1868.] thomson caeboniferous c0ral8. 463 



June 3, 1868. 

 M. Albert Gaudry was elected a Foreign Correspondent. 

 The following communications were read: — 

 1. On some Carbonifeeous Corals. By James Thomson, Esq., 

 [Communicated by Dr. P. M. Duncan, F.E.S., Sec.G.S., &c.] 

 [Abstract.] 

 In the ' History of Riitherglen and East Kilbride ' by the Rev. D. Ure, 

 Parish Minister of East Kilbride, in Clydesdale, there is figured a 

 cup-coriil, the description of which refers only to the external form, 

 and the name given to it was simply Fungites. Since then it has 

 received various names from the following writers : — 



Famjltes, Eev. D. Ure, Hist, of Euth. & East Kilb. p. 327, pi. 20. 



fig. 6: 1793. 

 Turhinolia fum/ites, Elem. Brit. Anim. p. 510 : 1828. S. Wood- 

 ward, Syn. Tab. of Brit. Org. Rem. p. 7: 1830. 

 Gyatliophijllum fungites, Geinitz, Grund. der Verst. p. 571 : 



1845-6. 

 Clisiopliyllum prolapsum, M^Coy, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 2nd 



scr. vol. iii. p. 3 : 1849. 

 AulopJiyllum prolapsum, Edw. & Haime, Brit. Foss. Corals, Intro- 

 duction, p. 70 : 1850. 



fungites, Edw. & Haime, Pol. Foss. des Terr. Paleoz. p. 413 : 



1851. 

 Clisiophyllum prolapsum, M'Coy, Brit. Pala^oz. Foss. p. 95, PI. 3 C, 



fig. 5 : 1851. 

 Recent investigations into the internal structure warrant us in 

 dissociating it from any of the generic names it has received, and 

 raising it to the rank of an independent genus with a descriptive 

 title. 



The author then gave descriptions of the genera Cyathophyllum, 

 Clisiophyllum, and AulopTiyllum, and of the new genus, Cyclophyl- 

 lum (Duncan and Thomson). 



The characteristics of each of these genera are suf&ciently marked 

 to warrant their generic distinction. 



The ascending convex vesicular dissepiments in the middle area, 

 the mesial columella in the vertical section, and consequently the 

 exserted conical boss in the centre of the calice separate the genus 

 Clisiophyllum from the other genera of Cyathophyllidse. 



It differs from Cyathophyllum in the latter having no columella, 

 the columellar space being filled up by closely set tabulae. 



In Aulophyllum the tube-like mass in the centre of the coraUum 

 is occupied by minute tabulae. 



Discussion. 

 Dr. Duncan said that the existence of a columella was a generic 

 distinction in recent and mesozoic corals, that the type of the palae- 

 ozoic Cyathophyllidae was reflected in the Lower Liassic coral-fauna 

 of South Wales and the west of England, and that there was a 



VOL. XXIV. PART I. 2 k 



