318 Mr. H. J. Carter on the Stromatoporidae. 



came from the Devonian Limestone near Newton Abbot. It 

 is composed of compact black-grej limestone, and in shape is 

 like a large fir-cone, nine inches in diameter longitudinally, 

 five inches in diameter transversely about the centre, and 

 three inches in diameter transversely at the base, which is trun- 

 cated where it has been broken off from its original attach- 

 ment. Consisting of layers like the coats of an onion, which, 

 Avhere broken out, show that the coenenchyma was composed 

 of undulatory laminaj bearing all the typical characters in 

 structure above assigned to Stromatopora concentrica^ hut 

 very fine. Each layer presenting on its surface gentle sub- 

 circular elevations or nodules, more or less uniform in diameter, 

 and set together more or less regularly in juxtaposition, but all 

 covered uniformly with a minute miliary granulation, inter- 

 spersed irregularly with small papillary elevations, after the 

 manner of Hydractima^ and each nodule surmounted by a stel- 

 liform group of vessels like those of Stromatopora. In other 

 specimens, again, these elevations are raised into mammiform 

 processes, as in 8. polymorplia^ Goldf. ; and I believe that 

 there are also branched forms, wherein, of course, the stelliform 

 groups of vessels coming from the summits of tlie mammae or 

 branches respectively, or in the vertical section of the mass (for 

 this is always sure to occur when, by their lateral growth, they 

 touch each other), cannot present that horizoutality which is 

 observed where the layers are more planiform. But as a de- 

 scription of these would lead into the department of paleon- 

 tology (that is, into specific distinction), I shall only further add 

 that, by reason of the undulatory growth of the surface in the 

 Stromatoporidae, and the union of the processes thus produced 

 when they come into contact with each other to form the whole 

 mass, a more or less gnarly structure like that of knotted wood 

 is often presented in the interior, which would otherwise be 

 unaccountable. 



Of the contributions to our knowledge of the Stromatoporidse, 

 by far the most valuable that has been published is that of Baron 

 Rosen in 1867, to which I have before alluded, lately brought 

 to my notice through the kind consideration of Prof. Zittel, of 

 Munich. To the text of 98 pages are added, besides Avoodcuts, 

 11 lithographic plates, whose figures are preeminent both for 

 accuracy and artistic delineation, illustrating the following ten 

 species, viz. : — Stromatopora typica^ 11. ; S. variolaris^ B. ; >S'. 

 astroiteSj B. ; S. elegans^ B. ; S. Schmidtii^ B. ; S. polymorplia^ 

 Goldf. ; S. mammillata^ F. Schmidt ; S. regularis, B. ; S. Un- 

 (jerni, B. ; and S. dentata, B. 



In the text, by woodcuts and description. Baron Bosen 

 makes tlie same division in the minute structure of the coenen- 



