116 MADREPORARIA. 



Calicles^3*5 mm. in diameter, polygonal, deep, with thin sharp walls. Septa thin and 

 wavy, and apparently running in zigzag lines over the walls. The septal formula is obscure ; 

 here and there traces of the typical arrangement of tertiaries fusing with secondaries to make 

 trident-shaped triplets between the primaries can be seen, sometimes with a keel joining 

 two opposite secondaries, but the waviness of the lines makes them often difficult to follow. 

 The edges seem to have been denticulate. 



The original specimen of this coral was kindly lent by the Director of the Geological 

 Museum of the University of Rome for the purpose of this Catalogue. It is apparently that 

 recorded by Dr. Angelis, Atti B. Accad. Lined, 1895, p. 178. An old label attached to it 

 implies that it is specifically identical with Astrcea ameliana of Defrance and Michelin, which 

 is a fossil found in the Paris Basin (see p. 134). The only reason for this identification 

 which I can find is that Milne-Edwards and Haime added the locality Rone a in their 

 description of Litharcea ameliana, see Hist. Nat. Cor., iii. (1860) p. 188. 



98. Goniopora Alessandria (3)1. 

 [Near Asti (Pliocene), coll. Michelin ; ? Turin Museum.] 

 Pontes collegniana, Michelin (partim), Icones (1840-47), p. 65, pi. 13, figs. 9 a, b. 



This name was given by Michelin to a group of specimens from the environs of Asti and 

 of Turin on the assumption that they belonged to the same species. The description of this 

 species based upon Michelin's text and figures should have been given here, but will be found 

 under G. Turin 1. 



On Milne-Edwards and Haime's assertion that the " species " extended all over middle 

 and south Europe, see remarks under the same heading. My own experience among recent 

 corals leads me to believe that closely allied forms from localities even so near to one another 

 as Turin and Asti would show structural variations which should not be ignored. 



99. Goniopora Alessandria (3)2. 



[Tortona (Miocene Tortonian).] 



Litharcea diversiformis, Sismonda (partim), Pal. Terrain Tert. Piemont (1871), p. 25, pi. ix. figs. 1 

 and 2. 



This coral was one which Sismonda grouped with one or more others from the " Mioc. 

 moyen " of Turin, as belonging to one and the same species " Litharcea diversiformis." The 

 description given of this group will be found on p. 119, under the heading Goniopora Turin 3. 

 The reason for making a separate heading for each recorded locality is explained in the Intro- 

 duction, p. 35. The gravest doubts hang over the genetic groupings even of recent forms, the 

 details of which can be closely compared. The difficulty of grouping fossils genetically is 

 increased tenfold. Further, such a specific name as " diversiformis " is sufficient of itself to 

 awaken suspicion. 



