xxvii-xxxi.
56 KEC01U)S OV THE AL'STKALIAN MUSEUM.
The types of the new species have been returned to the Western AustraUan Museum.
The collection, as originally received, was supplemented by a number of fishes recently taken by means of the trawl.
I am indebted to Mr. C. F. Gale for a copy of the Annual Report on the Fishiug Industry of Western A.ustralia.- The Report for 1904 contains an account of the first trawling oper- ations undertaken in the State. From this we learn that the ketch " Rip," a vessel of ninety tons, was chartered for the pur- pose and that the trawl was shot no less than one hundred and one times, the greatest depth reached being 40 fathoms. Five charts accompany the report, showing various stations from Cape Naturaliste, northward to Shark's Bay. Trawling was also tried ofi Rottnest Island and Houtman's Albrolhos.
It is to be deplored that no professional zoologist was aboard the " Rip," and it cannot be doubted that, in consequence, much valuable material and information has been loat. A tally was certainly taken in fishermen's style, but the mere enumeration of " soles, gurnard, flathead, rays, cod, leather-jackets, etc.," conveys no precise information. Records of edible fishes only appear to have been preserved, no detailed account having been taken of the smaller forms which furnish food for the edible ones or which may be, in other ways, concerned in their economy. With the exception of crustaceans and sponges no account what- ever was taken of the Invertebrate life, such being entered as "marine growth," and, judging by the experience gained in H.M.C.S. ''Thetis" in the waters of Nevv South Wales, an im- mense wealth of such forms must have been netted.
The collection is said to contain representatives of all the fishes obtained ; it requires, however, a trained eye to discrimi- nate in this matter, and it must be evident, as above hinted, that many species taken were lost sight of ; in fact some fishes are enumerated in the report, examples of which were not forwarded. Of these I may instance skate, electric, sting and other rays, trumpeter, John dorey, horse mackerel, flathead, whiting and skipjack. Many of the takes are entered as " small fish of all kinds" or "a lot of fish of other classes," and in no case is it pos- sible to associate a specimen with the particular station whence it was obtained ; the mere mention of say, red mullet, cod, parrot fish or gurnard gives no clue to the species taken.
At the 41st haul a sea snake, four feet long, was netted, and on August 7th and 10th whales were freely encountered.
Western Australia — Eept, Pishing Industry and Trawling Operations, 1904 (1905).
FISHES FROM WESTERN AUSTRALIA — WAITE.
57
A small sailing vessel is not suited for trawling investigations and the promoters were evidently much handicapped by want of a proper boat. When further operations are undertaken it is to be hoped that the whole project will be placed in competent scif-ntific hands. The services i^f a professional Zoologist, in an undertaking of this kind, should be recognised as a necessity in Australia equally with Europe and America.
Mr. Woodward asks me to state that the Trustees of the AVestern Australian Museum are greatly indebted to Mr. C. F. Gale, the Chief Inspector of Fisheries for Western Australia, and to Mr. F. C. Broadhurst, for the fishes obtained by means of the trawl.
Catulus labiosus, sp. jior. (Fig. 23).
Length of head 7-75 in the total length ; width of head 1-06 ; length of snout .3-2; interorbital width 2-66; width of mouth 1-54 ; diameter of eye 4-4 ; and length of pectoral fin I'l in that of the head.
Nasal valves separate, each produced into a lobe directed out- wards and backwards ; the distance between the two slightly more than the basal width of one lobe. No cirrus. A long
labial fold round the angles of the mouth, the fold of the upper jaw produced anteriorly be- yond the lobe of the nasal valve and to within a short distance of the nostril ; the folds of the lower jaw ap- proach each other to within the length of the base of one of the nasal lobes. These fea- tures are illustrated in the accompanying- Fig 2,:\. figure, which is two- Caiidus lahiosus. thirds natural size. Teeth in several rows in both jaws, those of the lower jaw, the larger ; all have a small cusp on each side. Head much de- pressed, its width considerably more than its length in achance of the spiracles. Body elongate, the vent in advance of the middle of the total length. First dorsal fin inserted above the hinder edge of the vent.
5B RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN Ml'SEUM.
Colours.- — Brown aljove, lighter beiieatli. Hinder part of liead, the body and the under surface, from between the peetoi'als backwards, ornamented witli fairly uniform black spots. The ilorsals, anal and caudal similai-ly marked : three series of spots <tn the ventrals tend to form transverse bars. One example — a male — 620 mm. in length.
Loc. Fremantle.
Elops saurus, Limueiis. Elops saurus, Linnseus, 8yst. Nat., ed. xii., 1766, p. 5 IS. Loc. — ^Murray River, near Mandurah.
Clupaxodon neopilchardus, Steindachupr.
i'Anpea neopilcliardns, Steindachner, Denk. K. Akad. \\'iss. Wien, xli., 1879, p. 12.
Loc. — Houtman's Abrolhos.
Gymxothorax puxctatofasciatus, Jileeker.
<Tt/,/inofhorax jiunctafofasciatus, Bleeker, Ned. Tijdschr. Dierk. i., 1863, p. 167. Loc. — Three examples referred to this East Indian species were ti-awled between Fremantle and Houtman's Abrolhos.
Trachinocepiialus myops, Forster.
Snlmo myops, Forster, in Bloch and Schneider, >Syst. Tclith., 1801, p. 421. Luc. — Trawled between Houtman's Abrolhos and the main- land of Western Australia.
.Saurida tumbil, Bloch. Salvio tnmhil, Bloch, Ichty., xii., 1795, p. 100, pi. ccccxxx. Loc. — Trawled off Fremantle.
►SyXODUS SAOENEUS, sp. liOl\
(Plate viii., fig. 1.)
D. 12 ; A. 15 V. 8 ; P. 13 : L. 1. 52 ; L. tr. 4/7
Length of head 3-66 : height of body 7*0 in the total length. Diameter of eye 7-8 ; and length of snout 4-8 in that of the head, [nterocular space equal to the orbital diameter. The head is subquadrangular in section, a long shallow groove above, ♦ 'xtends from the tip of the snout to the occipital region. Snout
KISHES FROM \^ ESTEKX AUSTRALIA — WAITE. 59
^reath' depressetl, acute and broader tliaii lonij. The orbit cuts the up2)er profile, tlie upi)ej- half being diiected superiorly, tho outer half sublaterally. The jaws are e([ual, and the j)remaxillary is* 1 -56 in the length of the head.
The body is very stout, broader than iiigli ; the caudal peduncle quadrangular. Origin of dorsal nearer the adipose fin' than the snout by an eye's diameter. The anterior rays, when depressefl, reach just beyond the insertion of the last ray, which is not filamentous, the second ray is a little shorter than the length t)f the fin or 1 -H in that of the head. The anal increases in length backward, its last ray being twice the diameter of the eye. The inner ventral rays are very long, the sixth being 1'25 in the length of tlie head, and reaching beyond the posterior insertion of the dorsal ; the pectoral is short and rounded, and the caudal ^leeply forked.
Scales. — The tip of the snout and the median groove as far as the eyes are smooth. The top of the head including the upper, Iiinder and lower mai'gin of the eye is rugose, as is also the upper €dge of the humerals. Seven rows of scales on the cheek, und about three on the upper part of the opercle. No keel on the lateral line.
Colours. — Yellow above and silvery beneath. All the scales })roadly margined with reddish brown, the effect being ^•ery marked on the lower surface. Owing to the roundness of the body, the number of scales in the transverse seiies, cannot be shown in the illustration. One example, 265 mm. in length.
Loc. — Trawled between Fremantle anfl Houtnian's Abi-olhos.
AuLOPUS PURPURISSATUS, Ricluirdsov.
Anlopus pnrpvrin.satus, Richardson, Icon. Pise, 184."?, p. vi., pi. ii., fig. 3.
Loc. — Mandurah. I
Centriscus scutatus, JAnnaus.
Kyptifrisciis scutatus, Linnseus, 8yst. Nat., ed. i., 1758, p. 336.
Saviile Kent mentions this species as occurring on the Barrier Reef, but in respect to colouration his figure seems rather to represent ^fJoliscus strir/atns, Giinther, lecoi'ded from Cape York ; it must however be noted that the spine of the cuirass is represented as unjointed, and that three dorsal spines are
' The adipose fin is absent, bnt a pit suggests its position
60 RECOKDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
shown in the membrane below, these are characters of C. sciUatiiH. Amjjhisile cristata, De Vis,* appears to be a synonym of C. sctifatua, the presence of " three radiating dorsal spines" suggesting that the spine of the cuirass was unjointed ; the example described was taken at Noosa on the Queensland coast between Brisbane and Wide Bay, it measured eleven inches (280 mm.) in length.
f.oc. — Two fine examples of equal size (222 mm.), forwarded by Mr. Woodward, were trawled in the watei's to the north of Houtman's Abrolhos.
Myxus EL0X(iATU.s, Gihither.
My.vus ''loiK/afns, Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., iii., 1861, p. 466.
Loc. — Mand urah .
SpiiYRiENA OBTUSATA, Cuvifv <t Valencienues.
Sphyr<e}ia obtusata, Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., iii., 1829, p. 350.
The Abrolhos Islands have furnished us with two examples of this species : it tluis ranges along both east and west coasts of the Continent. It is not recorded by Lucas (1890) from Victoria nor by Johnston (1890) from Tasmania.
Castelnau I'ecords S. itovfe-hollandife, Giinther, from Western Australia. This sjjecies is common along the southern and south- eastern seaboards, and is also known from Tasmania.
Beryx affinis, Giinther.
Beryx affinis, Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., i., 1859, p. 13.
Though not previously recorded from the west coast, its known distribution would suggest its inclusion as a member of the fauna.
Lvc. — Houtman's Abrolhos.
HOLOCENTRUM RUBRUM, Forskal.
tSciceua rubra, Forskal, Descr. Anim., 1775, p. 48. Loc. — Mandurah.
MOXOCENTRIS GLORIA-MARIS, De Vis.
Cleidopns (/loria-maris, De Vis, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. 8. Wales, vii., 1882,' p. 368.
■» De Vis— Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, ix.. 1885, p. 872.
FISHES FROM WESTERN AUSTRALIA — WAITE. 61
An example taken by the trawl between Houtman's Abrolhos and the mainland is an addition to the fauna of Western Australia. The species was previously known only from Eastern Australia, southward to Port Jackson.
Tt is evident fi'om Dr. Boulenger's^ account of the distribution of the genus that the Mauritius species is referable to JF. jajjwiicus and not to M. (jloria-maris as might be suspected.
AcANTiiisTlus SERRATUS, C uviev (t Valencienues. Flectropoma serratum, Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., ii., 182S, p. 399.
Hitherto the coast of New South Wales has been regarded as the restricted habitat of this species, though specimens recorded from " Australia" may have been obtained from other coasts.
The collection includes three specimens, two of whicli are normal and indistinguishable from examples taken in Port Jackson ; the third has, in addition to the usual spots, four dark vertical bands, wider than the interspaces ; the first embraces the occiput and the first two dorsal spines, the second the sixth to eleventh spines, the third is at the base of the anterior rays and the fourth includes the hinder rays and portion of the caudal peduncle, the two last, only, reach the ventral profile. There are also markings on the head similar to those of A. cinctus. Examples from New South Wales have been, though rarely, seen in which similar markings are traceable, though in a much less degree than in the example above described.
Loc. — Houtman's Abrolhos.
Centrogexys vaigexsis, Quoy (t Gaimard.
Scorpmna vaige^isis, Quoy and Gaimard, Voy. " Uranie et Physic- ienne," 1824, p. 324, pi. Iviii., fig. 1.
Loc. — North West Australia.
Epinepiielus fasciatus, Fomkal. rercafasc.iata, Forskal, Descr. Anim., 1775, p. 40. Loc. — Houtman's Abrolhos.
CoLPOGXATHUS DENTEX, Cuviev & Valeuciemie.^,
Flectropoma dentex, Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., ii., 1828. p. 394.
Loc. — Houtman's Abi'olhos.
* Boulenger. — Cambridge Nat. Hist., vii., Fishe-s, 1904, p. 656.
^>- liECOKDS OF THE AUSTK'AT.IAX MUSEL'M.
LaTKS CALCAKIFl-;);, ISIiirh. Huliicrnfnis ralftii-lth; Bloch, Iflity., \ ii.. 1790, p. 100, jtl. ccxliv. Loc — Huutmairs Ahn)lhos.
LUTIAXUS CilKYSOT.EMA, BJet'lfV.
Mf!i(>prl(>ii rhnjsoUcnia, Bleeker, Nat. Tijds. Ned. Ind, ii., 1S.")1^
p. 170.
Loi:. — HoutinHns Ahi'olhus.
TeRAPON IIUMERALIS, Offilb)/.
llfnipon /tiint/u-a/is; Ogilby, Proc. Linn. 8oc. N. 8. Wales, xxiv.^ 1S99, }.. 177.
(Plate ix.)
(Jf three examples forwarded, one exceeds the dimensions of the type, measuring "210 mm. Tlie accompanying illustration depicts our smallest specimen of natural size, and, as will be seen, it differs somewliat from the type in the extent of its colour markings. In this the body bands extend below the lateral line, and the upper portion of the body and caudal peduncle are- spotted, in addition to the vertical fins.
Ldc. — The range of the species cannot yet be extended, all known examples l^eing from Houtman's Abrolhos.
Pkntacekopsis recurvirostris, Richardson.
J/i'<(iiij)/f'/-i(s imtrinrosfris, Richardson, Voy. " Ereb. and Terr.'v 1845, p. 34, pi. xxii., fig. 5-6.
Loc. — Fi"emantle. Also trawled ; the " Striped Boarfish " mentioned in the Fishei'ies Beport, probably referring to this species.
PSEUDOCHROMIS MUELLERI, Kll(Uzhujfir.
Ft<fHi{(>rhr(>}nh nuifUeri, Klunzinger, 8itzb. Akad. Wiss. Wein, Ixxx., 1879, p. 370.
Clclddj)." fllamentosiiii, Macleav, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. 8. Wales^ v., 1881, p. 570.
The examples described by Klunzinger and Macleay were both obtained from Port Darwin. Those forwarded from the Western Australian Museum were taken on the North- Western Coast of the Continent, and are therefore additions to the fauna of the
Western 8tate.
Kl^^lIES FROM WESTERN AUSTRALIA — UAITK. 6S
CiCHLOPS LIXEATUS, Casfelunii. Dnmperia lineata, Castelnau, Researches Fish. Austr., 1875, p. 30. Loc. — Houtman s Abrolhos.
Hci^NA ANTARCTICA, Castehimi..
ScifPiKi anfai'cticn, Castehiau, Proc. Zool. 8oc. Vict, i., 1872, p. 100.
Lor. — Man(hii-ah.
ClIILODACTYLUS XKJRICAXS, Richavdson.
Chil(Klacti/lns it.u/rieanf<, Richardson, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1850, p. 6.3.
L(w. — Houtman s Abrollios.
CiiiKONKMUS MACULOSus, RlchardsoH.
Threpterius maculofiHs, Richardson, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1850, p. 70, pi. ii., figs. 1-2.
The collection includes one example of this species. It agrees exactly with Richardson's description and figure, which are sufficiently exhaustive. Though the number of dorsal spines is correctly copied as fourteen, by Giinther*, they are for generic purposes rendered as fifteen in the synopsis (p. 70), this number applies only to C. (/foiyiauus and C. marmoi-atus.
Lo'-. — The specimen examined is from Houtman's Abrolhos and measures 270 mm. in length.
POMADASIS IIASTA, Jiloch .
Lutjdnuii hnsfa, Bloch, Ichty., vii., 1790, p. <S7, pi. ccxlvi., fig. 1. Loc. — Fremantle.
8C0L0PSIS BIMACULATUS, Ruppell.
iSro/opsis hunnridafii.s, Riippell, Atlas Fische, 1828, j). 8, pi. ii., fig. 2.
Lot: — Houtman's Abrolhos.
TePHR.EOPS TEPHR.f'.OPS, Richardson.
(JrrnldfU!^ f/'phrwops, Richardson, V'oy. "Ereb. and Terr.", 1846,. }). 69, pi. xli., fig 1.
Loc. — ^Houtman'.s Abrolhos.
'■ Gunther— Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., ii., 1860, p. 78.
64 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
Upeneus porosus, Cuvie?- d: Valenciennes.
JJpeneus porosus, Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., iii., 1829, p. 455.
Specimens taken at Fremantle are possibly co-specific witli the example recoi'ded by Castelnau as U. vlamingii.
SCORPIS GEORGIANUS, Cuvier & Valenciennes.
Scorjns georgianns, Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., viii., 1831, p. 503, pi. ccxlv.
Zoc. — -Mandurah.
Neatypus, gen. nov. Family Scorpidid^e.
Head and body compressed, completely scaled. Scales moderate, finely ciliated and irregularly arranged ; lateral line complete. Mouth small, transverse, slightly protractile. Maxillary small ; a broad band of trilobed movable teeth in each jaw : vomer and palatines toothless. Gill membi'anes united, free from the isthmus. Seven branchiostegals. Gill-rakei-s long. A single dorsal with ten spines and about twenty-two rays, the spinous portion well developed but shorter than the soft ; anal with three spines, the second long and sti'ong, and about eighteen rays. The bases of the spinous portion and the whole of the soft portion of both fins, densely covered with small scales. Caudal scaled like the vei'tical fins. Pectoral with fifteen rays, the upper of which are longest, the tip rounded. Ventrals inserted close togethei', behind the base of the pectorals, spine strong.
The genus is allied to Atypichthys, Giinther", difftning by the character of the teeth and the scaly base of the spinous portion of the vertical fins. The greater vertical development of these fins at once distinguishes it from Scorpis, and possibly also from Farascorpis. The small mouth prevents any confusion with Atypoiioma, and the general habit with other two genera included by Dr. Boulenger**, Psetttis and Henoplosus ( Enoplosns).
It has much the habit of Chmtodon, but differs therefrom by the nature of the teeth and by the gill membranes l>eing free from the isthmus. Of this last character Boulenger writes under Chcetodoiitido'^ : — " Closely allied to and evidently derived from
'Guntlier.— Cat. Fish. Brifc. Mus., ii., 1860, p. 64, and iv., 1862, p. 510. * Boulenger — Cambridge Nat. Hist., vii., Fishes, 1904, p. 666. ' Boulenger. — Loc. cit., p. 667.
FISHES FROM WESTERN AUSTRALIA WAITE. 65
the more generalised types of the Scorpididce, differing in the attachment of the gill-membranes to the isthmus." Though valid for the family, as a whole, this character does not hold good for C. ( Microcajithus) striyatus in which the membi'anes are united and free from the isthmus.
Neatypus obliquus, sp. nov.
(Plate X.)
D. X. 22; A. iii. 18; V. i. 5 ; P. 15; C. 17; L. lat. 51.
Length of head 3-8 ; height of body 2-1 in the total ; diameter of eye 2-5 ; length of snout 3-9 and of caudal 2-0 in the length of the head ; interoi'bital space convex, slightly less than the diameter of the eye ; hinder limb and angle of preopercle denti- culated, lower limb smooth.
Body compressed, ventral profile but little lower than that of the dorsal.
Fins. — The dorsal fin originates above the margin of the opercle, the spines regularly increase in height to the sixth, which is 1-7 in the length of the head, the following spines are but slightly lower, the anterior rays are of the same height as the last spines, and gradually decrease in length, the contour of the fin is thus unbroken. The anal commences beneath the beginning of the soft dorsal. Its second spine is very sti'ong and long, much longer than the sixth dorsal and 1 '3 in the length of the head ; the third spine is weaker and a little shorter ; the anterior rays are longer than the corresponding ones of the dorsal, and the margin of the fin is almost sti'aight. The ventral spine is equal to the fourth dorsal, and the longest rays are of the same length as the pectoral, 1 -4 in that of the head. The caudal is emargi- nate and the depth of its peduncle is equal to the diameter of the eye.
Colours. — The ground colour is pale grey, with six oblique dark brown bands, each of which is bordered with black. The first is double above, the anterior portion arising between the eyes, with a strong concavity to the front, the posterior portion passes from above the hinder maigin of the eye, and merged with the anterior limb, glasses downwards across the preopercle to the ventral spine. The second band originates on the occiput, crosses the edge of the opercle and base of the pectoral fin, and attains the lower profile at the middle of the adpressed ventral spine. Each band becomes successively more oblique, the third passing from the base of the three first dorsal spines to the commence- ment of the anal. The next band joins the v.-^ ii. dorsal spines
(>6 RECORDS OP^ THE AU.STRALIAX MUSEUM.
and the middle of the unal fin. Tlie fifth liand originates at tlm postei'ior dorsal spines and proceeds to the posterior anal rays, the last band runs nearly parallel to the margin of the dorsal rays and on to the caudal peduncle, the four posterior bands extend on to the scaly portion of the dorsal and anal fins.
Log. — Two specimens, taken at Houtman's Abrolhos, the larger measuring 152 nun. in length.
EpHIPPUS MULTIFASCIATUS, RichnrdsdH.
Snifoplimiufi }UHltifasciatus, Richardson, Voy. "Eieb. and Terr.'V 1846, p. 57, pi. XXXV., figs. 4-6.
Loe. — Fremantle. The " Butter Fish " mentioned as lun ing been trawled may refer to this species.
CH.y/rODOX ASSARIUS, .s^^. itov.
(Plate xi., fig. 1).
D. xiii. 21 ; A. iii. 17 ; V. i. 5 ; P. 16 ; C. 17 + 6.
Length of head 3-7 ; of caudal fin 5-2 ; height of body 1-5 in the total length. Diameter of eye 3-0, and length of snout 3-5 in that of the head. Interocular space convex, equal to the diameter of the eye. Preopeiculum smooth, body ovate, strongly compressed ; the upper profile rounded, the lower convex. The fifth dorsal spine is the highest, its length twice the diameter of the eye ; from this point the fin falls gradually away to an obtuse angle at about the middle of the rayed portion. The second anal spine is longest, its length being one-half that of the head ; this fin is evenly rounded ; the ventral spine is 1 "6 in the length of the head, and the longest pectoral ray 1 "3 in the same.
Tlie scales are in regular series, not in contrary directions, those of the middle of the sides larger than the others ; the lateral line forms an even arch, lower than the dorsal pi'ofile and tei^minates in advance of the posterior insertion of the dorsal fin.
CdIoiivs. — Ground colour yellow or pale brown, snout darker, the dark ocular band is complete above and is a little narrower than the eye, above the orbit it is bordered before and behind with a light band, below it extends to the margin of the subopercle. The body bears, on its upper half, four very narrow dark vertical bars slightly inclined forward below, they pass downwards from the bases of the fourth, sixth, eighth and tenth dorsal spines respectively. The dorsal fin is narrowly edged with black ; following the angle, the colour becomes submarginal, the extremit\- of the rays being white. ^V l)lack white-edged
FISHES FROM WESTEltX AL'STRAIJA — WAITE. 6i
(irt'llus is present in tlie angle. The nuirgin of the anal is a ratliei- broad white band within which is a dark l)n)wn one, very narrow at tlie spines but increasing in depth so tliat it occupies nearly the whole of the posterior vnys.. Pectoral and ventral without markings. A \'erv' faint broad bai' across the caudal peduncle, in line with the anal band.
Length of specimen 119 mm. trawled in the waters between Fremantle and Houtnian's Abrolhos.
This species has affinities with C. i)iertP)tsii, Cuvier and Valencieimes and the very closely allied C. dixoul, Regan : differential characters are the angulate soft dorsal with its contained ocellus, the sub-vertical and scarcely obli(jue body barn which have a ditfeient iTiclination from those of the other species mentioned, also the absence of the yellow ai'ea on the posterior part of the body. Bleeker placed his C. xauthurufi as synonymou* with C. mefte)i.sU, but Mr. C. T. Regan appears to regard this as- distinct also.'"
ClIELMOXOKS TKUNCATUS, KlM'r.
Chtetodon truitcntus, Kner., Sitzb. Acad. Wiss. Wien, xxxiv., ^ 1859, p. 442, pL ii. Loc. — The specimen trawled between Houtmans Abrolhos and Fremantle is the largest T ha\e seen, measuring 222 mm. in length.
Htpsipops microlepis, OiliitJwr.
(Plate xii.)
D. xii.-xiii. 15-18 ; A. ii. 13-16 ; V. i. 5 ; P. 21 ; C. 17.
The great variation which this species undergoes during tlit> course of its growth is responsible for several erroneous deter- minations and additions to the synonomy.
The changes which take place during the life of the species to maturity, have been lately studied by Mi-. Allan R. McCulloch, and the following notes are based upon his observations.
In the smallest specimens examined (15 mm.), the characteristic mai'kings are developing, but are not clearly defined ; the scales, also are incomplete, the head and back as fai- as the dorsal fin being naked. The scales do not yet appear on tlie fins, and the caudal is emarginate. All the rays are simple.
10 Eegan.— Ann. Mag^. Nat. Hist., (7), xiii., 1004, p. 277.
68 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
Specimens 22 mm. in length present a most gorgeous appear- ance, being of brilliant orange colour, tempered on the upper part of the body by numerous black dots, which are much lai'ger in the space between the dorsal and anal fins. Three broad dark- edged blue lines I'un from the head backwards ; the first arises on the snout, behind the upper lip, where it is connected with its fellow on the other side, and skirts the profile to the anterior dorsal spines ; the second, indicated in front of the eye, passes across the upper part of the eyeball and above the lateral line to a large black blue-edged ocellus, which occupies the last six spines and portion of the back beneath ; the third runs from the corner of the mouth, below the eye, across the opercle, and is continued as a dot above the basal portion of the pectoral fin. There may also be two or three similar dots between the pectoral and the caudal. A large dark spot is also present on the upper part of the caudal peduncle. The spinous dorsal fin is reddish, with a blue margin, the bases of the soft dorsal and anal are oi-ange, the remaining portion and of the pectoral and caudal hyaline. Ventral fin orange, the first, elongate, ray and the anterior edge of the anal black. This stage is illustrated in fig. 1.
Somewhat larger examples were identified by Bennett with Glyphisodon biocellatus and by the writer with G. hrownrigciii.
In a much later stage, represented by examples measuring 72 mm. in length, the dorsal stripes are relatively much narrower and are broken, the lowermost being indicated by dots only, the ocellus is more restricted in area, being confined to the last two spines. A white patch is present on the opercle and numerous blue spots occur on the hinder half of the body and soft dorsal and caudal fins. The general colour is darker than in younger specimens, this being most noticeable in the ventral and anal fins, which are of greenish-black hue. This phase is represented in fig. 2, and approaches the specimens named Parnm )nicroh'j>is by Giinther.
The adult, which attains a length of 160 mm., is wholly black, with the exception of the white opercular patch which is per- sistent. Traces of the dorsal ocellus and supra-caudal blotch may also exist.
The adult is represented in fig. 3, and sucli examples owe to Giinther the name Parma squamiplnniti.
Chief among the changes incident to growth may be mentioned the increased depth of the body, the reduced size of the eye and the nari'owing of the preorbital.
p. 222,
FISHES FROM WESTERN AUSTRALIA — WAITE. 69
The generic named Parma, Giinther, is here regarded as synony- mous with Jfi/psipops, Gill. Some notes on this question will be found in an earlier issue of the Records."
The synonomy of the species would appear to be as follows : —
Htpsipops miceolepis, Giinther.
Glttphisodon hiocellatus, Bennett, Proc. Zool. Soc, xxvii., 1859, Pisces, pi. ix. (not Cr. hiocellatus, Cuvier and Valenciennes.)
Farma microlepix, Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. JVIus., iv., 1862, p. 57.
Par)na squamipinnis, Giinther, loc. ciL, pp. 58 and 505.
I Glyphidodon australis, Steindachner, Sitzb. Aicad. Wiss. Wien, Ivi., 'p. 328.
Glyphidodon brownriggii, Waite, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, (2), ix„ 1894, p. 219, (not Cluetodon hrownriggii, Bennett).
Luc. — This species is common in Port Jackson and neighbouring- waters, whence the examples studied and figured were taken. Mr. Woodward's specimens were obtained at Houtman's Abrolhos.
PsEUDOLABRUS PUXCTULATUS, Giinther.
Ldhrirhfhijs 2)iinctulata, Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., iv., 1862, p. 118.
(Plate xiii.)
Mr. Woodward forwards specimens of this species from Mandurah ; Castelnau^- recorded it from the Westei'n State and the Australian Museum posseses examples taken in South Aus- tralian waters.
In one specimen, undoubtedly of this species, the pale blue spots cannot be detected, and have indeed almost faded from all. In the absence of more stable points of difference we may assume that Castelnau's Lahriclitlii/s eilcloisis'^''', as he himself hinted, represents an example so faded.
Tlie root of this latter specific name is used several times by Castelnau in his paper on the Fishes of Western Australia. His genus Edflia is rediagnosed by Mr. J. D. Ogilby", who writes : — ^' Den'v. ign.^^ Though I regard a zoological name as a name only, without significance, Mr. Ogilby carefully studies the ety- mology, but in this instance failed to ascertain the origin of the name.
" Waite.— Rec. Austr. Mus., v., 1904, p. 169.
1-^ Castelnau.— Proc. Zool. Soc. Vict., ii., 1873, p. 138.
'^ Castelnau. — Loc. cit„ p. 137.
i< Ogilby.— Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, xxiv., 1899, p. 176.
^0 1^EC0RDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
In R. H. Major's "Early Voyages to Terra Australis^',' we read : — " It would seem that another of the outward bcjund «hips referred to in the Dutcli recital, as visiting the coasts of New Hollanfl, was commanded by Edel, and tlie land tliere ^liscovered, which was on the west coast, was named the land of Edel. From Campbell's edition of Harris's voyages we learn tliat this discovery was made in 1619."
PSEUDOLABRUS TETHICUS, /licJuirdsoU.
Lahnm tetn'cKs, Ricliardson, Proc. Zool. 8oc., 1840, p. 25 ; Voy. "Ereb. and Terr.", Fislies, 18-18, p. 126, pi. Iv., tig. 1.
Lahrirhtliijx. hostocldi, Castlenau, Proc. Zool. Soc. Vict., ii., 1873, p. 137. The examples forwarded from Mandurah are unquestionably identical with that described by Castlenau. The lower caudal ray is long equally with the upper one, and though I do not find that the vertical fins have the fine blackisli edge described by Oiinther, the black spot at the upper pectoral base is present. In Hichardson's figure the ventral is insei'ted too high on the body j^o that the distance between its base and that of the pectoral is not sufficiently great. The pectoral is illustrated as having a rounded margin, in our examples it is sinuous, with the upper rays mucli the longer. As the drawing is structurally incorrect in respect to the ventral, we may doubt its accuracy in respect to the pectoral and caudal also.
PsEUDOLABRUS fJUEXTHEKI, BlfcLrr.
PfieHtliilahnis (fiientheri, Bleeker, Versl. ]\Ied. Kcjn. Akad. Weten., xiv., 1862, p. 126. Loc. — Fremantle.
Harpe vulpixa, Hic/iardson. 'Ccssi/j/hux ntliiiniis, Richardson, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1850, p. 71. Ldc. — Houtman's Abrolhos.
Ophtiialmolepis lixeolatus, (■tirier <(■ ]'alfnci(')i]ies. Jnlis linedlatiis, Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., xiii., 1839, p. 436. /.(*(•. — Houtman's Abrolhos.
1^ Major. — Early Voy. to Terra Austr., 1859, p. Ixxxvi.
FISHES FKOM WKSTERN ALSl'KALIA — WAITE. i I
OdaX RICIIAKDSONU, (iuntlivr.
Odax /niUus, Cuvier and VHlencieiines, Hist. Nat. Poiss., xiv., 1S89, p. 304, pi. ccccviii. (not Forster).
Julif f driiKfii, liichardson, Icon. Pise, 1843, p. (i, \A. iii., fijLf. 1.
Odax richarthnnii, Giinther, Cat. Fish. Biit. Mus.. iv., 1S6-, j). 241.
I have previoiisly recoidtHl this sj^^cies from Western Australia; the examples now in hand were taken oft' Houtman's Ahiolhos. It may be pointed out that those authors, who, would accejit a drawing as the basis of a desci'iption, should use Richardson's name Odax diirKjii in preference to the later one of Giinther.
The drawing is very defective and led Richardson, against liis better jutlgment, to ascribe the fish to the genus J«//.s instead of Odax ; he was impelled to this course mainl}^ from comparison Avith a Chinese drawing !
(Jlistiiops cyanomelas, Richardson.
OUsthojis cijanomdas, Richardson, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., {'!), vii., 1851, p. 291.
/,o(".— Houtman's Abrolhos.
Heteroscarus filamextosus, (JastchuiH.
Ihteroscarns ulanientoioai, Castelnau, Proc. Zool. Soc. Vict., i., 1872, p. "24.5.
Lor. — Houtman's Abrolhos.
Caraxx SPECIOSU.S, FnrsJ.al. JScdiiiber sfieciosnx, Forskal, Desci'. Anim., 177-"), ]>. .'")4. L(ir. — Fremantle.
Caraxx armatus, Forskal. Sciana ariitata, Forskal, Descr. Anim., 177-5, j). .")3. Ldc. — Fremantle.
'ri{A('IIIXOTi;s BAlLLOXIl, I MCrjJCili'.
i '(isioiimnis bailhmii, Lacepede, Hist. Nat. Poiss., iii., ISOi', p. U'.), pi. iii., fig. 1. I.tir. — ]\randurah.
72 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
Bramichthys, (jcn. nor.
FaiuiUl BRAMIDyE.
Body ovate, compressed, covered with moderate cycloid scales, lateral line present, complete. Mouth wide, oblique ; the lower Jaw the longer ; a band of minute teeth, scarcely perceptible to the touch, in each jaw, teeth also present on the vomer, palatines and tongue. No oesophageal teeth. Maxillary broad, scaly. Opercle with two flat points, preopercle entire. Snout broad, head not declivous, supraoccipital crest well developed, but not extending forward beyond the eyes.
Dorsal and anal fins long, the anterior lobes elevated and falcate, the first spine of the former, behind the vertical of the ventral fin. The dorsal fin has five spines and about twenty-nine rays, the anal three (? or four) spines and about thirty rays. In both fins the spines are closely adnate to the respective rays. The ventrals are small, placed below the base of the pectorals, with one spine and five rays. The pectorals are placed in the lowei' half of the body. The vertical fins densely clothed with small scales. Branchiostegals seven, caudal peduncle of moderate depth, not slender.
Bramichthys woodwardi, xp. nov.
(Plate xiv.)
D. V. 29 ; A. iii. (? iv.) 30 ; Y. i. 5 ; P. 16 ; C. 17 + 6. L. lat. 50,
L. tr. 7/20.
Length of head 3-3 ; height of body at the origin of the dorsal fin 1 -85 in the total ; eye very large, its diameter half the length of the head ; snout short 5-1; and length of caudal 5-4 in the same. Interorbital space very convex, twice the length of the snout. Opercular margins smooth. Lower profile slightly more convex than the upper.
The dorsal fin begins well behind the veitical of the opercle, the spines are closely adnate to the soft portion and successively increase in height, the fifth being equal to the diameter of the eye : the anterior rays are much higher, the second being three- fourths more, or 1-25 in the length of head ; following the lobed portion the rays are short and the base of the whole fin is slightly moi-e than half the total length. The anal fin is similar in foi'm and length, but occupies a slightly more posterior position : the sequence of the anal spines suggests that one, the second, has been lost, the third existing spine is of the same length as the fifth dorsal. The ventrals are short and do not reach the anal ; the spine is a little longei- than half the diameter of the eye.
FISHES FROM WESTERN AUSTRALIA — WAITE. 73
The pectoral is falcate, its third and fourth upper rays a little less than the head in length. The caudal fin is deeply cleft but not forked as in Brama, the peduncle is relatively deep being but little less than the diameter of the large eye.
Scales. — The scales are simply cycloid, those above the lateral line arranged obliquely upwards. The lateral line commences with a strong curve to beneath the dorsal spines, whence, it runs almost straight to the end of the caudal rays.
Colours. — The colour appears to have been silvery, the fins are dark brown, without markings.
The general habit of this species suggests that it is an inhabi- tant of somewhat deep water.
I have pleasure in associating with this interesting fish, the name of Mr. Bernard H. Woodward, Curator of the Western Australian Museum.
Length 172 mm.
Loc. — One example from Mandurah.
Paralichthys muelleri, Klnnzinfjer.
Pseudorlioinhns mulleri, Klunzinger, Arch, fiir Naturg., 1872, p.
40 ; Sitzb. Akad. Wiss. Wien, Ixxx., 1879, p. 407, pi. ix.,
fig. 2. Very little colour appears to be developed in this species, but as most of the scales are lost in the two examples forwarded, precise information is not available. A dark spot, probably an ocellus, is present on the lateral line at the beginning of the last third of the body. The figure quoted, rejjresents either a dextral example, or was i^eversed in drawing. The specimens were trawled between Fremantle and Houtman's Abrolhos.
CyNOGLOSSUS BROADHURSTI, sp. jKir.
(Plate viii., fig. 2.)
D. 107 ; A. 86 ; C. 10 ; L. lat. 88 ; L. tr. l>dei- L. lat. 13.
Length of head 5-77 ; depth of body 3-9 in the total length ; diameter of eye 8-2 ; and length of snout 3*0 in the head.
The eyes are situated about half a diameter apart, the upper being a little in advance of the lower. One nostril is placed between the eyes, the other in front of the lower eye. Mouth strongly curved, its angle in advance of the middle of the head, reaching to below the centre of the lower eye. Lips not fringed. Rostral hook very short. Opercle oblique, notched behind.
74 KKCOKUS OF THE AUSTRALfAN MUSEUM.
Teeth. — Minute, present on the blind side only.
Sccdes. — On the left side strongly ctenoid, each scale with from three to five spines ; scales on the blind side cycloid. Two lateral lines on the left side, the lower passes from the snout, above the eye, to the tip of the caudal. There are eighty-eight pierced scales along this line, posterior to the preopercle. The upper lateral line commences on the rostral hook and follows the profile of the head to the dorsal edge which it skirts to the base of the hundred and first ray, and it traverses the space between this and the next one. A vertical line of pores connects the upper and lower latei-al lines and is continued round the margin of the preopercle whence a branch is given off at its angle to the opercle. One lateral line only on the blind side.
There is a single ventral fin only and the pectorals are obsolete. The dorsal fin commences on the fi'ont margin of the head and is confluent with the caudal, as is also the anal.
Colour. — Uniform brown, without markings. Five examples received, the largest of which measures 270 mm. in length.
Structurally this species appears to be nearest allied to C. borneeiiMs, Giinther, differing in the proportions of the head and body, also in the absence of markings.
This is the only species of the genus CyiuvjlosKiix, as restricted, so far found in Australian waters, and with it I connect the name of Mr. F. C. Broadhurst who was jointly instrumental in procuring the collection of fishes dealt with in this paper.
Loc. — All were taken in the trawl off Carnarvon to the north- ward of Houtman's Abi'olhos.
Syxancidium iiorriuum, Linninta. Scorpana horrida, Linnaeus, 8yst. Nat., ed. xii., 1766, p. 453. Loc. — Houtman's Abrollius.
Neosebastes paxda, Richardson. Scorpema vanda, Richardson, Ann. Mag. JSTat. Hist., ix., 1842, p. 216. ' Loc. — Houtman's Abrolhos.
Pteuygotrigla polyommata, liichardson Tn'ffla poli/owmata, TUchardson, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1839, p. 96. Loc. — Fremantle.
FISHES FROM VVtSTEKN ALSTRALIA— WAl I K. 75
ClIELIDONICHTHYS KUMU, Lt's^iiH d' (Tamot.
Trifjla kuwu, Lesson and Garnot, Yoy. "Coquille," 1830, pi. xix. Lor. — Houtman's Abrolhos : Fremantle.
Parapercis NEBfLOSis, (Juoi/d- (iawiard . Percis nebulosiin, Quoy and Gaimard.Voy. "Uranie et Physicienne," 1825, p. 349. Lnc. — Mandurali.
PaTjECUS froxto, Richardson. Patterns fronto, Richardson, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., xiv., 1844, p. 280. Some remarks on the synonomy of this species will be found under the heading of P. inaculatns.
Loc. — The example forwarded was trawled between Fremantle and Houtman's Abrolhos.
PATiECUS MACULATUS, Gunther. Patoicus mactilatiis, Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., iii., 1861, p. 292.
(Plate XV.)
The specimen forwarded was obtained at Fremantle, the type locality, and agrees quite well with the original description, differing in fact, as far as ascertainable, only by having thirty- two in place of thirty-one dorsal rays, of which twenty are spinous ; the first is exti'emely short, in front of the base of the second spine, and the third is longest.
The caudal has nine rays, the lower of which are shorter and thicker than the upper ones.
The tubercle described as being midway between the eye and the end of the snout is perforate and constitutes the posterior nostril, the anterior one lies in another smooth ai'ea nearer the mouth.
A Tasmanian example further differs by having thirty-three dorsal spines and especially in the length of the pectoral fin, which is longer than in the Western Australian fish, and almost as long as the head. The body also is relatively deeper ; these slight vai'iations may be of individual or local import only. In neither specimen can T trace the latei'al line described ; a non- poi'ous ridge is possibly referred to. The Western Australian specimen is here figured natural size : its total length being 184 mm. It is thus much larger than either the type (80 mm.) or Castelnau's specimen (90 mm).
76 KECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
Steindachner^* identified a specimen from St. Vincent's gulf with PatcEcus maciilatus, but evidently misunderstood the sen- tence : — " The dorsal fin is perfectly continuous, extending from the snout to the middle of the caudal fin."
In his example, as figured, the dorsal is free from the caudal fin and is attached to the middle of the slender i^eduncle. To emphasise this peculiarity he proposed the sub-genus Neopatctcus.
This author placed P. n-aterhoitsii, Castelnau'*', as a synonym of P. inacidatits, but judging by the radial formula and the con- dition of the caudal rays, it is equally distinct fi^om that species but identical with Steindachner's example. As the generic name Neopatcecns was nominally founded on P. v)aciilatu>i, though actually on a specimen of another species, it may, without violation of zoological nomenclature, accompany the latter, the name of which would therefore be Xeopatcecus iraterhousii, Castelnau.
In 1890 Mr. R. M. Johnston published a complete list of Tasmanian Fishes, and included Patcecus armatus, Giinther ; I have not, so far, found any other reference to this species, and am inclined to regard it as a manuscript name, or, seeing that we have an example of P. macitlatns from Tasmania as a lapsxs calami for that name. Some further confusion in respect to the species of this genus is apparent. Richardson descx'ibed P. fronto, the type, as exhibiting the dorsal formula 24/16. Giinther, by error, prints thirty instead of forty, and appears to have been himself misled thereby, for he describes as a new species P. subocellatus from South Austi'alia. A careful comparison fails to reveal any essential differences between the two, such being reducible to a variation of one dorsal and one anal ray.
Macleay" perceived that an error had been made, but failed to elucidate the difficulty. Of P. macniatus he writes : — " Dr. Giinther's description of this fish cannot be accurate, or its resemblance to fronto must be very slight. It will probably be found that for D. 31 we should read D. 41."
An obvious misprint in Richardson's description "A. 11/15." is corrected by Macleay to " A. 11/5."
The following represents my conception of the synomomy as far as I am in a position to read it. Not having access to the Anzeiger Akad. Wiss. Wien., I am unaware if Xeopatre.ciis was first characterised there or in the Sitzungsberichte.
15 Steindachner.— Sitzb. K. Akad. Wiss. Wien, Ixxxviii., ISSt, p. 1087.
pi. vii., fitj. 3. 1" Cast.lenau.— Proc. Zool. Soc. Vict.. J.. 1872, p. 244. ^7 Macleay,— Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, vi., 1881, p. 31.
FISHES FBOM UESIEUN AUSTRALIA — WAITK. 17
Patjecus, Richard-ion, 1844. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., xiv., 1844, p, 280.
1. P.fronto, Eichardson, loc. cit., and Voy. " Ereb. & Terr.", Ichtli.. 1845,
p. 20, pi. xiii. ; Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., iii., 1861, p. 292, and Study of Fishes, 1880, fig. 227; Macleay, Proc, Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, vi., 1881, p. 30.
P. suhocellatus, Giintlier, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1871, p. 665, pi. Ixiv. ; Macleay. Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, vi., 1881, p. 31.
2. P. macidata, Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., iii.. 1861, p. 292; Castelnau. Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, ii., 1878, p. 231; Macleay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, vi., 1881, p. 31 ; Waite, ante p. 75, pi. x v. ?. P. armatus, Giinther (fide Johnston], Proc. Roy. Soc. 'I'asm , 1890 (1891), p. 33.
3 P. vincentii, Steindachner, Anz. K. Akad.Wiss.Wien, 1883, p. 195, and Sitzb. K. Akad. Wiss. Wien, Ixxxviii., 1884, p. 1085, pi. vii., fig. 2.
Neopat^cus. steindachner, 1883,
? Anz. K. Akad.Wiss.Wien, 1883.
4. N. waterhousii, Castelnau, Proc. Zool. Soc. Vict., i., 1872, p. 244 Macleay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, vi.. 1881, p. 31. P. macidatus, Steindachner (not Giinther), loc. cit. & Sitzb. K. Akad. Wiss. Wien, Ixxxviii., 1884, p, 1087, pi. vii,, fi>j. 3.
DiPULUS, (fen. nov. Family BROTULiDiE.
General habit of Gohioides. Body greatly elongate, compressed behind, naked. Head small, naked, not spinose, no external eyes ; mouth small, slightly oblique, no barbels, jaws equal ; teeth small in bands, present in both jaws, on the vomer and palatines. Large pores in front of the snout and lower jaws, surrounded by folds of membrane probably tactile. Branchiostegals six, no pseudobranchia?. Gill membranes wide, united, not free from the isthmus. Dorsal and anal fins low, not differentiated from the caudal. Pectorals normal ; ventrals small, close together each an undivided filament near to the humeral symphysis. Vent a transverse opening approaching the middle of the body. Urogenital oiifice with distinct external opening, bounded by very large transverse labia, at least in the male.
This genus appears to be nearest allied to Ap/ii/onim, Giinther'*, and Sciadaniis, Garman''-*. From the former it is immediately distinguishable by its elongate form, complete dentition and united gill-membranes ; the latter character and, among others, the non-pedicilate pectoral serve to separate it from Sciadunus.
1" Giinther.— Ann. Matj. Nat. Hist., (5), li., 1878. p. 22.
1-' GArnian.-Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard, xxiv., 1899, p. 171.
78 EECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
DiPULUs C.ECUS, s]}. nov.
(Plate xi., fig. 2.)
Length of head 8*3 in the total, its depth equal to that of the body, or 1 -7 in its length. The width of the head is slightly more than its depth and much greater than the thickness of the body.
The snout is very tumid, its anterior profile almost vertical ; in company with the front portion of both upper and lower jaws it bears a number of large pores, surrounded by folds and tiaps of membrane (see fig. 2a).
Simple pores are, in addition, present on other parts of the head, notably a pair above the expanded end of the maxilla, and a series at long intervals along the rami of the mandible. The posterior nostrils are very evident, situated near the end of the snout, and have a supero-lateral aspect, the anterior ones, which may not be distinguished from the pores referred to, appeal- to be placed on the front aspect of the snout within the dermal folds. Eye not visible. The orbit, as ascertained through the skin, lies wholly within the anterior third of the head, its diameter being half the length of the snout.
Teeth.— The teeth are very small and sharply pointed, and ar^ present in bands in both jaws, on the vomer and palatines.
The maxilla is greatly broadened behind, and extends to far beyond the hinder margin of the orbit.
Fins. — The dorsal fin begins behind the base of the pectoral, its distance from the snout less than one-sixth of the total length, caudal excluded. Origin of anal nearer to the snout than to the base of the caudal. Pectoral normal, less than half the length of the head. The ventrals consist each of a simple ray placed close together, in advance of the pectoral, they are very short, equalling the snout in length. V^ent situated far behind the head, its distance therefrom three-fourths the post-ventral length. It is quite distinct from the uro-genital orifice, which is bordered before and behind with very large labia. Immediately within the anterior lip is a pair of large leaf -like appendages at the base of which lies the penis.
The folds and flaps of membrane suri'ounding the pores on the snout and mandible recall the condition in some of the leaf-nosed Bats. The analogy may indeed be very close : the fish is blind and the Rhinolophidte hunt in the dark.
" In their habits they appear to differ from other insectivorous Bats without nasal appendages, inhabiting the same regions, by coming out later in the evenintr, or when the sun has completely gone down below the horizon. Tins peculiarity is probably connected with their possession
FISHES FROM WESTERN AUSTRALIA — WAITE. 79
of special organs of touch in the complicated nose-leaf, and delicately formed ears and membranes, which may permit them to commence and continue their hunt for insect prey at a time when other Bats have retired to their sleeping-places."'^
The lai'ge size of the genitaUa and the development of special organs in this fish, indicates that copulation actually takes place, a circumstance also distinctly correlated with blindness.
Loc. — The single specimen forwarded is a male, 152 mm. in length, and was taken off Fremantle.
MONACAXTHUS CHINENSIS, Bloch.
Batistes chinensis, Bloch, Ichty., ii., 1787, p. 29, pi. Hi., fig. 1. Tmc. — Fremantle.
MONACANTHUS MEGALOURUS, PdchanlsOH.
MonacantJiHs meffalourus, Richardson, Icon. Pise, 1843, p. 5, pi. i., fig. 3.
Loc. — Houtman's Abrolhos.
PSEUDOMONACANTHUS GALII, SJ). nof.
(Plate xvi.)
Length of head 3-2 ; height of body at the first anal ray 2-8 ; and length of caudal 5-1 in the total. The eye is almost round and lies midway between the end of the snout and the first dorsal ray ; its diameter is one-fifth the length of the head ; the interorbital space is convex and contained 4-1 times in the same.
The gill opening is oblique and placed immediately beneath the eye, it is distant therefrom about the diameter of the orbit. The nostrils are situated in a shallow depression half a diameter in advance of the eye, each in a short cutaneous tube.
The head is deeper than long, a little concave on the snout, slightly tumid above the eye ; the lower profile is moderately sti'aight to the pelvic spine.
The dorsal spine is placed above the last third of the orbit, and nearer to the rays than the end of the snout, it is without distinct barbs, the front and sides being granular ; its length approaches half that of the head. The rays are highest medially, the longest being one-fourth the length of the head. The anal arises beneath the sixth dorsal ray and is continued posteriorly beyond that fin to which it is similar in form, but its rays are not quite so high.
^ Dobson.— Cat. Chiroptera Brit. Mu8 , 1878, p. 100.
80 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
The ventral process is but little extensible, and its spine is small and granular. The pectoral is rounded and its third ray is one-fifth longer than the eye. The caudal is short and rounded, the peduncle is stout, its height being half the length of the fin.
The whole of the head and body, the bases of the vertical fins and the outer aspect of the alternate caudal rays uniformly covered with small bifurcated spines, so densely placed as to give a velvety feel to the touch.
Colours. — -The colours are not well preserved, but as far as ascertainable are as follows : — Uniformly dark brown, the body marked with narrow longitudinal black lines about as wide as or narrower than the interspaces. Immediately behind the head they are about twelve in number but are successively lost posteriorly and none attain to the caudal peduncle, the head and lower fourth of the body, except in the region of the pelvic spine, are without markings. Fins pale brown.
Total length 300 mm. Taken at Sharks Bay.
At the request of Mr. Woodward, this fish is named after Mr. C. F. Gale, Chief Inspector of Fisheries, Western Australia.
PsEUDOMONACANTHUS HiPPOCREPis, Quojj d Goimard.
Balistes hipjjocrepis, Quoy and Gaimard, Voy. " Uranie et Physi- cienne," 1824, p. 212.
Loc. — Mandurah ; Fremantle ; Houtman's Abrolhos ; Rottnest Island.
PSEUDOMONACANTHUS GRANULATUS, Shaw.
Batistes r/ranitlatus, Shaw, in White's Yoy. IST. S. Wales, 1790, p. 29.5", fig. 2.
Loc. — Mandurah ; Fremantle ; Houtman's Abrolhos.
PsEUDOMONACANTHUS BROWNii, Richardson.
Aleuterius hnnniii, Richardson, Voy. "Ereb and Terr.", Ichth., 1846, p. 68.
hoc. — Fremantle.
CHiETODERMIS PENICILLIGERUS, Cuvier.
Balistes nenicilliqerm, Cuvier, Regne Anim., ed. 2., ii, 1829, p. 374' (footnote), and iii., 1830. p. 433, pi xi., fig. 3.
FISUKS FKOM WESTERN AUSTRALIA — WAITE. 81
Castelnau-' recorded tliis species from Fremantle, whence we have a fine example measuring 27 mm.
Mr. C. T. Regan-- does not admit Chcetodermis as a vahd genus and remarks on the similarity of the species to Monacanthus tomentosHS.
Chcetodermis maccullochi, s/j. nov.
(PL xvii.)
D. ii., 27 ; A. 26 ; P. 12 ; C. 12.
Length of head 2*7 ; height of body at the vent, equal to the length of the caudal and 2-2 in the total. The eye lies nearer to the dorsal rays than to the end of the snout and is 44 in the length of the head : the interorbital space is 4"0 in the same.
Ihe gill opening is nearly vertical, it is placed beneath the posterior margin of the eye, and is nearly one-half longer than its diameter. The nostrils are simple pores placed close together in a naked ai-ea well in front of the eye.
Head deeper than long, its upper and lower profiles, to the dorsal and ventral spines respectively, perfectly straight.
The body is elongate, strongly compi'essed, its upper and lower borders very slightly curved. The dorsal spine is placed wholly behind the eye and midway between the end of the snout and the middle dorsal rays. It is beset with strong lateral barbs, directed downward ; at the upper base of each arises a filament as long as the diameter of the eye and bifid near the tip. The rays are long and rise gradually to about the twentieth which is half the length of the head ; the posterior edge is gently rounded. The anal arises beneath the seventh dorsal ray and extends a little beyond its posterior insertion, it is otherwise quite similar. The ventral process is scarcely depressible but its terminal spine is movable. It is beset with barbs and filaments. The pectoral is rounded, its longest rays twice the diameter of the eye. The caudal is markedly acuminate, the central rays being twice the length of the outer ones. It is peculiar inasmuch as its rays are homacanthus (if I may use the term in this connection) there being no alternation of arrangement and all of equal thickness ; the peduncle is flattened above and below, and its depth is equal to the diameter of the eye.
The lips, space around the nostrils and gill-openings are naked, otherwise the head is densely covered with rosette-like
•*! Castelnau.— Prnc. Zool. Soc. Vict., ii., 1873, p. 147. 22 Regan.— Proc. Zool. Soc, 1902, p. 289.
82 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
scales. On the body they merge into simple prominent sub- recumbent spines arranged in close longitudinal rows, which extend to the bases of the caudal rays. The head and body bear distant branched filaments, there is a sei'ies along the upper and lower profile of the head and a close seines between the ventral spine and the anal fin.
Total length 230 mm.
Zoc. —Houtman's Abrolhos.
Colours. — The specimen is evidently much discoloured and is now uniform pale brown, with scattered dark markings, princi- pally disposed below the base of the dorsal rays. A larger spot may be traced above the upper pectoral rays. The caudal bears a few dark spots.
The contour of this fish sufficiently distinguishes it from that of the only other known species. It has the shape of a double- rhomboid, one figure of which is formed by the head and body and the other by the tail. The hinder profiles of the body pro- duce an acute angle, whereas in C. j^^^iict^^t^errt*, Cuvier, they form a semicircle ; the tail of the latter, also, is not produced as in the new species.
I associate with the species the name of Mr. A. K. McCulloch to whom I owe the figure of this and the other species illustrating the paper.
Akacana lenticulakis, Richardson. Ostracion lenticularis, Richardson, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1841, p. 21. Log. — Fremantle.
Aracana aurita, Sha/v. Ostracion auritus, Shaw, Nat. Misc.,ix., 1798, pi. cccxxxviii. Loc. — Fremantle.
8ph^roides sceleratus, Gmelin. Tetraodon sceleratus, Gmelin, Syst. Nat., ed. xiii., 1789, p. 1444 Loc. — Fremantle.
MTNERALOGICAL NOTES: No. II.— TOPAZ, BARITE, ANGLESITE, CERUSSITE, and ZIRCON.
By C. Anderson, M.A., B.Sc, Mineralogist.
(Plates xviii. — xx.)
TOPAZ.
Emmaville, New South Wales.
Since a description and figures of topaz crystals from Emma- ville was published,^ Mr. D. A. Porter has presented to the Trustees the specimen represented in PI. xviii., Fig. 1. It is a typical and finely developed example of the crystalline habit of topaz from this locality, and, as it is somewhat larger than the best crystals hitherto examined, it is possible to represent the faces in approximately their actual relative proportions. As usual there is a comparatively rich prism zone, with the form m (110) greatly predominating. Each of the prisms has four faces present, but the pinacoid h (010) has only one. The three domes have each the full number of faces. Of the pyramids o (221) and X (243) have but three faces, while w (HI) and i (223) have four. The faces are with few exceptions smooth and brilliant and give excellent reflections. The crystal measures 9^ mm. x 5| mm. X 4 mm. The mean co-ordinate angles obtained are as follows :—
1 Anderson— Rec. Austr. Mus., v., 1904, pp. 296-299, pi. xxxix..figs. 1-3
84
RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
|
Measured. |
Calculated. |
Er |
ror. |
||||||||
|
<t> |
P |
«^ |
P |
<^ |
P |
||||||
|
(■ |
001 |
° |
' |
° |
' |
° |
' |
° |
' |
' |
' |
|
b |
010 |
0 |
15 |
90 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
90 |
0 |
15 |
5 |
|
m |
no |
62 |
4 |
90 |
2 |
62 |
8 |
90 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
|
M |
230 |
51 |
34 |
90 |
1 |
51 |
35 |
90 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
I |
120 |
43 |
24 |
90 |
3 |
43 |
25 |
90 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
|
77 |
250 |
37 |
8 |
90 |
0 |
37 |
7 |
90 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
(J |
130 |
32 |
16 |
90 |
0 |
32 |
14 |
90 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
d |
201 |
89 |
59 |
60 |
59 |
90 |
0 |
61 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
f |
021 |
0 |
1 |
43 |
37 |
0 |
0 |
43 |
39 |
1 |
2 |
|
y |
041 |
0 |
0 |
62 |
19 |
0 |
0 |
62 |
20 |
0 |
1 |
|
o |
221 |
62 |
8 |
63 |
52 |
62 |
8 |
63 |
54 |
0 |
2 |
|
u |
111 |
62 |
8 |
45 |
36 |
62 |
8 |
45 |
35 |
0 |
1 |
|
i |
223 |
62 |
6 |
34 |
15 |
62 |
8 |
34 |
14 |
2 |
1 |
|
K |
243 |
43 |
27 |
41 |
14 |
43 |
25 |
41 |
12 |
2 |
2 |
In this as in succeeding tables the calculated angles are those given by Goldschmidt in his Krystallographische Winkeltabellen.
Since a considerable number of angular measurements of topaz crystals from Emmaville are now available, it may be of interest to calculate the corresponding axial ratios, especially as Penfield and Minor^ have shown that the ratios vary with the isomorphous replacement of fluorine by hydroxyl. For this purpose the angles were carefully revised, the best measurements selected, and means taken. The forms chosen from measurements on six crystals and the mean angles obtained are given in the table below ; as it was judged that the prism m and the pyramid u yield the most reliable data, the corresponding values for a and c are counted twice in finding the mean ratios.
2 Penfield and Minor— Amer. Journ. Sci., xlvii., 1894, p. 387.
MIXERALOGICAL NOTES — ANDERSON.
85
|
Form. |
4> |
P |
a |
c |
||||
|
m |
no |
62 |
7 .38-5 |
° |
' |
" |
•5288615 |
|
|
I |
120 |
43 |
25 5 |
•5284015 |
||||
|
(1 |
130 |
32 |
14 24 |
•5285428 |
||||
|
%i |
111 |
62 |
7 38 |
45 |
34 |
40 |
•5288646 |
•4769763 |
|
f |
021 |
43 |
39 |
•4770300 |
||||
|
y |
041 |
62 |
19 |
30 |
•4767101 |
|||
|
Mean |
0-5287328 |
0-4769232 |
The calculated values of a and c agree fairly closely with Koksharov's ratios a:b: c = 0^528542 : 1 : 0-476976, determined on Russian topaz and usually taken as the standard.
PL xix., fig. 1 is a stereographic projection showing the distribu- tion of all faces that have been identified on Emmaville topaz.
Oban, New South Wales.
Mr. D. A. Porter recently presented to the Trustees a fine large ciystal of topaz from Oban. It measures 4 cm. x 4 cm. X 3 cm., and shows four forms not recognised on crystals from this locality hitherto examined, namely c (001), d (201), h (203), and X (043). It is shown in its natural development in PI. xviii., fig. 2. The specimen is somewhat worn and the faces non- retlecting, but approximate measurements obtained with the contact goniometer leave no doubt as to the correctness of the determinations. There is but one face of X present, but all the others have the full number. One of the f (021) faces shows a distinct natural etching-figure. It takes the form of a raised semicircular area with its convexity directed towards the apex of the crystal, the base of the semicircle being parallel to the inter- section of f and c.
Mount Cameron, Tasmania.
Through the kindness of Mr. W. F. Petterd, a well-known authority on the minerals of Tasmania, T liave been enabled to
86
RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
measure some fine specimens of crystallised Tasmanian minerals, including topaz from Mt. Cameron, Flinders Island, and Bell Mount.
At Mt. Cameron topaz is abundant in the stanniferous drift, but has not been found hi situ. It is usually much worn, but some crystals well suited for crystal lographic determination were sent to me by Mr. Petterd. Two crystals were determined on the goniometer, one a crystal measuring 12 mm. x 13 mm. x 12 mm. and of a greenish colour shown in PI. xviii., fig. 3. It is fairly rich in prism faces, having 7u (110), M (230), I ( I 20), and g (130) present ; I predominates, but all are well marked faces and give fairly good images. The terminal faces are rather dull ; only one face of o (221) is present. The co-ordinate angles obtained are given below.
|
Measured. |
Calculated. |
Error. |
|||||||||
|
«^ |
P |
</> |
P |
<i> |
P |
||||||
|
o |
' |
o |
1 |
o |
' |
0 |
' |
i |
O ' |
||
|
f |
001 |
|
|
— |
_ — |
. |
— |
— |
|
|
. |
|
1>l |
110 |
62 |
5 |
89 |
56 |
62 |
8 |
90 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
|
M |
230 |
51 |
28 |
89 |
53 |
51 |
34 |
90 |
0 |
6 |
7 |
|
I |
120 |
43 |
17 |
89 |
55 |
43 |
25 |
90 |
0 |
8 |
5 |
|
il |
130 |
32 |
19 |
89 |
55 |
32 |
14 |
90 |
0 |
5 |
5 |
|
f |
021 |
6 |
43 |
35 |
0 |
0 |
43 |
39 |
6 |
4 |
|
|
y |
041 |
8 |
62 |
13 |
0 |
0 |
62 |
20 |
8 |
7 |
|
|
o |
221 |
61 |
57 |
62 |
53 |
62 |
8 |
63 |
54 |
11 |
1 1 |
|
1(, |
111 |
62 |
7 |
45 |
29 |
62 |
8 |
45 |
35 |
1 |
6 |
|
i |
223 |
62 |
7 |
34 |
13 |
62 |
8 |
34 |
14 |
1 |
1 |
From another lot of small clear, colourless, crystals one was selected and its faces determined (PI. xviii., fig. 4). It measures 7 mm. x5 mm. x5 mm., and in general habit resembles the last, but has fewer prism faces and has the rather rare pyramid x (243) fairly well developed but dull. The prism faces are striated and give only fair signals. Appended are the mean co-ordinate anyles found.
MIXERALOGICAI, NOTES — ANDERSON.
87
|
Form |
Measured. |
Calculated. |
Eiror. |
|||||||
|
</> |
P |
<!> |
P |
^ |
1 |
|||||
|
o |
' |
o |
1 |
O 1 |
o |
1 |
1 |
/ |
||
|
C |
001 |
|
|
|
. |
. |
|
|
|
|
|
VI |
110 |
61 |
58 |
89 |
58 |
62 8 |
90 |
0 |
10 |
2 |
|
I |
120 |
43 |
7 |
89 |
58 |
43 25 |
90 |
0 |
18 |
2 |
|
f |
021 |
1 |
43 |
37 |
0 0 |
43 |
39 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
y |
041 |
7 |
62 |
13 |
0 0 |
62 |
20 |
7 |
7 |
|
|
n |
111 |
61 |
53 |
45 |
24 |
62 8 |
45 |
35 |
15 |
11 |
|
i |
223 |
61 |
46 |
33 |
58 |
62 8 |
34 |
14 |
22 |
16 |
|
X |
243 |
42 |
26 |
41 |
6 |
43 25 |
41 |
12 |
59 |
6 |
Flinders Island, Tasmania.
Topaz from Flinders Island was first mentioned, I believe, by the late Rev. J. J. Bleasdale, D.D., who wrote : "This may be Siaid of those [i.e., topaz crystals] from Flinders Island that they possess very great fire and beauty when cut, and are nearly all of a pale yellowish shade in the rough."' The best account of the occurrence is that of the late C. Gould, Government Geologist of Tasmania, who observed it whilst making a geological re- connaissance of the islands in Bass Strait.* The following paragraph gives an abstract of his observations.
It occurs in crystals and pebbles in great variety of foi'm, colour and size, associated with zircon, tourmaline, cassiterite, etc. It is derived from the granite and may occasionally be obtained as fine crystals in sifii along with crystallised quartz and felspar. It is abundant (m the north-east side of Killicrankie Bay in a creek descending from tlie ranges and upon the beach ; it also occurs in other parts of Flinders Island. The topaz lias evidently been formed in Aeins of pegmatite whicli traverse the granite and vary from one to several feet in diameter. The colour varies from pure limpid to various shades of blue, pale pink, yellow, etc. Crystals are found up to several inches in diameter.
■• Bleasdale— Trans. Roy. Soc. Vicf.. vii., 1866, p. 70. * Gould— Proc. Roy. Soc. Tas., 1871 (1872). pp. 60-61.
88
RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
A fine crystal (PI. xviii., fig. 5) measuring 7 mm. X 9 mm. x 7 mm., and perfectly clear and colourless was measured on the goniometer. As the faces are very irregularly developed and one side of« the crystal is broken, the crystal is di-awn in ideal symmetry, but so as to show the habit as nearly as possible. The prisms m (110) and I (120) are about equal in size and striated, but the images are good. The brachydomes /(021) and y (041) are relatively small, while the macrodome d (201) is unusually large and brilliant. The base is large and smooth. The pyramid o (221) is small, u (111) and i (22.3) large and brilliant.
The co-ordinate angles found are tabulated below.
|
Measured. |
Calculated. |
Error. |
|||||||||
|
Form. |
|||||||||||
|
^ |
9 |
</> |
9 |
^ |
P 1 |
||||||
|
o |
/ |
0 |
' |
o |
/ |
o |
' |
1 |
|||
|
C |
001 |
— |
— |
. — |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
— |
|
m |
110 |
62 |
8 |
89 |
58 |
62 |
8 |
90 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
I |
120 |
43 |
23 |
89 |
58 |
43 |
25 |
90 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
|
f |
021 |
4 |
43 |
36 |
0 |
0 |
43 |
39 |
4 |
3 |
|
|
y |
041 |
4 |
61 |
59 |
0 |
0 |
62 |
20 |
4 |
21 |
|
|
d |
201 |
90 |
0 |
61 |
5 |
90 |
0 |
61 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
|
0 |
221 |
62 |
7 |
63 |
43 |
62 |
8 |
63 |
54 |
1 |
11 |
|
u |
111 |
62 |
10 |
45 |
33 |
62 |
8 |
45 |
35 |
2 |
2 |
|
% |
223 |
62 |
9 |
34 |
11 |
62 |
8 |
34 |
14 |
1 |
3 |
Bell Mount, Middlesex, Tasmania.
Mr. Petterd informs me that topaz occurs at Bell Mount in a very decomposed quartz-porphyry, also as pebbles weathered out in the drift ; it has not previously been recorded from this locality. Two crystals, both colourless and transparent, were examined ; one is much worn and broken and unsuitable for goniometric determination. The other (PI. xviii., fig. 6) has good prism and dome faces but the pj^ramids are dull and were measured in the position of maximum illumination. The base is absent. The crystal measures 13 mm. X 10 mm. x 11 mm.
MINEEALOGICAL NOTES — ANDERSON.
89
|
Measured. |
Calculated. |
Error. |
||||||
|
Forms. |
||||||||
|
<i> |
P |
^ P |
<^ |
P 1 |
||||
|
O 1 |
o |
1 |
o / |
o |
/ |
/ |
||
|
m 110 |
62 5 |
89 |
59 |
62 8 |
90 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
|
I 120 |
■13 17 |
89 |
67 |
43 25 |
90 |
0 |
8 |
3 |
|
/ ■ 021 |
1 |
43 |
36 |
0 |
43 |
39 |
1 |
3 |
|
a 111 i |
62 2 |
45 |
22 |
62 8 |
45 |
35 |
6 |
13 |
BARITE.
Barite has for some time been known to occur at several points in the Triassic area in the neighbourhood of Sydney, both in the Hawkesbury Sandstone and in the succeeding Wianamatta Shales. It was first recorded by Mr. H. G. Smith who found it in a quarry near Cook River, five miles west from Sydney, in small well-formed crystals, consisting of almost pure barium sulphate with a trace of calcium.^ Subsequently barite was found near Gosford Railway Station." It has also been observed by Prof. T. W. E. David, Trustee, at Five Dock, associated with quartzite and in close })roximity to a decomposed basalt dyke. It is found under similar conditions at Pyrmont Sandstone Quarries, and at Pennant Hills Quarries it occurs as veins in the basalt at a depth of over fifty feet. Pi'of. David believed that the barite found in the Sydney area originated pi-obably from the basalt, numerous dykes of Avhich traverse the sedimentary rocks.^ He informs me, howevei', that he has now modified this opinion since observing how widespread is the dis- tribution of barytes in the Pcrmo-Carboniferous sedimentary rocks of the Northern and Southern Coal-fields as well as in the Triassic strata of New South Wales. He now atti'ibutes the liarite of the Sydney area chiefly to decomposition of detrital barytic felspars. Specimens from Macdonald Town and Thirlmere are in the Australian Museum collection.
» Smith— Proc. Liiiu. Soe. N. S. Walep, (2), vi., 1892, pp. 1.31-1:52,
« Baker— ioe. cit., (2), vii., 1893, p, 328,
' David — Journ. Roy. Soc. N. S. Walee, xxvii., 1894, p. 407.
90
RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
The crystals described in this paper are from the Wianamatta Shale at St. Peters, near Sydney. There are three specimens from this locality in the Museum collection, each carrying a number of crystals, but specimens sufficiently good for guniumetric determination are found on only one. The crystals are either tabular on the basal pinacoid, or prismatic by extension parallel to the brachy-axis. The combinations are comparatively simple : of two crystals measured one showed the forms c (001), m (110), o (Oil), d (102), the other (PI. xix., fig. 2) the forms c (001), b (010), m (110), o (Oil), d (102), z (111). This latter crystal measures approximately 3 mm. X 2| mm. on the basal pinacoid, and, like all the well formed specimens is quite transparent and colourless. The faces of b (010) are very small and were measured in the position of maximum illumination. Only one reliable measurement of the f omi z (111) was obtained. Below are the measured angles.
|
Measured. |
Calculated. |
Error. |
|||||||
|
Forms. |
|||||||||
|
<!> |
P |
0 |
P |
0 P |
|||||
|
O ' |
o |
/ |
o / |
o |
/ |
1 1 |
|||
|
C |
001 |
— — |
— |
— |
— — |
— |
— |
— 1 — |
|
|
b |
010 |
10 |
90 |
0 |
0 0 |
90 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
|
m |
110 |
50 45 |
89 |
57 |
50 49 |
90 |
0 |
4 |
3 |
|
0 |
on |
9 |
52 |
38 |
0 0 |
52 |
43 |
9 |
5 |
|
d |
102 |
90 2 |
38 |
45 |
90 0 |
38 |
51 |
2 |
6 |
|
z |
111 |
50 50 |
64 |
7 |
50 49 1 64 |
18 |
1 |
11 |
ANGLESITE.
Maestrie's Mine, Dundas, Tasmania.
Mr. W. F. Petterd says of this occurrence* " many of the crystals obtained at this mine are large and beautifully developed, occurring in masses of considerable size, sometimes containing massicot in the interstices and as a base. Commonly large lumps of galena are coated with anglesite, cerussite and massicot, pre- senting an appearance that has become fairly characteristic of
" Petterd — Min. Tasmania, 1893, p. 7.
MIXERALOGICAL NOTKS — ANDERSON.
91
this mint,' and tlie Comet adjoining."' In the Museum colk^ctiou there is one specimen from this locaHty, consisting of a group of well developed lustrous crystals in a xugh of galena, with powdery limonite. The crystals are of the general habit shown in PI. xix., fig. 3. The crystal there represented measures 1"2 cm. xl"9 cm. X 1 cm. ; it is slightly broken at one end of tlie macro-axis, and the a (100) faces are strongly striated parallel to their intersection with 7U (110). The predominant forms are c (001), a (100), and 7n (110); the others are very narrow. Two faces of d (102) admitted of measurement, but the pyi'amids and the dome o (01 1) were determined from single faces. The image obtained from ^ (111) was very poor, the angles being measured in the position of maximum illumination. The measured and calculated angels are given in the followinir table : —
|
Measured, |
Calciiliited. |
Error. |
|||||||
|
0 |
9 |
4^ |
9 |
0 1 P |
|||||
|
o |
' |
o / |
o / |
o |
1 |
' 1 ' |
|||
|
r |
001 |
|
|
— — |
— |
|
|
j |
|
|
a |
100 |
89 |
54 |
90 0 |
90 0 |
90 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
|
m |
110 |
51 |
57 |
89 57 |
51 51 |
90 |
0 |
6 |
3 |
|
d |
102 |
90 |
4 |
39 17 |
90 0 |
39 |
23 |
4 |
6 |
|
0 |
Oil |
0 |
0 |
52 16 |
0 0 |
52 |
12 |
0 |
4 |
|
z |
111 |
— |
— |
65 0 |
51 51 |
64 |
24 |
— |
36 |
|
.'/ |
122 |
32 |
6 |
56 45 |
32 29 |
56 |
48 |
23 3 1 |
Mine Mbretrice, New Caledonia.
There is one specimen witli numerous crystals from this locality in the Museum collection. Tlie anglesite crj^stals, which are small but beautifully and regularly developed, are embedded in a cavernous gossany matrix ; they are transparent and either <;olourless or slightly yellowish, with a vitreous to greasy lustrc". The habit is remarkably uniform, the dominant forms being r (001), 111 (110) and d (102). Two crystals were measured, one .showing only these forms, the other further modified by the forms h (010), o (Oil), z (111), y (122), all with very small faces. (PI. xix., fig. 4). The co-ordinate angles obtained agreed well with the calculated values.
92 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM.
LE^vIs Ponds, Near Orange, New South Wales.
This occurrence of angles! te is mentioned in the " Census of New South Wales Minerals" drawn up by a Committee of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science in 1 890," where the locality is given as the New Lewis Ponds Silver Mine, and it is said to be associated with cerussite and silver ores. On the specimen in the Australian Museum numerous crystals of anglesite are scattered over the surface of a crumbling, limonitous gossan. Many of the crystals are greenish in colour, and are said to contain copper. I was unable to prove the presence or absence of copper definitely on the quantity of material I felt justified in sacrificing, but it may be present in small amount. Anglesite with a green or blue tinge is com- monly observed, and this may perhaps be due to an isomorphous mixtuie of anglesite with a small quantity of the anhrydrous copper sulphate hydrocyanite, wliich crj^stallises in the ortho- rhombic system with axes and angles not far from those of the barite-anglesite group.
The Lewis Ponds ciystals show two somewhat different habits ; in one the predominant forms are c (001), m (110), and d (102), and the crystals are elongated along the macro-axis (PI. xix., fig. 5) ; in the other, by increase in the size of c (111), m is reduced to a narrow plane, and the crystal is almost acutely terminated on the a and ^ axes ( PL xix., fig. 6). The crystals of the second habit are much smaller than the othei's, the two shown