262 CATALOGUE OF THE FOSSILS OF THE PERMIAN SYSTEM 
In Magnesian-limestone ; rare. Tunstall, Humbleton. 
Though not before recorded as occurring in our limestone, this 
coral appears to be the true Gorgonia antiqua of Goldfuss, who 
described from a Zechstein specimen. It is, however, very dis- 
tinct from the corals referred to this species by Prof. Lonsdale in 
the Silurian System, Prof. Phillips in the Paleozoic Fossils, and 
Mr. M‘Coy in the Carboniferous Fossils of Ireland, and appears 
to belong exclusively to the Permian rocks. [t approaches closely, 
in general appearance, to the F. flustracea, but the meshes are 
twice as wide as in that species, and the branches are more bifur- 
cated and irregular. The /. antigua is also destitute of the ele- 
vated row of tubercles running longitudinally between the cells 
so conspicuous in the following species. It is also of a less size, 
and not so common. 
4. F. ruustracea, Phillips. 
Retepora flustracea, Phill., Geol. Tr. 2nd ser., i1i., p. 120, 
Pal ERs: 
Coral depressed, funnel-shaped, much folded ; branches 
parallel, distantly bifurcatcd, meshes rectangular, as wide 
as the branches ; cells surrounded with an elevated cup-like 
process, in two rows scparated by a high longitudinal series 
of tubercles; transucrse branches thick, opposite, not cellular; 
reverse, flaltened, smooth or furrowed. 
In Magnesian-limestone; common. Tunstall, Humbleton, 
Ryhope, Dalton-le-dale. . 
This coral is occasionally found of a great size, and with the 
next species 1s very characteristic of the limestone of this dis- 
trict, and the Permian rocks generally. It differs from the J’. 
antiqua in the following particulars :—The branches are less bi- 
furcated, more flattened and closer ; there are only two cells in 
the distance between the transverse branches, and the angulated 
ridge between the cells is furnished with a row of elevated tu- 
bercles. This species is figured in the Geological Transactions, 
but it is not described. 
5. F. vircunacea, Phillips. 
Retepora virgulacea, Phill., Geol. Tr. 2nd ser., i1., 120, pl. 
A 
