EOSSILS AND EOCK-SPECIMENS. 



591 



with, these new fossils, and accordingly I have done the best I could 

 under the circumstances. Palaeozoic Corals and Polyzoa can only he 

 adequately described by those who have made the subject their 

 especial study. 



1. Amplexus pustuloses, sp. n. Plate XXIII. figs, la, 16, 1c. 



There are five specimens of a somewhat rugged Ampleccus with broad 

 septa, which cannot be referred to either of the two species of this 

 genus hitherto recognized as Australian. Of these species Ampleccus 

 arundinaceus was first described by Lonsdale from a specimen in 

 black limestone ; but this is in such an imperfect state as to make a 

 very bad type * for comparison. However, the septa of A. arundina- 

 ceus are finer and more numerous, and it is pretty evident that there 

 is no reason for De Koninck's suggestion f that it approaches Za- 

 phrentis cylindrica, Scouler. Certainly the transverse section of the 

 British-Museum specimen, bad as it is, would not lead one to sup- 

 pose that the septa were contiuuous to the centre. 



Amplexus pustulosus has more affinity with A, Selwi/ni, De Ko- 

 ninck J, both in external form and in the size and number of the 

 septa. In De Koninck's figure no epitheca is shown ; but in the 

 text the author speaks of it as beiug very fine ; and no mention is 

 made of any excrescences, such as form one of the distinguishing 

 features of the species now under consideration. Moreover, the 

 septa are probably rather more numerous id De Kouinck's fossil. 



Similar processes have been noted, though rarely, in other species 

 of Amplexus. For instance De Koninck describes A. lacrymosus § 

 from the Carboniferous LimestoDe of the neighbourhood of Dinant, 

 which has pustules like tear-drops. Curiously enough, he remarks 

 that it has analogy with A. arundinaceus, " from which it differs 

 principally by its spiniform appendages." 



The corallum of Amplexus pustulosus is moderately large and 

 slightly curved. The epitheca is of varying thickness in the different 

 specimeDs, according to the state of preservatioD, and is furnished 

 at rare intervals with processes which probably supported spines, 

 but which in their present condition, greatly resemble pustules ||. 

 In a specimen about one inch in diameter, the number of septa is 42 ; 

 they are slightly less in width than the intercostal spaces, and ad- 

 vance well towards the axis. All the three specimens figured have 

 been more or less squeezed out of shape. 



2. Amplexus, cf. nodulosus. Phillips, Pal. Foss. of Cornwall, p. 8 ; 

 De XoniDck, Nouv. Eech. Terr: Carb. Belg. p. 74, pi. vi. fig. 5. 



* The type is in the British Museum, and no better specimen has been seen 

 by me. 



t Fobs. Pal. Nouv. Galles du Sud, 1877, pt. 3, p. 149. 



\ Op. cit. p. 73, Atlas, t. 2. fig. 2. 



§ Nouv. Eech. Terr. Carb. Belg. p. 76, pi. vi. fig. 7. 



|| See figure 1 a. Lest any one should be disposed to find a mare's-nest, it 

 may be as well to draw attention to the resemblance which certain crinoidal 

 fragments adhering to the epitheca and the matrix present to these pustules. 

 Both are shown upon the figure. 



