AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN GONIOPOIOE. 125 



Description. — The corallum irregularly humpy, even with lobate knobs which frequently 

 appear as if built up of successive layers. 



The calicles 1*2-1'5 mm. in diameter, polygonal, variable, shallow, and separated by a 

 low ridge which is often curved, indented and echinulate; in each calicle 11-14, usually very 

 thin, nearly uniform septa, which are perforated and beset along the edges and on the sides 

 with sharp points. Five to seven pali which are irregular, sharp-pointed granules and only 

 differ from the points on the edges of the septa in size and height. A small central tubercle 

 often sunk down below the surface. 



Vertical trabecule are conspicuous in the section, and joined by short horizontal pieces 

 making a nearly symmetrical reticulum with roundish meshes. 



We can add to the above description the fact that many of the septa fork near the walls, 

 as is shown in the figures. This, according to the line of argument here adopted (see 

 Introduction, p. 21), shows that the coral belongs to this genus. The septa are thick and 

 wedge-shaped, and the wall is a single ring of synapticuke apparently not arranged in a zig- 

 zag. The next form seems to have had the same type of intracalicular skeleton, and to have 

 differed mainly in growth-form. 



In addition to finding this specimen at Forchtenau, Reuss mentions having seen Poritids 

 which he took to be of the same " species " at the following localities : — 



Eudelsdorf (Bohemia); Potzleindorf, Grund, Enzesfeld, Niederleis, Nodendorf, Kalladorf ; 

 from Mattersdorf (Hungary); Nikolsburg, Kostel (Moravia) ; in the Leithakalk of St. Nicholai and 

 Gamlitz (Styria). In the hard limestone it is only recognisable by its skeletal structure. It 

 is abundantly imbedded in the " Leithakalk des Rauchstallbrungrabens bei Baden." While 

 outside Austria, Reuss not only gives the localities mentioned by Milne-Edwards and Haime 

 (see above, p. 117) but adds Sogliano al Bubicone (Prov. Forli), Bianchinear Messina (frequent 

 but badly preserved), Isl. of Rhodes, etc. 



While I should hardly like to say that it is impossible for one and the same coral form 

 to be spread so widely without many striking variations in structure, my experience justifies me 

 in refusing to believe in the existence of such a species. It cannot be accepted and it cannot be 

 denied. The little evidence we can get, namely, from comparing Michelin's figure of his 

 P. collei/niana with Reuss' figures of this coral, seems to me more than enough to make it impera- 

 tive to return to the barest facts. 



113. Goniopora Oberburg (2)L 



[Neustift, Oberburg, Styria (Oligocene).] 



Porites nummulitica, Reuss, Denkschr. K. Akad. Wiss. Wien, xxiii. (1864) p. 28, pi. viii. figs. 7 and 8. 

 1 Porites nummulitica, Reuss, Denkschr. K. Akad. Wiss. Wien, xxviii. (1868) pp. 164, 167, 170 



and 175. 

 ! Porites nummulitica, Reuss, Denkschr. K. Akad. Wiss. Wien, xxix. (1869) p. 250. 



Description. — Corallum apparently branching, cylindrical or slightly compressed, 

 12*5 mm. thick. 



Calicles 2 mm. across, conspicuous, shallow, separated by low not very sharp walls ; 

 septa 12-18, narrow, irregular, free edges sharply granulated, mostly fusing, so that only 6-9 



