350 BULLETIN 103, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



to weathering. Where the walls are wide there is usually a distinct 

 intercorallite groove. Thick costae or mural teeth are probably 

 present on perfect specimens, but they are not distinct on the type, 

 as its surface is worn. 



Septa 16 in number; 8 principals extend to the columella, and 8 

 are short but thick. The principal septa slope in a concave curve to the 

 bottom of the calice, and are narrow nearly to the level of the bottom 

 of the calice; the smaller septa are narrow. All septa are thick in 

 the wall, and the principals are fused by their thickened inner ends 

 around the columella. About seven small dentations were counted 

 on one long septum. Septal faces with small granulations. 



Columella a low style, with rounded upper end; it with the inner 

 septal ends fused around it forms a rather large columellar mass. 



Tliickish dissepiments are present. 



Locality and geologic occurrence. — ^Cuba, station 7522, Mogote Peak, 

 0.5 mile east of east bomidary of United States Naval Reservation, 

 Guantanamo, south side of peak, altitude about 375 feet a. t., col- 

 lected by O. E. Meinzer. 



Type.—'No. 324791, U.S.N.M. 



The species most nearly related to Astrocoenia meinzeri is A. 

 d'acJiiardii Duncan from the upper Eocene St. Bartholomew lime- 

 stone. The branches of A. d'acliiardii are more irregular in form, 

 for the same size branch the calices are larger, up to 3.5 mm. in 

 diameter, the intercorallite walls are not so wide, the outer part of 

 the septal margins are steeper, and the septal dentations are coarser. 

 Notwithstanding these apparent differences, it should be admitted 

 that larger collections may lead to combining the two supposed 

 species. 



ASTROCOENIA PORTORICENSIS, new species. 



Plate 76, figs. 4, 4a; plate 78, figs. 1, la. 



1901. Astrocoenia ornata Vaughan, Geol.Soc. London, Quart. Jour., vol. 57, p. 497' 

 Not: 

 1838. Pontes ornata Michelotti, Specim. Zooph. diluv., p. 172, pi. 6, fig. 3. 

 1857. Astrocoenia ornata Milne Edwards and Haime, Hist. nat. CoralL, vol. 2, p. 

 257 

 The following is a description, of the type (pi. 76, figs. 4, 4a) : 

 Corallum forming flattened, even palmate branches. The type- 

 specimen, which is broken, has a greatest width of 53 mm., length 

 105 mm., and a thickness ol 15.5 mm. at the lower and of 7.5 mm. at 

 the upper end. 



'Calices, diameter from 1.0 to 1.5 nmi., excavated but rather shallow, 

 outline polygonal, united by compact, rather narrow walls, which 

 range from 0.2 to 0.5 mm. across. The distal ends of the septa form 

 low costae. 



Septa, 16 m number, 8 reach the calumella and 8 are short or even 

 rudimentary; a few dentations, usually about 3 or 4 on the margin 



