86 Proceedings of ilie Royol Society of Victoria. 



twenty-four in number, and occupy about one-half the corallite, 

 leaving a clear space in the centre, none running to the centre 

 and commingling into a spurious columella as is so frequently the 

 case in other species. The dissepiments occupy about two-thirds 

 of the septate area, the in portion being composed of a row of 

 convex vesicles, against which the tabulje abut. 



The central clear space is traversed at regular well-marked 

 intervals by well-developed convex tabula?, about one-fortieth of 

 an inch apart. The short interseptal loculi are traversed by the 

 dissepiments for almost all their distance. 



A well-marked character of this peculiar coral is its distinct 

 biareal disposition as regards the septa. In the Cyathophyllidse, 

 according to Nicholson^ (as typified by Cyathophylluni) "the septa 

 are numerous, alternately long and short, the longer ones being 

 continued to, or nearly to, the centre of the visceral chamber, 

 where they are usually more or less twisted and give rise to a 

 sort of spurious columella." 



The correct generic classification of this form depends wholly 

 upon the view taken of the validity of the non-extension of the 

 septa to the centre of the visceral cavity being a specific rather 

 than a generic character. In the Cyathophyllid?e it is not 

 necessary that the septa should pass to the centre of the 

 corallite, so that there appears to be no difficulty as to its 

 family. The real difficulty is in its generic position — a first 

 glance would suggest Acervularia as its I'esting place, with which 

 it agrees in all points except the important one of the formation 

 of a wall by the thickening of the septa around the inner 

 tabulate area. Also in connection with Acervidaria., Nicholson 

 says,^ that " the so-called Acervularice of the Devonian Rocks are 

 nearly allied to Cyathophyl/iaii," while the true Acerimlaria as 

 typified by A. ananas, Linn., from the Upper Silurian of 

 Gothland would be more correctly classed under the Astifeidpe. 



Weissermel has recently established a genus Storthyg^ophylhmi^ 

 to take in a coral from the Bordholm beds (Upper Silurian) of 

 Esthland, characterised by alternate straight spine-like septa, 

 free tabulate area, dissepiments vesicular and oblique. The 



1 Manual of Palaeontology, 18S9, i., p. 286. 



2 hoc. cit., p. 287. 



s Zeits. Deutsche Geol. Gesell., 1894, xlvi.. Heft 3, p. C19, t. 49, f. C-7«. 



