Devonian.-] PALEONTOLOGY OF VICTORIA. I Animals. 



Plate XXXV., Figs. 1-ld. 



FAVOSITES GOLDFUSSI (d'Orb.). 



[Genus FAVOSITES (Lam.") restricted = CALAJIPORA (Gold.). (Sub.-kingd. Radiata. 

 Class Zoophj-ta. Order Zoantbaria. Tribe Madrcpbyllaca. Fam. Milleporida;. Sub-fam. FaTO- 

 sitiniB.) 



Gen. Char. — Corallum composed of very nunierniis tubes, rounded or prismatic or polygonal 

 (from mutual pressure), trarersed by nuuierous liorizontal diaphragms, destitute of vertical 

 radiating lamella?, or internal sulci ; sides or angles witb distinct communicating pores ; young 

 tubes formed by lateral budding or interpolation, mouths of the tubes opening at right angles 

 to their length. 



Distinguished from Chcetetes by the lateral communicating pores ; by the young being 

 added by interpolation and not by fission or splitting of the old tubes, and, as a consequence of 

 this mode of derelopment, the exterior walls being exposed by rough yertical fracture.] 



Description. — Corallum forming- convex pyriform or glolmlar masses of 

 radiating- polj'g-onal cell-tube.'!, nearly of one size, varying- from 1 line in diameter to 

 4 in a space of 3 lines. Usually 2, but sometimes 1 or 3, rows of connecting- pores 

 with tumid edges, on each face of the prismatic tubes; these are scarcely their own 

 diameter apart and often half their diameter apart, or 3 in a vertical row in a space 

 equalling- the width of the average faces of the tubes. Diaphrag-ms slightly convex, 

 often with 1 to 3 crenulations on the edge of each straight side, varying- from 4 to 7 

 in a space equalling the diameter. 



I formerly held the opinion -with Goklfuss that the Upper 

 Silurian and Devonian so-called F. Gntlilandica were only varieties 

 of one species, and I still think that the variations of different 

 specimens from each formation render the proposed separation as a 

 distinct species of the Devonian form by Prof d'Orhigny doubtful ; 

 there can be no doubt, however, that our Victorian coral fi-om the 

 Buclian agrees perfectly with the Devonian F. Goldfassi of beds of 

 the Devonian age in Europe, distinguished from the Silurian allied 

 form by the closer and more numerous connecting pores. The 

 transverse diaphragms are also generally closer or more numerous in 

 a space equal to a diameter, in this species, although, as above 

 indicated, very variable, and occasionally agreeing with the Silurian 

 form in this respect. 



The outer walls of the tubes present often one to three obscure 

 longitudinal ridges and some transverse wrinkles like the European 

 examples. The crenulations on the edge of the sides of the dissejji- 

 ments or tabulae seem to be more connected with the number of 



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