* 
62 F. B. Meek on a new genus of Corals, 
Art. XI.—Preliminary notice of a remarkable new genus of 
Corals, probably typical of a new family, forwarded for study 
by Prof. J. D. Whitn ney, from the Silurian rocks of Nevada 
Territory ; by F, B. Menx. 
Amone some fossils sent on for investigation, by Prof. 
Whitney, the State Geologist of California, from the Silurian 
rocks of Nevada,* there are a few specimens of a new genus 
of corals, presenting such an extraordinary and interesting 
combination of characters, that it is thought desirable to call 
attention to it here.t 
The specimens of this fossil contained in the collection, are 
slender, slightly flexuous, arched or nearly straight, and sub- 
cylindrical, excepting near the lower end, where they wks to 
a point, by which they were probably attached, ‘The ey may 
have grown in tufts or groups, but all the specimens yet seen 
are single, and show no evidences of growing in contact. 
o the unassisted eye, the external surface of these coral- 
fits, with the exception of obscure annular swellings and con- 
strictions of growth, and faintly marked linear septal coste, 
seem to be nearly or quite smooth. en examined under a 
strong lens, however, it is seen to be beautifully punctate ; the 
punctures being minute, of exactly uniform size, and arranged 
with mathematical regularity in quincunx, and so closely 
crowded that the little divisions between them are scarcely 
equal in breadth to the punctures themselves, and form, as it 
were, an extremely delicate kind of net work. So remarkable 
is the appearance of this punctured outer wall, that the first 
question that suggests itself, on examining it under a magni- 
fier, is, whether or not it may be merely and exceedingly deli- 
cate Polyzoon encrusting the whole surface. A clear exami- 
nation, however, especially in carefully prepared transverse sec- 
tions, show that the punctures actually pass entirely through 
the wall, which is very thin, and that they are not due to the 
S of the Polyzoon, nor to surface ornamentation. ~ 
n grinding away this very thin punctured wall, the septa 
are seen immediately within, to be stout, equal, straight and 
very equidistant, but in grinding a little farther in, they are 
observed to become very regularly waved laterally, exactly like 
me ee m the foraminiferous genus Fusulina. 
this resemblance, that it was not until after cutie 
_ * A notice of the iicvaky ot Witistani rocks at this distant western locality 
has already been published by Prof. Whitney in in the Proceedings of the California 
Academy of Sciences 
and descriptions of this and the other Silurian Silurian fossils from this local- 
iy gril be given inthe second volume of of Prot Whstoays pore, on the geology 
