TWO HKMAKKAHhK (!OKALS FFiOM THU DMVOMAN OK 

 NKW SOUTH WAI.KS 



(SpciKjoii/itjIlinii liahitiitvide^, and Cohniniarid iiciiiiiuilicii^ix.) 



m 

 K. KriiK.i;iiM!h;, Juiu-., Director and (-uratfn-. 



( Plates vii.-ix.) 

 I. — A MoXSEi'TATK Si'OXCdi'nviJ.r.M (SiioiKjophijUKiii li(iIysit(i{(Jr.<.} 

 A peculiar and abnormal Si>i>iHjoplnjUiiiii of remarkably simple 



ERRATUM. and a quarter inches 



,f the Australian Museum, Vol. xii, No. 4, p. 49, line 7, > '^J^*^ ^^^^J' *^^'^^ ^^P^^^' 



polygonal and vary 

 Id read ^j^^. ^^ gj^ millimetres ; 



)NSEPTATE Spongophytjj'm (S/JongnphijU 1(1)1 hahjsifoule'^) . Is of tlie I'espective 



cui-AiiiLets, wen iieiiiicii iiin.i oiiuiig, ni.\^ %JLL%. oiiiiviijg, ^eatuie of this coral. 



In a trausveise view each corallite looks as if its polygonal outline 

 was composed of a string of minute shuttle-like figures, swelling and con- 

 tracting alternately. Within each calice, and continuously throughout 

 the successive visceral chambers in descending order, this structure is 

 actuall}' caused by the deep and regular fluting of tlie walls. Looking 

 down on these walls from above, and shutting one's eyes to the interior 

 vescicular structiare, the resemblance to the meandering corallite lines in 

 Hidysites is truly astonishing, hence the specific name I have applied to 

 this coral. 



There is the usual tripartite structure, although the demarcation is 

 ill-defined. Immediately within the fluted walls is (by comparison) a 

 broad peripheral zone of variously shaped vesicles, some large, others 

 small. This is followed by the intermediate zone, or cycle, which by 

 rights should be septate. It is extremely narrow, not always present 

 even, but when so, of a peculiar structure, to be referred to later. In 

 some corallites certainly, a few rudimentary short septa do occur, slightly 

 projecting into the central, and wliat in an ordinary Rugose coi-al would 

 be the tabulate area ; here, however, it is purely vesicular. 



In a longitudinal section all that is necessary to notice particularly 

 is the structure of what would be the septate zone and the centi'al area ; 

 in passing, attention may be called to the very varied form of the pei'i- 

 pheral vesicles. From PI. viii., fig. 3, it will be seen that the intermediate 

 zone is really a tabulate area, without any mural investment, but depend- 

 ing for its demaication on the convex surfaces of the distal peripheral 

 vesicles and the latei-al surfaces of those of the central area. It is trans- 

 versely diA'ided by floors, mostly horizontal, but as they are parts of an 

 area at times slightly septate, may be spoken of as dissepiniental vesicles. 

 Finally, the central area of each corallite of one or more ranges of egg- 

 shaped vesicles, their longitudinal diameters being the greater. 



I know of no Australian Spoiignphyllnvi with a structure at all 

 approaching that of this coral, viz., the fluted condition of tlie corallite 

 walls, and practically the lack of septa. 



Loc. — Road near Beedle's Farm, Moonbi, Co. Inglis, New South Wales. 



//o/-._Middle Devonian? 



