206 TABULATE CORALS. 



It need only be added that if Thecostegites should prove finally 

 to be nothing more than a mode of growth of Syringopora, 

 then the curious little coral from the Lower Silurian of Ayr- 

 shire described by Mr R. Etheridge, jun., and myself (Mon. 

 Sil. Foss. Girvan, p. 50, 1878), under the name of T. (?) Scoti- 

 cus, will have to be removed from the genus Thecostegites, with 

 which it will have no affinity. The coral in question, however, 

 though resembling the figures given of T. Bouchardi, E. and H., 

 in general appearance, is only known from limited material, and 

 it throws no light on the validity or the reverse of the genus 

 Thecostegites. 



The genus Fletcheria was founded by Milne-Edwards and 

 Haime (Pol. Foss. des Terr. Pal, p. 300) for the single species 

 F. tubifera, of the Upper Silurian of Sweden. The genus is 

 defined as having a corallum composed of cylindrical corallites, 

 which increase by calicular gemmation, and are not united 

 laterally either by transverse connecting-processes or by hori- 

 zontal mural expansions. The walls are strong, with a com- 

 plete epitheca ; the septa are rudimentary ; and the tabulae are 

 highly developed and horizontal. As in the case of Thecoste- 

 gites, it seems impossible to determine finally the true position 

 of Fletcheria without a re-examination of the original specimens, 

 upon which Milne-Edwards and Haime founded the genus. 

 Dr Lindstrom (Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist, ser. 4, vol. xviii. p. 

 13) says that Fletcheria tubifera, E. and H., "seems to be a 

 Cystiphylloid of very variable characters ; " but I do not know 

 the evidence in support of this view. Dr Rominger is disposed 

 to think that Fletcheria, E. and H., and Cannapora, Hall, may 

 be identical and closely allied ; but there seems little decided 

 ground for accepting this view, or indeed for in any way 

 associating Fletcheria with Syringopora or Cannapora. As 

 just remarked, it appears hopeless to try and settle the affin- 

 ities of the genus without access to the type-specimens ; but 

 judging merely from the description and figures of Fletcheria 

 tubifera given by Milne-Edwards and Haime (loc. citl), I 

 should be rather disposed to think that Fletcheria will be found 



