A new Triassic Palaeolimnadiopsis (Crustacea: Conchostraca) from the Sydney Basin,New South Wales

Palaeolimnadiopsis bassi sp. nov. is described from the mid-Triassic Hawkesbury Sandstone of the Sydney Basin, New South Wales. It is distinguished from other species of the genus by its paired growth lines, moderately large size, nonterminal umbo, and small larval valve. Macrolimnadiopsis, Pteriograpta, and Limnadia (Falsisca) are considered to be synonymous with Palaeolimnadiopsis, and Belgolimnadiopsis with Euestheria.     

Fish and crayfish from the Washpool Midden site,New Zealand: Their use in determining season of occupation and prehistoric fishing methods

A method is suggested whereby modern ecological information on fish behaviour and distribution, together with commercial catch figures, may be used to assess season of occupation of archaeological sites. Monthly catch probabilities for each species are scaled by minimum numbers from prehistoric osteological assemblages to yield an overall likelihood of the fish being caught at different months of the year. A test case on two assemblages from Palliser Bay, New Zealand, suggested year-round habitation, and this was consistent with individual qualitative seasonal markers. The fishbone evidence can also be used to comment on aspects of prehistoric technology connected with marine foods, such as the use of canoes, baited traps, long line hauling, rock fishing and seine netting. In addition, the fish information substantiated subtle environmental changes which are believed to have taken place in this region.     

Pleistocene foraminifera from Botany Bay,New South Wales

Unconsolidated sediments from a borehole in Botany Bay have been analyzed for their foraminiferal content. Faunas from between 41 and 54 m below sea level are interpreted as Pleistocene in age. The foraminiferal assemblage from 54 m indicates marine conditions of moderately deep water (25–30 m), and a climate warmer than at present. The higher assemblages indicate a more brackish environment

The foraminifera, belonging to 123 species in 67 genera, are tabulated and 24 are discussed and illustrated. Three species, Oolina bifidocostata, Fissurina alatoquadrata and Elphidium botaniensis and one subpecies, Quinqueloculina affinis atrata, are described as new.     

Early Middle Cambrian corals from western New South Wales

Three forms, Cothonion sympomatum gen. et sp. nov. with a bi-radially septate operculum, and the new species lissa and daseia of the genus Lipopora gen. nov., are described from the early Middle Cambrian Coonigan Formation in the Mootwingee district of western New South Wales, Australia. They may be representatives of hitherto unknown groups of organisms, but they are tentatively interpreted as coelenterates that reached a level of development comparable with the Anthozoa. Cothonion is placed in the new family Cothoniidae and questionably referred to the Rugosa. Lipopora is considered to be similar to Coelenteratella Korde; both are grouped in the new family Lipoporidae and tentatively referred to the Tabulata.     

A primitive amphibian from the Late Devonian of New South Wales

A locality in the Late Devonian Cloghnan Shale (Nangar Subgroup) near Forbes, N.S.W., has yielded a rich vertebrate fauna including the antiarchs Bothriolepis and Remigolepis, the phyllolepid Phyllolepis, the dipnoan Soederberghia, and the jaw of a new ichthyostegaliid amphibian Metaxygnathus denticulus gen. et sp. nov. The amphibian is the oldest known member of the group with the possible exception of Elpistostege Westoll, and it retains characters previously associated with the rhipidistian fishes. The musculatures of rhipidistian and amphibian jaws are analysed and are shown to be functionally related to distinctive morphologies of the articulatory region in each group, Metaxygnathus being of amphibian type. Comparison is made with the Greenland ichthyostegids, and rhipidistians such as Eusthenodon.     

Late Quaternary ostracods from Lake George,New South Wales

Fossil ostracods from the uppermost 3m of core LG4 from Lake George all have modern living representatives. This part of the core is thought to represent deposition during the last 60,000 years (see Singh et al., 1981b) and the lake hisotry is traced from a knowledge of the ostracod ecology.

The following distinct phases, and their respective timing, are postulated for Lake George (the timing of events should be considered with caution as few ¹⁴C dates are available): water fresh and lake full for the periods of 10,200 – 12,000 yBP and 19,100 – 20,700 yBP, water fresh, ephemeral at times, for the periods of 3,200–4,000 yBP, 7,000 yBP, 7,500 yBP, 8,500–10,200 yBP, 12,000–13,500 yBP, 20,700–23,500 yBP, 23,800–27,600 yBP and at some stage between 27,000 and 60,000 yBP; ephemeral saline water for a few short episodes between 3,200 and 4,000 yBP and for the periods of 15,600–17,400 yBP and 23,800–27,600 yBP; lake definitely dry between 17,400 and 19,100 yBP.

Data obtained from the ostracods correlate reasonably well with those of lake level fluctuations based on the study of ancient shorelines by Coventry (1976) and others based on facies analyses and the record of plant microfossils by Singh et al. (1981b).     

Roadside Memorials: Interpreting New Deathscapes in Newcastle,New South Wales

Over recent years, roadside memorials to commemorate people killed in motor vehicle accidents have become increasingly noticeable in parts of the Australian landscape. In Newcastle, New South Wales, roadside memorials are placed for young people. The age/gender group most at risk of road death, and those most memorialised, are young men. This is linked to spatially specific constructions of masculinity which circulate within youth milieux of Newcastle. Like other memorials and monuments these ‘deathscapes’ have multiple meanings, differing between those who build, maintain and interpret them. They function as conservative memorials of youth machismo; of heroic aggression, disregard for safety and egocentrism. Roadside memorials need to be re-read as symbolic of societal flaws; of a wasteful road toll, and a testament to dominant and problematic strains of masculinity.     

The Impact of Urbanisation on Water Quality in the Lane Cove River,Sydney New South Wales: a Comparison of Urban and Non-Urban Catchments

The Lane Cove River drains an established urbanised catchment and is impacted by urban runoff, point sources of pollution from sewer overflows and leachate from a refuse tip. The Sydney Water Board conducted a three year water quality monitoring programme assessing the impacts of pollution. The findings are presented and the impact of urbanisation evaluated by comparing water quality in urban and non-urban catchments. Water quality in a near-pristine control creek was consistently better than the urban catchment in all weather conditions. During wet weather, water quality in urban creeks deteriorated significantly, although the control creek generally remained in a near-pristine condition. Poor water quality in urbanised reaches of the catchment has degraded the aquatic ecosystem, encouraged and sustained weed infestation of the riparian environment and restricted recreational use of the river.     

The link between fluids and rank variation in the South Wales Coalfield: evidence from fluid inclusions and stable isotopes

Fluid inclusion and stable isotope data from quartz and carbonate minerals in fracture fillings and ‘ironstone’ nodules from the South Wales Coalfield have been used to characterise the fluids generated during basin evolution and associated coalification. Carbonates grew first, probably at relatively shallow depths and low temperatures (<100°C). The carbonates exhibit a trend of increasing C‐isotopic values across the coalfield, ranging from δ¹³C = ?12‰ VPDB in the SE of the coalfield to 0‰ VPDB in the NW, possibly as a result of increasing methanogenesis in the deeper (NW) parts of the coalfield. Quartz formed at a later stage of basin formation, probably at temperatures between 150 and 200°C. Fluid inclusions in these minerals suggest that burial and coalification of the sediments were associated with mixed aqueous–petroleum fluids. Furthermore, the density of these petroleum fluids decreases towards the NW of the coalfield, where the rank of the associated coal increases to anthracite grade. The study confirms that the composition and temperature of these fluids closely correlate with the variations in coal rank, indicating a possible causal link. The data also give general support to models that propose regional fluid flow in the basin. and are consistent with the erosion of approximately 2 km of section which is not preserved today. A geothermal gradient (at maximum burial) of 45°C km^?1 is proposed, and thus no exceptionally anomalous thermal regime is required to explain coal rank variation.     

Folk-Tales of the Aborigines of New South Wales

THE WITCH-CULT IN WESTERN EUROPE. A STUDY IN ANTHROPOLOGY. MARGARET ALICE MURRAY. Oxford: at the Clarendon Press. 1921. Pp. 303. Price 16s. Reviewed by W. R. Halliday.

THE SEMA NAGAS. By J. H. HUTTON, C.I. E., M.A., I.C.S. Published by direction of the Assam Administration. London : Macmillan &; Co. 1921. Price 40s. net. Reviewed by A. C. Haddon.

ANCIENT TALES FROM MANY LANDS : A COLLECTION OF FOLK STORIES. By R. M. FLEMING. With an Introduction by H. J. FLEURE, D.Sc. London: Benn Bros. 1922. Price 10s. 6d. Reviewed by A. Hingston Quiggin.

ASPECTS OF ANCIENT INDIAN POLITY. By NARENDRA NATH LAW, M.A., B.L. ; with a Foreword by ARTHUR BERRIEDALE KEITH, D.C.L., D.Litt. Oxford University Press. London: Milford. Reviewed by H. A. Rose.