FRENCH GONIOPOR^. 129 



In spite of the statement that there are only 12 septa, the added fact that they are often 

 " geniinees en dehors " shows that the real number was greater. On this forking of the septa 

 near the walls, see the Introduction, p. 21, where it is regarded as a vestige of the typical 

 septal formula for Goyiiopora. 



There are, unfortunately, no figures illustrating the coral. The " dendroid " growth-form 

 is interesting ; branching and tufted Gonioporce are known, but none of them could be called 

 " dendroid." 



In 1859, Dr. Abich* described a form from Bajazid in the Araxes "Valley as "Lithara>a 

 ramosa M.-E. & H." I have discussed, on p. 97, what I think to be a wrong interpretation 

 of this fossil. 



Tliere are no Ijranching Goniopores from Dax in the British Museum. 



119. Goniopora Dax (4)2. 



[Dax (Miocene, Burdigalian).] 



Rhodanva raulini, Milne-Edwards and Haime, Polyp. Foss. des Terrains Pal., p. 145 (1851) ; also 

 Hist. Nat. Coralliaires, iii. (1860) p. 184. 



Description. — Corallum massive, moderately thick, with nearly flat top or only slightly 

 convex ; well-developed epitheca. 



Calicles subcircular, 5-6 mm. across and 2 mm. deep. Walls thick with a light furrow 

 running along their tops. Three complete cycles of septa, which are moderately thin where they 

 join the wall (exterieurement), crowded, sublamellate, rising slightly above the walls. Six very 

 large prominent pali " in front of the secondary septa." 



This is Milne-Edwards' description of a Goniopora from Dax. The growth-form is not 

 clear from the description. Both the fragments of fossil Goniopora from Dax in the British 

 Museum are massive. One has very minute calicles ; the other, a worn pebble, has calicles 

 4 mm. across, and may possibly be related to this form. Its reticular walls, however, show 

 no traces of any structure which would suggest their having had a median furrow at the 

 surface. A median furrow does occasionally occur in this genus, see p. 50, and PI. II. fig. 3. 



See also Introduction, p. 21, on the pali being in front of the secondary septa. 



120. Goniopora Dax (4)3. (PI. IX. fig. 4.) 

 [St. Paul-les-Dax, France (Middle Eocene), coll. Deshayes ; British Museum.] 



Description. — Corallum massive, but growth-form unknown. 



Calicles 4 mm. across. Walls rather thick, of a close reticulum, frequently flaky and with 

 small pores, which contrast with the larger interseptal loculi. Septa only slightly wavy, 

 arranged in the typical formula; the tertiaries often joining the secondaries at very blunt 



* Mem. Acad. Imp. Sci. S. Petersburg, (6°) ix. pt. i. (1859) p. 103. 



