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A variety of Orthoretiolites hami Whittington is recorded from two levels in the Viola limestone of Oklahoma. The varietal distinction is based on the more robust nature of the clathria and the presence of a structureless periderm. Early growth stages recovered illustrate the initial development of the species O. hami whilst adult stages are represented in several rhabdosomes. It is concluded that, in spite of its mode of development, the genus Orthoretiolites could be most conveniently placed in the family Retiolitidae.

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Cupressinocladus ramonensis sp. nov., a species of Jurassic conifer based on compressions of leafy shoots, is described, and the genus Cupressinocladus Seward emended. The material is from the Makhtesh Ramon (Wadi Raman) in southern Israel. The leaves are small, closely appressed, and are decussate in arrangement, suggesting comparison with the living Cupressaceae. Faunal evidence shows that C. ramanensis sp. nov. is not younger than Middle Jurassic and that it is probably of Lower Jurassic age. No well-founded record of the Cupressaceae has been previously known earlier than the Cretaceous.

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Hengestites applanatus gen. et sp. nov., described from the Upper Gault (Lower Cretaceous, Upper Albian) of south-east England, is a primitive member of the Placenticeratidae, a family of ammonites not previously recorded from Britain. It is a characteristic fossil of the Mortoniceras inflatum Zone (Callihoplites auritus Subzone) but has hitherto escaped notice owing to homoeomorphy with Anahoplites planus (Mantell). Its occurrence points to a polyphyletic origin for the Placenticeratidae.

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The collections of several expeditions to Spitsbergen have been examined and seventeen species (none new) of Fusulinidae are described from horizons ranging from Middle Carboniferous to Lower Permian These identifications form the basis of stratigraphical work published elsewhere and here briefly summarized. Previous records of Fusulinidae from Spitsbergen are re-examined.

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Certain Tethyan Jurassic stromatoporoids, some formerly allocated to the Palaeozoic genus Stromatopora, are described with new morphological terms, and grouped in the family Parastromatoporidae (super-family Milleporellicae). Dehornella Lecompte 1952 is reassessed and Stromatopora choffati Dehorne 1917, sometimes erroneously allocated to Stromatoporina Kuhn 1928 (Stromatoporinidae Ktihn 1928) of which the type species Stromatopora tornquisti Deninger 1906 is redescribed, is allocated to it.

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Operculinoides Hanzawa as understood now consists of three distinct groups of forms typically represented by (a) Nummulites willcoxi Heilprin, (b) Operculina ocalana Cushman, and (c) O. bermudezi D. K. Palmer. It is shown that (a) can justifiably come under Nummulites, (b) may be regarded as involute Operculina, and for (c) there is Caudri's genus Ranikothalia which is based on valid grounds.

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A great many difficulties are involved in dealing with the relations between the British and the Balto-Scandian echinoderm faunas in Early Palaeozoic times. It is obvious that this is due mainly to two circumstances: the imperfect knowledge of the original composition of the faunas in different areas, and the insufficient exactitude in stratigraphic correlation between the British Isles on the one hand and Scandinavia, Estonia, and the Leningrad district on the other.

• Read more about The Lower Palaeozoic echinoderm faunas of the British Isles and Balto-Scandia [Annual Address, delivered 11 March 1959]

A new phacopid trilobite genus Duftonia is described and assigned to the subfamily Acastinae Delo. In addition to the type material from the Ordovician of the Cross Fell Inlier in northern England other specimens related to the same species are described and figured from both North and South Wales.

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Phyllocrinus furcillatus sp. nov. is described from Kuritunu Stream, Kawhia, and is attributed to the Middle Kimeridgian. It is the first record of Phyllocrinus outside Europe.

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Terebratulidae from the English Aptian are systematically revised and their external and internal characters investigated, the latter chiefly by means of serial sections and dissections. Some new terms are introduced, notably for the hinge plates, and others redefined. Five new genera are proposed: Rhombothyris (type sp. Terebratula extensa Meyer), Platythyris (type sp. P. comptonensis nov.), Sellithyris (type sp. Terebratula sella J. de C. Sowerby), Cyrtothyris (type sp. Terebratula depressa var. cyrta Walker), and Praelongithyris (type sp. P. praelongiforma nov.).

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