59 



that some of the secondary ones (ibid 2) are nearly as strongly developed. Both these or- 

 ders of septa are (see fig. 32) particularly high and curved, nearly as high as they are long, 

 and are continued (see fig. 30) diminishing rapidly in height to the centre, where their border 

 becomes strongly folded, and as it were covered with small irregular lobes or fringes which are 

 partly involved with each other, and form in the centre a corrugated part of thin calcareous leaves. 

 The tertiary septa (fig. 24. 29. 3) are still tolerably high, although considerably lower than 

 the primary and secondary, and do not extend to the centre; the quaternary and quinary 

 are however very low, as also those of G'!' 7'.'' & 8'.'' order, which are only confined to the 

 extreme marginal part. Moreover no little irregularity is observed in the arrangement and 

 development of the single septa, so that the radial division of the caly.x so strictly maintained 

 in many other corals, is here in many ways disturbed. It will thus be easily observed that 

 the number of septa in each system in the same coral is by no means always the same ; as 

 likewise the apparent irregular develoj)ment, not only of the smaller septa, but sometimes 

 even of the primary and secondary, makes it rather difficult to define with perfect certainty 

 the individual systems and orders of septa (see for ex. the specimen delineated in fig. 26). 



No real columella is to be found; although the central irregularly curled part, which, 

 as above stated, is formed by the interior converging ends of the primary and secondary 

 septa, may be regarded as a slight indication of a columella. 



Neither can there be found in our coral any trace of the interior circle of septa (pali) 

 observable in many other corals. 



The border of the foot-leaf, from which the radiating lamellae (septa) take their origin, 

 is not entire, but closely and irregularly incised or dentated, each of the pointed teeth cor- 

 responding usually to one of the septa, so that the number and development of the latter 

 can be tolerably well ascertained from the number and proportions of the marginal points. 



The coral is not completely circular in its general form, l)ut as it appears, rather broader 

 in one half than in the other. In all the 3 specimens examined by me these wider and nar- 

 rower halves were indicated by a distinct constriction in the middle, or by 2 irregular lateral 

 incurvations of the border; and these had, with respect to the bucal aperture, a similar posi- 

 tion in all. Whether this was a mere coincidence, or a more constant case, I cannot with 

 certainty decide; as I have not had opportunity of examining any complete specimens excep- 

 ting these 3. 



The foot leaf itself is, as has been stated, quite flat below (fig. 2.5. 27) without any 

 trace of attachment. There is only observed in the middle a somewhat corroded part, from 

 which the growth of the coral has taken its origin, but which was not appreciably salient. 

 From this spot numerous fine raised stripes or ribs (costae) radiate towarde the edge. The 

 most distinct of these correspond to the primary and secondary septa situated above; between 

 these again there are found numerous others which become finer and finer. An extremely 

 fine concentric striation, indicating the successive growth of the coral, was also occasionally 

 perceptible. 



