SS BRITISH FOSSIL CORALS. 



from the calice, shows a Columella of a spongy texture (fig. 3 h), and three complete cycla 

 of septa^ independently of the rudiments of a fourth cyclum in two of the systems ; so 

 that it appears probable that there may be four cycla in the calices which are ready to 

 multiply by fissiparity ; the sejita are thin, not closely set, slightly tumified near their inner 

 edge, sometimes flcxuous, and but slightly granulated laterally ; the secondary ones in the 

 small systems, and even the tertiary ones in the most developed systems, are almost aa 

 large as the primary ones, but those of the last cyclum are much smaller and often even 

 rudimentary. The wall, although not very thick, is well formed. The dissepiments appear 

 to be rudimentary. 



We do not know to what height this coral may grow ; the calices are from two to three 

 lines in diauieter, and the distance between the successive fissiparous generations varies 

 from seven lines to an inch. 



We have seen three specimens of this species : two were found at Malton, and belong, 

 the one to our friend Mr. Bowerbank, the other to the Cambridge Museum ; the third was 

 presented to the Geological Society by Sir Roderick Murchison, and had been found in the 

 Coral Rag of Cumnor Hill. If, as we are inclined to think, the fossil coral, mentioned by 

 Mr. Phillips as resembling the Madrejjora jlexiiosa of Ellis and Solander, belongs to this 

 species, we must also add to these localities Hackness, in Yorkshire. 



The genus BJiabdophyllia, which we have recently established^ for a certain number 

 of arborescent Astreidse that multiply by fissiparity, and have naked costulated walls, 

 differs from CalamopliylUa by the absence of mural rings, the existence of a well-charac- 

 terised columella, and the rudimental state of the intcrseptal dissepiments. This group is 

 essentially composed of a small number of species belonging to the Coral Rag, and we 

 also include in it an ill-defined species found at St. Cassian, and described by Count 

 Munster. 



Mr. M'Coy refers this British species to the Tthabdoplnjllia Edwardsi,^ which, as far as 

 can be seen by the figure given by M. INIichelin, is certainly very much like it ; but we are 

 of opinion that these fossils are not identical ; the latter appears to differ from R. PJiillipsi 

 by the corallites being more regularly cylindrical and having thicker costse. B. tindaUc' 

 and B. nodosal differ from the above- described species by the alternate constrictions and 



^ Polypiers Fossiles des terr. Palseoz., p. 83. 



'^ Lithodendron Edwardsii, Michelin, Icon. Zooph., tab. xxi, fig. 2. 



3 Calamophjllia undala, D'Orbigny, Prod., vol. ii, p. 31. This species having been very briefly noticed 

 by M. D'Orbigny, it may be useful to point out its most essential characters : 



Corallum arborescent ; branches almost cylindrical, dicliQtomous or trichotomous ; cost<:e straight, 

 nearly equal, projecting but little, closely set, and formed by a single series of granulations. The corallites 

 presenting a series of alternate constrictions, and thick, circidar, obtuse ridges. Septa thin and numerous. 

 Margin of the calice irregular. Diameter 7 or 8 lines. From the Coral Rag of Wagnon, Ardennes. 



■1 CahniwjihijUia nodosa, D'Orbigny, Prod., vol. ii, p. 32. Species very nearly allied to the preceding 

 one, but with the ciicuhir tumefactions of the walls placed with less regularity and more prominent. Costal 

 striae very delicate, and of unequal size alternately. Diameter, .") lines. From the Coral Hag at Oyonnax 

 and Landeyron, Departement de I'Ain, France. 



