512 LONSDALE ON EOCENE CORALS FROM N. AMERICA. 



and it had been pierced by single projecting fibres as well as by 

 the terminations of the canals. Independent of the prominent 

 transverse rugosities, subordinate lines parallel to them were 

 noticed in some of the thicker crusts. 



Localities. — Jacksonboro', Georgia ; Eutaw, South Carolina. 



B. Polyparia Anihozoa. 

 2. Flabellum ? cuneiforme. (sp. n.) 



Conical, compressed ; pedicle small, cylindrical, lateral processes few, minute ; 

 lamellae numerous, united centrally in lower portion of the cone, sides finely 

 tuberculated ; terminal cup deep, lined by lamellae of variable breadth, not 

 united in the centre, upper edges convex ; outer wall thin, smooth externally, 

 minutely foraminated. 



This fossil, named in MS. by Mr. Conrad Anthophyllum cunei- 

 forme, was removed from the genus noticed on the MS. label, 

 because it differed essentially in structure from the corals to 

 which it is conceived Anthophyllum should be restricted {ante, 

 p. 496.) In considering it as a Flabellum, the describer has been 

 guided by the resemblance to the polypidoms assigned to that 

 genus by M. Michelin (Icon. Zooph. pi. 9. f. 11 — 14.); but the 

 determination is given doubtfully on account of M. Milne Edwards 

 considering the Diploctenium of Goldfuss as identical with the Fla- 

 bellum of Lesson (Lamk. Anim. sans vert. 2d ed. vol. ii. p. 364.); 

 because the describer had not the power of comparing the Maes- 

 tricht and recent corals with each other, or with the American 

 fossil ; and because the stated characteristic of Flabellum, a dis- 

 union of lamellae in the centre (" la ligne mediane est vide," Icon. 

 Zooph. p. 44.), is either wanting in the fossil under consideration 

 and others allied to it, or confined to what may be called the region 

 of the terminal cup.* It is nevertheless evident that M. Michelin 

 has rendered good service in removing from Turbinolia the 

 polypidoms referred by him to Flabellum, and having thus disturbed 

 the regular transmission of determinations not well-considered. 

 A clear, restricted, definition of Turbinolise, and a right assignment 

 to other genera of many of the species included among them, has 

 long been wanted. Ehrenberg, by establishing Desmophyllum, 

 Cyathina, and Monomyces, made an excellent beginning, and 

 to them may be transferred some at least of the attached poly- 

 parians which have been regarded as Turbinoliae, and single un- 

 branched Caryophyllias ; while a careful study of the recent 

 lluanthus or mud Actinia f of Prof. E. Forbes will, it is conceived, 

 lead to a right understanding and separation of the turbinated 

 corals found in schistose strata, originally muddy, which ex- 

 hibit no proofs of terminal or lateral attachment. Pallas, in de- 



* Consult the following figures referred to by M. Michelin in his descriptions 

 of F. avicula and F. cuneatum, Goldf. Petref. pi. 37. f. 17. Parkinson, Org. 

 Rem. ii. pi. 4. fig. 9. Beitrage, or Berlin Trans. 1832. 



f Annals Nat. Hist. vol. v. p. 184. pi. 3. 1840. 



