148 NOTES ON THE FOSSILS OF ONTARIO. 



spherica of the Devonian, but it is distinguished by its complete and 

 more remote tabulse and by its mode of growth. 



Locality and Formation. — Common and attaining a large size, in 

 the Niagai-a Limestone at Rockwood. 



44. Favosites (^) MULTIPORA, Hall. {Ref. Cladopora nmltipora, 

 Hall, Pal. N.Y., "Vol. II., pi. xxxix., figs. \a-g ; non Favosites mul- 

 ti2)ora, Lonsdale.) The Niagara Limestone of Ontario yields various 

 forms, which are referable to the genus founded by Hall under the 

 name of Gladojwra, and characterized by him as follows : 



" Ramose or reticulate ; branches cylindrical or slightly compressed, 

 terminations terete ; coral composed of a series of tubes or cells 

 radiating equally on all sides from the axis, and opening upon the' 

 surface in rourided or sub-angular expanded mouths ; cells more or 

 less closely arranged but not always contiguous, and aj)parently 

 destitute of septa or rays." 



We are unable, so far as our specimens enable us to judge, to 

 separate the forms referred to Cladopora from Favosites. The chief 

 point relied upon by Hall in separating the two genera, is the sup- 

 posed absence in the former of tabulae and mural pores. This would 

 be amply sufficient, if it could be proved that these structures are 

 really wanting ; but this is not the case. Thus, we have examined 

 some hundreds of well preserved specimens of Favosites duhia, De 

 Blain., F. reticidata, De Blain., and F. polymorpha, Gold., from the 

 Corniferous Limestone, without meeting with more than two or three 

 examples in which either the tabulae or the miiral pores could be 

 detected. It is therefore quite possible, judging from their state of 

 preservation, that the Niagara Limestone specimens referred to 

 Cladopora also at one time possessed tabulse' and mural pores, and 

 that these structui-es have simply been obliterated by the process of 

 fossilization. The prominence of the lower lip of the calice is like- 

 wise a character common to the above qvioted species of Favosites, 

 and cannot be used to define Cladojiora. So far, therefore, as our 

 materials permit us to come to a decision, we are of opinion that 

 most, if not all, of the species of Hall's germs Cladopora are truly to 

 be regarded as ramose species of Favosites. 



If this view be established by more extended researches, the 

 present species will have to change its name, since the specific title 

 " multipora " has been already pre-occupied by Lonsdale for a 

 difiierent species of Favosites. In this case we would propose to Call 

 the present species Favosites Halliana. 



