DESCRIPTIONS OF SPECIES. 153 



Beitrao-e zur Keimtniss tier Astrocoeniuse.' Fortunately, my sections of 

 the species are excellent. The septa are composed of ascending trabeculse; 

 near the wall is a line of divergence. External to this line the trabeculae 

 pass upward and have a slight inclination outward. The trabeculie on the 

 inner side of the line of divergence pass upward and incline inward. The 

 trabecular are fine, measuring from 0.027 to 0.04 mm. across. A study of 

 the lines of growth across the trabeculse would indicate an entire or very 

 obscurely dentate septal margin. The growth segments of tlie septa are 

 well defined; the distance across one, measured along the line of divergence, 

 is about 0.32 mm. on an average. The wall of this species is very inter- 

 esting. The distal ends of the septa do not thicken sufficiently to form a 

 pseudotheca. In places dark centers or a dark band can be seen in the 

 theca between the septal ends, i. e., the wall belongs in the euthecal class. 

 In some instances the wall is clearly formed by peripherally placed dissepi- 

 ments. The corallites are quite often joined by their costse. In such 

 instances the wall of one corallite is usually formed by dissepiments. The 

 columella has in both the hand specimen and thin section tlie same appear- 

 ance as in Stephanocamiu fairhanksi There is usually distinguishable a 

 central erect piece, around which the principal septa fuse by their inner 

 margins. In some instances the coliunella appears to be fonued merely 

 by the fusion of the septal margins. In one calice the axis of the colu- 

 mella is vacant, the septal margins having fused around it. The pali in 

 cross section show as thickenings on the inner septal ends. The inner 

 ends of the tertiary septa are free. The above description should be com- 

 pared with Felix's description of Stephanocmnia formosa (Goldf) ^ I should 

 also like to call attention to a statement by Miss Ogilvie, that "it is doubt- 

 ful if they [Astrocoenia and Stephanocoenia] are represented in recent 

 seas."' siie evidently did not know that the type species of Stephanocoenia 

 is the recent St intcrscpia (Esper). So if there is any doubt, it is that the 

 genus is found fossil earlier than late Tertiary. I have never been able to 

 study specimens of Astrocoenia pectinata Pourtalfes^ from the Florida coast, 

 but from the figures there is absolutely no reason to doubt the correct- 

 ness of Pourtalfes's generic reference. The type species of Astroccenis, is 

 ^. orfei^wyrtwa M.-Edw. and H.^ 



' Zeitsch. Ueutsch. geol.Gesell., Vol.L. -"Florida Reef Corals: Mem. Mus. Comp. Zoiil., Vol. 



2 Op. sup. cit., pp. 252-254, pi. xi, fig. 1. VII, No. 1, 1880, pi. ii, figs. 5-7. 



SQp. cit., p. 307. 'Cf. Mon. Brit. Fobs. Corals, I'alaoutogr. Soc, p. xsx. 



