A genus of heavy shells in some respects resembling Astarte, in others
especially in having a striated area within the beaks, Hippopodium, from
which it is distinguished by the position of the umbones and the presence
of a thick tooth in the hinge. There appear to be four species, which may
be named Megadesmus globosus (Plate 2) M. laevis (figure 1) M. antiquatus
(figure 2) and M. cuneatus (figure 3 Plate 3) the cuneatus differs from
antiquatus, only in having the shell a little contracted towards the
anterior side.

The large shell (Plate 4 figures 1 and 2) is near to Isocardia, but Mr.
Sowerby would not venture to say it belongs to that genus.

The Trochus (Plate 4 figures 3 and 4) may be called T. oculus.)

Amongst these remains was also found embedded a very perfect specimen of
fossil wood. I may add, that in the bed of the Glindon Brook, which flows
from the left bank of the Hunter, rocks of argillaceous limestone are
found in large round boulders, some of which are more than 15 feet in
diameter.*

(*Footnote. The fossil vegetation seems to consist chiefly of the
Glossopteris brownii (of Brongniart) a fern which occurs in a stratum of
ironstone at Newcastle, and in one of the same mineral on the southern
coast, also in sandstone in the valley of the Hunter, and abundantly in
the shale near the coal wrought at Newcastle.)

November 29.

The whole equipment came up at half-past nine, whereupon I distributed
such articles as were necessary to complete the organisation of the