ITALIAN GONIOPOR^. 119 



103. Goniopora Turin (3)3. 

 [Turin (Middle Miocene).] 



Litharma diversiformis, Sismonda {partim), Pal. Terrain Tert. Pigment (1871), p. 25, pi. ix. figs. 1 and 2. 



Original Description (which was applied to a group of specimens from different localities ; 

 see also G. Alessandria 2). — Corallum forms irregularly humpy or lobate masses. 



Calicles very small, average about 1 mm., less deep than they are wide, pentagonal. 

 Septa " 12 " [in figures as many as 17], thick but not crowded, secondaries differing but slightly 

 from the primaries. Columella spongy, not rising as a prominence in the base of the calicle. 



This description does not agree well with the figm-e in which the septa are long and 

 thin, as many as 17 in number, and apparently with toothed edges. Sismonda gives two 

 localities : Turin (mioc. moyen) and Tortona (mioc. sup.). This shows that he had at least two 

 specimens which he put together under this name. It is possible, therefore, that the 

 specimen he described was a Porites with " 12 " septa while the one he figured was a Goniopora. 



I have been permitted by the courtesy of Professor Portis to examine three specimens from 

 the Michelotti Collection, Eome, labelled "L. diversiformis Michelotti (Tortonian, from 

 Stazzano)"; but two of them are Porites and distinct from one another, and only one is a Goniopora 

 distinct from the one figured by Sismonda ; and here described as Goniopora Alessandria 3. 



104. Groniopora Genoa 1. 

 [Dego (Upper Oligocene) ; Turin Museum.] 



Porites incrustans Dei., Michelotti, Etudes Miocene Inf. (1861), p. 49 (pro parte). 

 Liiharaa pandcrosa, Sismonda (partim), Pal. Terrain Tert. Piemont (1871), p. 26. 



Original Description (which was applied to a group of specimens, cf. also G. Genoa 2). — 

 Corallum massive, upper surface convex, lower surface nearly fiat. 



Calicles not very deep, subpolygonal, and with " simple " walls, 2-3 mm. across. 



I can find no further description of these corals said to come from Dego and also from 

 Sassello thus briefly referred to by Sismonda. They were apparently the same as those 

 Michelotti grouped under the name " P. incrustans Defr.," for the author tells us in his preface 

 that Michelotti placed his palceontological collection at his disposal. Dr. Angelis,* who has 

 given an account of the Michelotti Collection in the Geological Museum of the University of 

 Bome, mentions three Gonioporce from Dego and three from Sassello. One of the former, 

 viz. his Litharwa ohlita, is, I believe, an Astrseid. As he seems to make no mention of any 

 L. pondcrosa, the specimens named by Michelotti P. incrustans and renamed by Sismonda are 

 probably preserved in some other Italian museum. 



A careful comparative study of the rich Gonioporct material in the Italian Museums is 

 certainly a desideratum, provided the results are not confused by any premature attempt to 

 group the specimens into species. 



* Atti della E. Accad. dei Lincei (5°) i. 1895. 



