DESCRIPTIONS 
OF 
THE FOSSILS 
OF 
THE CHALK FORMATION. 
Notes on the Corals. By Wititam Lonspate, F.G:S. 
Tue fossils represented in Table XVIII. figures 1 to 10 have been frequently men- 
tioned by paleontologists. Lhwyd probably alludes to them under the desig- 
nations or descriptions, ‘‘ columellus turbinatus albus cretaceorum,”’ and ‘‘ colu- 
mellus turbinatus minor subalbidus';” but Mr. Conybeare* and Dr. Mantell*® 
apparently first identified the coral with Caryophyllia of Lamarck*, the former 
authority noticing also the resemblance to Caryophyllia cyathus ; and that generic 
assignment with Dr. Mantell’s specific name centralis, has been adopted by sub- 
sequent British authorities. Herr Roemer’, however, and Herr Geinitz®, as well 
as Von Hagenow, have preferred the genus Turbinolia: Caryophyllia cyathus has 
also been transferred by Ehrenberg’ to Cyathina. In attempting to approximate 
therefore towards the right systematic position of the cretaceous zoophyte, it will 
be necessary to inquire what are the primary structures of the Anthozoa compri- 
sing Lamarck’s Caryophyllia, also of the corals to which the name has been lately 
restricted ; and how far the fossil under consideration can be referred to any of 
those polyparia, or to Turbinolia or to Cyathina. 
I. Caryophylha as proposed by Lamarck® included fifteen species arranged 
under two divisions: ‘‘§ Tiges simples, soit solitaires, soit fasciculées ;” and, 
‘“§§ Tiges divisées ou rameuses ;” but this arrangement, though dependent upon 
‘ Lithoph. Brit. Ichnographia, Ist ed. 1699, p. 8. nos. 136, 137. Lhwyd’s specimens were obtained 
in Kent. 2 Outlines of Geol. of England and Wales, p. 74, 1822. 
* Fossils of the South Downs or Geol. of Sussex, p. 159. t.16. f. 2, 4, 1822. 
* Anim. s. Verteb., ed. 1836, t. ii. p. 346. no. 1. 
» Verst. Norddeutschen Kreidegebirges, p. 26, 1840. 
° Charakteristik Petref. des siichsisch-boéhmischen Kreidegeb. Drittes Heft, p. 92, 1842. 
’ Beitriége, &c., p. 76, or Berlin Transactions for 1832. 8 Edit. 1816. 
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