164 MONOGRAPH OF THE FOSSTL 30LYZ0A OF THE 



Fain. ELE1DJE, d'Orb. 



Cellules without accessory or intermediate pores. 



RETELEA, d'Orb. 



Colony composed of broad plates, anastomosing at their ends and from their sur- 

 faces, in such a manner as to form a large plate fixed at its base. The surfaces of 

 these smaller plates are placed at or near right angles to the faces of the larger plate. 

 Cellules arranged on both faces of the laminae, back to back, opening usually tri- 

 angular. 



The increase of the plates takes place, at the same time, from the extremities and 

 backs of the plates. 



Differs from Elea in being reticulate, and in the mode of increase of the plates, 

 which in the latter genus takes place only from the extremity. 



R. ovalis, n. s., fig. 52. — Colony composed of numerous, somewhat tortuous plates, 

 anastomosing irregularly and frequently, forming a thick, robust mass. Cellules 

 placed in very regular quincunx ; opening oval or elliptical, slightly variable in form ; 

 closed in old cellules by a flat inornate operculum, separated from the rim of the mouth 

 by a slight depression or ring. The space between the mouths is usually regularly 

 depressed. Sometimes there is a faint sloping upwards of the surface below the mouth 

 to its proximal end. 



This species in not rare in the grey friable limestone of the Cretaceous, from near 

 Mullica Hill, N. J. 



It is not common at Timber Creek. All the specimens are injured by a very per- 

 ceptible deposit of minute calcareous crystals over their surface, while other species are 

 rarely so covered, even when found in the same mass of matrix. The small, rather 

 tortuous plates of this species distinguish it from all the other fossils of the New Jersey 

 deposits. The figure conveys a very good idea of the form in which it occurs. In the 

 Mullica Hill limestone, it has a peculiar red or pinkish color, shared by one or two 

 other of the polyzoa and some shells. The other fossils never show it. The elon- 

 gated oval cellules and their depressed interspace render this a very distinct species. 



Div. II. C. FASCICULATA. 



Cellules tubular, fasciculate, united in salient bunches or groups. 



a. Cellules without accessory or intermediate pores . Fasciyerkla . 



b. Cellules with intermediate pores Fascipcyridce. 



