CARBONIFEROUS FOSSILS OF IRELAND. 191 



ASTREOPORA ANTIQUA. M'CoiJ. (PL XX VL fig. 9). 



Sp. Ch. — Discoid, convex ; surface with large, circular cells, in quincunx, about one-third their diameter 

 apart; sides of the cells radiatingly striated; intervening flat spaces, with minute, irregular, curvin" ridges. 



This fossil closely resembles the Hi/diiopura ci/dostoma of Phillips ; the genus Hijdnopora (or Monticu- 

 laria) has the stars raised above the surface, a character which our fossil certainly does not possess, but which 

 may, perhaps, be better placed in the genus Astreopora, in which the cells are cylindrical, with striated sides. 

 If Professor Phillips's coral and mine were specifically the same, it would be necessary to change his generic 

 name as above; and as all the Astreopora have cii-cular cells, the specific name would be also objectionable, 

 and might be changed as I have proposed. It is probable, however, that the two species are distinct. I have 

 seen several specimens of the Irish species, and they are all free, while Professor Phillips's coral is parasitic on 

 shells; the proportions also, or number of cells in a given space, is different in the two. Diameter of masses 

 about one inch, diameter of cells one line. 



DicTUOPHYLLiA. De BlainvUle. 

 Gen. C/i.— Incrasting, fixed; cells large, polygonal, irregular; whole surface strongly reticulated. 



DiCTUOPHYLLIA ANTIQUA. M'CoiJ. (PL XXVI. fig. 10). 



Sp. Ch. — Cells nearly equal, polygonal; their raised margins granulated. 



This species may be distinguished from the D. reticulata of the chalk by its greater size, more regular 

 cells, and the margin of the cells being irregularly granulated instead of being striated, as in that species. 

 Diameter of stars about five lines. 



Pleurodictyum peoblematicum. Gold. ? 



Pleurodictyum problematicum. Gold. Pet. ? Pleuxodictyum problematicum. Phil. Pal. Fos. ? 



Sp. CA. — Oval, depressed; superior surface divided into numerous, large, irregular, pentagonal, or acutely 

 rhomboidal cells, by thin septa, perforated by numerous, small foramina. 



The specimens which have occurred in Ireland are extremely imperfect, and cannot be referred with accu- 

 racy to the Devonian species, not shewing more than one or two of the perforated septa; the cells are remark- 

 able for their acutely rhomboidal section. 



Favosites. Lam. 



Calamopora. Gold. 



Gen. CA.— Massive, composed of vertical, diverging, prismatic tubes, connected by transverse tubuli or 

 foramina. 



Favosites capillaeis. Phil 



Favosites capiUaris. Phil. Geol. York. 



Sp. Ch. — Spheroidal, composed of very fine, prismatic tubes; the transverse septa are arranged at equal 

 distances and height in all the tubes. 



This beautiful species usually forms spherical masses, the size of an orange, the tubes are literally hair-like, 

 being scarcely visible in a section parallel to their length ; on the surface, however, they form a deHcate network 

 of minute, polygonal cells. Diameter of specimens usually about three inches, six tubes measure one line 

 across their openings. 



