6 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. xxx. 



Monograph of the Monticuliporoid Corals of the Cincinnati Group. 

 In this monograph external characters alone are employed in dis 

 ting-uishing- species, and as a result the specific synonomy given is a 

 revelation. The various monticuliporoid genera and subgenera pro- 

 posed, particularl)' those by Nicholson and Ulrich, are made synonyms 

 of either Hall's Ceramopora or D'Orbigny's Mordicxd'ipora. Only 

 Dekayia Edwards and Haime, ConxteJlarla Dana, and Fistulipora 

 McCoy are recognized, and these only as subgenera of MonticuUpoi'a. 

 The correct placing of some of the synonymous genera seems to have 

 troubled the authors. For example, Crepipora and ChiloporeUa are 

 first placed as synon3'ms of Ceminopxyra and MoidicuUpora,, respect- 

 ively, but in the last installment the authors decide that the subgenus 

 F'lstuIipo7'a is the proper name with which to make them synon3'mous. 

 However, even this is not final, as later in the same paper Creplporn 

 is again made a synonym of Ceraiaopord. 



The synonymy of species is on a par with the generic work, as ma}' 

 be illustrated by one of man^^ examples. CaUopora cincinnatieiwlN and 

 Cidlojporella flciheUata of Ulrich are considered synonyms of 3lo)iticu- 

 lipora nichohonl flames, the two synonyms being founded, according 

 to James and James, "upon slightly worn specimens." It happens, 

 however, that Callopmxi cincinnatiensis is founded upon well-pre- 

 served specimens of Lioclema occidens (Hall and Whitfield) from the 

 Upper Devonian of Iowa, and, as admitted bv Ulrich/' was erroneously 

 recorded as coming from Cincinnati. 



No new species are described in these articles, but man}- of the 

 James species are figured on the two plates. These figures, especially 

 the illustrations of the surface characters of the various species, are 

 misleading and in many cases are quite unlike the specimens they are 

 said to represent. For example, contiguous angular, polygonal zocecia, 

 such as are exhibited by the specimens called MonticxJ'tponi fiirhinata^ 

 are represented as more or less irregularlv rounded and separated by 

 a space of varying diameter, with here and there a rounded mesopore 

 int(^rpolated. 



This series of articles appearing several years after Nicholson's exc-el- 

 lent volume The Genus Monticulipora, can not be excused on the 

 ground of pioneer work. Instead of nuu'king an adviuice upon work 

 in the Paleontologist, the monograph is very nuich inferior to the 

 earlier publication, and instead of being the promised aid to the stu- 

 dent, the articles are positivel}'^ confusing and detrimental to progress. 



JOSEPH F. JAMES. 



14. Manual of the Paleontology of the Cincinnati (troui-. Joiknai. ( -iNcrxxATi 

 Society of Natural History, XV-XVIII. 

 Volume XV, 1893, pp. 144-159. 

 Volume XVI, 1894, pp. 178-208, 

 Volume XVIII, 1895, pp. 67-88. 

 Volume XVIII, 1896, pp. 115-140. 



aGeol. Surv. lllinoim, VIII, 1890, p. 427 



