130 BRITISH STROMATOPO'ROIDS. 



therefore, I think we must at present conclude that the fossils ordinarily called 

 " Caunoporce " and " Diaporce" are the result of the combined growth of some 

 Stromatoporoid with some Coral, the former usually being a species of Stromato- 

 pora or Stromatoporella, and the latter generally belonging either to Syringopora or 

 to Aulopora. We must also conclude, however, that there are other fossils, in 

 general aspect exceedingly similar to the ordinary " Caunoporce" in which the 

 embedded tubes really do belong to the organism in which they are found ; as we 

 have seen to be the case in Idiostroma oculatum. In practice, therefore, each 

 individual specimen must, with our present knowledge, be judged on its own 

 merits, apart from all preconceived theories. Moreover, as the " Caunoporce " and 

 " Diaporce " show many points of interest which are quite independent of any 

 hypothesises to their actual nature, I shall, where needful, describe and figure any 

 noticeable features in connection with the " Caunopora-state " of certain Stromato- 

 poroids, irrespective of all theoretical views as to the precise nature of this " state." 



