128 MADREPORARIA. 



18-20, fusing together and wavy with lateral synapticular projections, sometimes joined together 

 by them ; a small columellar tangle ; 3-6 irregular ridge-like pali. 



This form seems not to differ from G. Koritzan 1 in any essential ; what differences there 

 are seem to be mainly of degree. Those noted by Posta are (1) the septa are more continuous 

 and are branching ; (2) there is a more regular wall-reticulum, " cosnenchyma " ; (3) fewer 

 pali rise from the columellar tangle ; and (4) the calicles are a little nearer togetlier. 



The specimen figured is from Bilin ; a second specimen of the same coral is said to have 

 been found at Koritzan, see G. Koritzan '2. 



Group IX.— FRANCE. 



Containing descriptions of Fossil Goniopm-ce from Dax (1-4) ; Gironde (1-2) ; Paris Basin (1-14) ; 

 Coutances (1-2) ; and one from some unknown locality in France. 



Note. — These divisions are very far from satisfactory — they are not at all uniform. Dax 

 is an ari'ondissement, and is kept because it is familiar to palteontologists. The next name, 

 " Gironde," is a department, and two specimens are included, one labelled simply " Gironde " 

 and the other from " near Bordeaux," and therefore in the arrondissement Bordeaux. But the 

 first name may mean the department Gironde, or the town, which is in the arrondissement 

 La Reole. Owing to this uncertainty the two localities must be covered by Gironde the depart- 

 mental name. Coutances is again an arrondissement. These are all political divisions, and 

 in contrast with them we have the " Paris Basin " as a geological area, oveiTunuing a number of 

 political divisions. One would have been glad if there could have been more uniformity, but 

 while this is an instance of the chief difficulty in the working out of this system, it will also 

 make it clear how little real harm is done. For no subsequent improvements in these names 

 can ever really confuse. An improved designation will be obviously and not arbitrarily 

 synonymous, being merely a different way of indicating one and the same locality. 



For observations on the peculiar morphological specialisation of the French Gonioporce 

 see note at the end of the Group, p. 145. 



118. Goniopora Dax (4)1. 

 [Dax (Miocene [Burdigalian]) ; Paris Museum.] 



"Litharcea ramosa," M.-E. & H., Monogr. des Poritides (1851), p. 38. Said to have been in the 

 " Collection Michelin." 



Description. — Corallum dendroid, with cylindrical divergent branches, ca. 1 cm. thick. 

 Calicles 2-3 mm. across, polygonal, slightly oblique, and better developed in the upper parts 

 of the stock, nearly uniform, with thin simple walls. The calicles are • 5 mm. deep. The 

 septa are said to be 12 in number and tliin and nearly uniform, but before reaching the walls 

 they thicken and fork (" geminees en dehors "). 



