50 R. G. Carriithers — Tlic Carboniferous Corals 



In 1846, four years previous to the publication of the Polypes 

 Fossiles, a similar coral had been figured and described by Michelin ^ 

 under the designation Ci/athaxonia tortuosa; his type also came from 

 Tournai, but seems to be missing from the remnants of his collection, 

 now stored in the ^lusee d'Histoire Naturelle. It may be remarked 

 in passing that in other cases where the original specimens were 

 available for comparison, Michelin's figures proved to be tolerably 

 accurate, while those given by Milne-Edwards & Haime are 

 remarkably faithful. 



The work of both Michelin and of Milne-Edwards & Haime clearly 

 shows that they were dealing with a coral which had a smooth 

 epitheca and a prominent columella ; in the absence of the holotypes, 

 these characters are of great importance in recognizing their 

 ' species'. 



The general constitution of the Tournai fauna is well known, and 

 the corals in particular liave been exhaustively dealt with by 

 de Koninck. Erom the published accounts, confirmed by a personal 

 examination of four large collections and of many quarries round 

 Tournai, it can be stated confidently that in this peculiar fauna thei'e 

 are onh^ two coral species with a strong columella. One of these is 

 Michelin's Cyathaxonia cornu, but as this is relatively very small, and 

 has strong longitudinal ribbing on the epitheca, it is clearly not to be 

 confounded with either C. tortuosa or Lophophyllum Iconincki. The 

 remaining form agrees with the figures and descriptions of both of the 

 last-named 'species', and it is therefore concluded tluit these are 

 synonymous. Generically, the first of these corals is not a true 

 Cyathaxonia, as it develops dissepiments in the mature growth- stages. 

 Michelin's specific name can be retained, however, as it has 

 considerable priority. The genotype of Lophophylliim is accordingly 

 taken to be L. tortuosmn, and a diagnosis is appended below. 



LoPHOPHYLLUM TORTTJosuM (Mich.). (Tl. Ill, Figs. 1, 2.) 

 The chief references are — 



1846. Ctjatliaxonia tortuosa, Michelin, Iconographie Zoophytologiqtce, p. 258, 



pi. lix, fig. 8. 

 1850. LophophyUuin konincki, Milne-Edwards & Jules Haime, Polypes 



Fossiles des Terrains PaUozoiques, p. 349, pi. iii, figs. 4, 4a. 



External Characters. 



Coralhim (see PI. Ill, Figs. 1, \a, 2). — Simple, cornute, frequently 

 showing short root-like processes of attachment at the base. Epitheca 

 thin, smooth, with fine annular striations, and a few constrictions of 

 growth ; traces of longitudinal ribhing very faint or absent entirely. 

 Calyx deep. Major septa thin and reaching to the columella, which 

 forms a long lath-like projection in the centre of the calyx. Minor 

 septa well developed, thin ; dissepiments appear round the inside of 

 the calicinal wall, but are not a prominent feature. The cardinal 

 fossula is deep, and lies on tlie convex side of curvature of the 

 corallum. 



' Michelin, Iconographie Zoophytologique, p. 2-58, pi. lix, fig. 8. 



