115 



edges rounded or rendered sinuous by the granules. Fossa, moderately 

 deep. Columella, two small rounded tubercles. Dimensions — Alt. 

 from 4 to 8 ; diam., -2^ to 3 millim. Six specimens, the most of which 

 had on one side a calcareous cast of the shell to which they adhered, 

 which was a small bivalve apparently. 



Family Astk^sid^:. — Group Cladocobace^;. 

 This division is distinguished by the budding which is lateral, and 

 which remains always with its individuals more or less free forming 

 tufts, but never giving rise to a massive corallum. The first genus is 

 Cladocora, containing slenderly branching ramose corals, and which 

 according to Professor Verrill is closely related in its polyps to the 

 Astrangiacece. The corallites in this genus are cylindrical, very long, 

 erect, and free laterally. They have an incomplete epitheea, which 

 often unites one individual to another. The calices are circular and 

 shallow. Columella papillary. There are six unequal systems all 

 exsert, rounded, and finely toothed at their edges. Pali before all the 

 septa except the last. Wall compact, moderately thick, and furnished 

 with simple costa, which are granular, hispid, and straight. 



The fossil figured is an interesting specimen of the genus, one not far 

 removed from the well-known Cladocora cespitosa (Gualtieri), which is 

 common in the Mediterranean Sea. Unfortunately the specimen is worn 

 and broken so that the details cannot be made out satisfactorily. There 

 are no perfect calices, and the branches are a good deal waterworn. I 

 have very little doubt, however, that the species is new. It is thus 

 described : — 



Cladocora contortilis, n. sp., pi. 1, fig. 6. 

 Corallum, a very compact tuft of corallites of different dimensions 

 turning around one another. Branches irregular, cylindrical, conical, or 

 of equal thickness throughout, occurring at short distances and twisting 

 round to coalesce with others and form a thick, matted, stony mass. 

 Epitheea not visible. Costce numerous, narrow, angular at the edges, 

 granular and straight. Septa not easily made out, but apparently three 

 thin cycles, some uniting or bending towards the others, and all 

 apparently meeting the pali in the centre. Wall rather thick. Endotheca 

 somewhat abundant, and, as well as I can judge, rather more abundant 

 than is usual in the genus. Dimensions — Alt. 35, diam. of largest 

 branches, 5; of the smaller ones, from 2, 2^ and 3 mil. The fossil appears 

 to me to be very distinct from all existing or fossil species. In the bent 

 and twisted form of the branches it may come nearest to C. stellaria 

 (Edw. & H). 



