196 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.xxii. 



2 feet in width, whicti had been washed out of the shell marl. The 

 above would show that both Lonsdale and Lyell regarded the coral 

 described as representing the specimens collected rather than of a 

 peculiar variety as has been since considered by later writers, with the 

 possible exception of Dr. Hinde, who desired further information on 

 the subject before finally committing himself. 



The first reference to this coral is fouud in 1837 as a footnote to an 

 article^ on the geology of the Tertiary formations of Virginia by W. B. 

 and H. D. Eogers. They remark that an Astrea of immense magnitude 

 was lying at that time half buried in sand on the beach of Tarbay, James 

 Eiver, having fallen to its present position from an overhanging cliff. 

 They add further that it was much reduced in size since its fall, but had 

 then an approximate weight of 700 pounds and a diameter in its greatest 

 length of 4^ feet. Mr. Arthur Bibbins has recently secured this his- 

 toric specimen for the Geological Museum of the Woman's College of 

 Baltimore where it is now preserved. 



Dimensions. — The largest specimen is about 1.5 meters in its greatest 

 diameter; breadth of calices from 3 to 8.5 mm. with an average width 

 of 4.6 mm. 



Geological horizon. — Miocene, Chesapeake formation. 



Locality. — Bellefield and Yorktown on the York River, and at many 

 points on the James River, Virginia. In some of the previous papers 

 on the subject this coral is frequently mentioned as coming from Mary- 

 land, but none of the specimens in the collections examined by the 

 writer came from that State. 



Collections. — U. S. National Museum; Philadelphia Academy of Natu- 

 ral Sciences; Wagner Free Institute of Science; Johns Hopkins Uni- 

 versity; Woman's College of Baltimore. 



CATALOGUE OF SPECIFIC NAMES EMPLOYED BY WRITERS UPON THE 

 NEOCENE CORALS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



Page. 



Anthopliyllum Uneatum Lonsdale, 1845, Astrangia lineaia (Conrad) 187 



Uneatum Lyell, 1845, Astrangia lineata (Conrad) 187 



Uneatum Bronn, 1848, Astrangia lineata (Conrad) 188 



Antillia Mloba (Duchassaiug) Gane 1895 186 



Mlobata Duncan, 1864, Antillia biloba (Duchassaing) 186 



bilobata Duncan, 1868, Antillia bilobtv (Duchassaing) 186 



bilobala Pourtales, 1875, Antillia biloba (Duchassaing) 186 



guesdesii Duchassaing and Michelotti, 1866, Antillia biloba (Duchas- 

 saing) 186 



Astraa hella Tuomey,.1857, Ccenangia bella {Coumdi) 189 



bella Holmes, 1860, Ccenangia bella (Conrad) 189 



marylandica Conrad, 1846, Ccenangia marijlandica (Conrad) 190 



marylandica Lonsdale, 1847, Camangia marylandica (Conrad) 190 



marylandica Tuomey and Holmes, 1857, Ccenangia marylandica (Con- 

 rad) 190 



marylandica Meek, 1864, Ccenangia marylandica (Conrad) 190 



' Trans. Am. Phil.- Soc, new ser., V, p. 338, or in the Reprint of the Geology of the 

 Virginias, p. 667. 



