446 SYSTEMATIC PALEONTOLOGY 



inward from the wall and meet in the axial area. The septa are narrow 

 al)ove the level of the columella but become wide below its upper surface. 

 There is usually between each pair of large septa a small one. The 

 smaller ones curve in pairs toward an included larger one, a member of 

 the second cycle. The presence of members of the third cycle is not 

 constant in the same specimen, thus destroying the basis used by Hinde 

 for differentiating two species. In young calices there may be only one 

 or two septa (Gane says there may be none) . On the other hand, in very 

 large calices there may be from eight to twelve members of the fourth 

 cycle. The septal margins are distinctly dentate in places on the coralla 

 where no great amount of basal deposit has been laid down. The denta- 

 tions are not especially prominent and later are obscured by the basal 

 deposit. Small granulations occur over the whole surface of the calice, 

 over the septal faces and the septal margins. 



Endotheca : Dissepiments abundant, usually rather thick, 1 to 1.5 mm. 

 apart. The uppermost dissepiment is near the level of the upper surface 

 of the columella and forms a base upon which the basal deposit is formed. 



Calices, shallow, widely open. 



Columella, false, at first weak, being originated by the loose fusion of 

 the principal septa in the axial area, subsequently it becomes compacted 

 and enlarged by basal deposit, forming a solid donio-shaped elevation in 

 the bottom of the calice. 



Asexual reproduction, normally by biidding in the angle between the 

 calices, also by dissepimental Ijudding, i. e., a dissepiment is formed 

 across one side of a calice, cutting off a peripheral portion, which forms 

 another individual. This process of forming new individuals and its 

 stages are represented on plate CXXA'II, fig. 1. Fission occurs, plate 

 CXXVIII, fig. 2, illustrates it. Plate CXXVII, fig. 3, exhibits bud- 

 ding in the angle between adjoining corallites. 



Dr. G. J. Hinde, in a memoir entitled " On the History and Character 

 of the Genus Septastrsea d'Orbigny (1849), and the Identity of its Type 

 Species with that of Glyphastrasa Duncan (1887),^^^ has given an elabo- 

 rate discussion of this species. Gane in his " Some Neocene Corals of 

 the United States," ^ has made an additional contribution of value. 



1 Quart. Jour. GeoL Soc. London, voL xliv (1888), pp. 200-327, pi. ix. 

 2Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., voL xxii, 1900, pp. 194-196. 



