CORALS OF THE LONDON CLAY. 43 
2. Genus WuBSTERIA. 
Wessteria cristorpEs. Tab. VII, figs. 5, 5a. 
Corallum composite, slender, and dichotomous, with its branches straight, flat, of the 
same dimensions as the stem, spreading out on one plane, and forming very acute angles 
with each other. Corallites subverruciform, disposed in opposite order, and forming 
two vertical series, the outer edge of which is occupied by a row of small, oblique, circular 
calices. ‘These two lateral parts are separated by a median line, which usually has the 
appearance of a small furrow ; sometimes they disunite, and so bring to view a small, 
styliform, central axis. Breadth of the branches about a fifth of a lme; height of the 
corallites, a quarter of a line. 
It is not without much uncertainty that we refer this delicate fossil to the family of the 
Gorgonid. By its general aspect, and by the mode of arrangement of the verruciform 
individuals of which it is composed, it resembles the genus Pterogorgia of Ehrenberg, and 
the existence of a central axis furnishes a strong argument in favour of the opinion which 
we have adopted provisionally ; but, on the other hand, the structure of the individuals is 
very similar to that of some Sertularide, and still more so to divers Bryozoa, such as Crista 
denticulata. he specimens that we have examined have not enabled us to decide the 
question concerning the natural affinities of the animals to which these organic remains 
belonged; but whether they be Polypi or Bryozoa, they appear to differ from all the known 
generic forms, and to constitute the type of a new genus, that we dedicate to Mr. 
Webster, whose observations on the formation in which they are found have been so 
serviceable to geology. 
Websteria crisioides is the only species belonging to this zoological division. It was 
discovered in the London Clay at Haverstock Hill, by Mr. Frederic Edwards, to whose 
kindness we are indebted for the communication of the specimens here described. 
