A MONOGRAPH OF THE TERTIARY POLYZOA OF VICTORIA. 71 



punctured, but without special pores ; tliyrostome rounded above, without special 

 development of the peristome. Ocecia external. 



Lepralia, Johnston. 



Zooecia usually closely united to each other ; tliyrostome semicircular or horse- 

 shoe-shaped, usually slightly contracted at the sides ; the lower margin straight, or 

 slightly hollowed, or convex upwards, generally a small, sharp denticle on each side 

 at or above the angle. 



1. L. abclita, n.sp. PL X., fig. 1. 



Zoarium encrusting. Zooecia quadrate or obscurely hexagonal, nearly flat, with 

 a row of small, deep areolae along the distinct raised margins ; thyrostome wide, 

 straight below, with a small denticle at each angle. Ooecia round, prominent, at 

 the base of the zooecia, without external opening. 



S.P. 



The ooecia are very peculiar, being situated at the base of the zooecia above the 

 raised lower margin, and having no external opening. The zooecium below has no 

 thyrostome. It is, however, possible that the closure of these zooecia may be 

 abnormal, and that other specimens may shew the usual structure. In Cellepora 

 abclita the ooecia have a similar structure. 



2. L. quadrata, McG. PI. X., figs. 2, 3. 



Eschara quadrata, McG., P.Z.V., 48 ; Lepralia, id., C.V. 



Zoarium erect, foliaceous, uni- or bilaminate. Zooecia usually in linear series, 

 elongated, quadrate, slightly convex or nearly flat, with numerous rounded pits or 

 pores; thyrostome rounded above, contracted below, the lower lip arched upwards, 

 a sharp denticle at each angle ; avicularia short, broadly spatulate, very rare in the 

 fossils. Ooecia large, perforated. 



M.C. ; B. Living. Australia. 



Most of the fossil specimens are unilaminate, but they are of small size, and I 

 believe this condition is owing to the splitting of the layers. The zooecia in recent 

 specimens are separated by raised margins, absent, however, in almost all the fossils. 

 The distinctness of the pits or pores varies. The avicularia seem to be very rare in 

 the fossils, the only one I have seen being that shewn in fig. 3. In recent specimens 

 they are frequently found on each side of a thyrostome below an ooecium. The 

 ooecia are porous or pitted like the zooecia, and may be traversed by raised lines. 

 The oral denticles are not always visible even in recent specimens. 



