42 BRITISH PALAZOZOIC FOSSILS. [Zoornyra. 
Position and Locality—Common in the schists of Pen Lar, Llandovery; Mathyrafal, S. of Meifod, 
Montgomeryshire ; Llansantfraid, Glyn Ceiriog, Denbighshire ; and Castel Craig, Gwyddon, Llandovery, Caer- 
marthenshire ; fine Caradoc sandstone of Alt yr Anker, Meifod, Montgomeryshire. 
Explanation of Figures—Plate 1. B. fig. 25. Natural size of cast from the slates of Llansantfraid. 
Fig. 25a. Do. Two of the interlamellar projections of the cast, magnified three diameters, each with a 
small row of puncta corresponding to the secondary lamelle, and divided by the deep slit corresponding 
to one of the primary lamellee. : 
[Systematic place uncertain. ] 
Genus. SPONGARIUM (M/. Edw.) 1839. 
= Discophyllum (Hall, 1847) = Actinophyllum (Phill. 1848). 
Gen. Char.—Corallum simple, thin, corneous, broad oval, depressed, saucer-shaped, attached by a small 
oval central space to foreign bodies; inner concave surface smooth, exterior surface with numerous simple, 
or once or twice branched, ridges radiating from the centre to the circumference; both surfaces strongly 
marked with irregular concentric wrinkles and striz. 
The affinities of these fossils are very obscure, the first example being referred to the Spongide by M. 
Edwards, the second to corals by Hall, and to plants (Calciphytes) by Profs. Phillips and Forbes, and 
Dr Hooker. (See Mem. Geol. Survey, Vol. II. p. 386). All observers agree that there is little or no cal- 
careous matter in them, which makes the latter opinion doubtful; the first impression on my mind was 
that they might be a sort of corneous base of a polype allied to Actinia—but I have observed that the 
inner, upper, or concave side is unradiated, which is a fatal objection to that notion; as to its being allied 
to the cartilage of Velel/a or the like, that is also impossible, as I have noticed a specimen firmly attached 
by the grasping of its base round a bit of Orthoceratite. From the examination I have made I do not 
think it possible to separate, generically, the species with simple rays (Discophyllum and Actinophyllum) 
from those in which they are branched (Spongariuvm)—the character affording scarcely a recognizable specific 
distinction in practice. 
SPONGARIUM AQUISTRIATUM (J/°Coy). Pl. 1. B. fig. 15. 
Ref—M Coy, Ann. Nat. Hist. 2nd Series, Vol. VI. p. 28]. 
Sp. Ch.—Elliptical, depressed, proportion of width to length varying from as 85 or 90, to 100; marked 
with sharp, rugged concentric wrinkles, entire disk closely and equally radiated, by coarse rounded very 
approximate ridges, averaging five in one line ; long diameter from eight lines to one inch. 
This species is perfectly distinguished from its congeners by the coarse, close, equal, striation of the entire 
disk, giving it a peculiarly harsh aspect; the ridges are much less than their thickness apart. 
Position and Locality—Rather rare in the quartzose Upper Ludlow rock of Benson Knot, Kendal, 
Westmoreland. 
Explanation of Figures—PI. 1. B. fig. 15. Natural size from the Upper Ludlow rock of Kendal.— 
Fig. 15a. Do. Portion of outer surface magnified two diameters, shewing the rugged, subequal, striz. 
Sponaarium Epwarpsi (Murch.) 
Fef.—Murchison, Sil. Syst. t. 26. f. 12. 
Sp. Ch.—Nearly orbicular, very broad oval, proportion of breadth to length, as 90 to 100; radiating 
ridges comparatively few, slender, thread-like, some distinctly branching two or three times (when the 
diameter is one inch), a few others remaining simple, averaging one line to nearly two lines apart, inter- 
vening spaces flat marked with few irregular obtuse concentric wrinkles, without distinct intervening radiating 
striee ; average diameter one inch. 
