516 



LONSDALE ON EOCENE CORALS FROM N. AMERICA. 



The smaller specimen (fig. c.) will be found to resemble greatly 

 T. semigranosa (Icon. Zooph. pi. 43. f. 2.), differing, however, 

 slightly in its outline, and more markedly in the external sculp- 

 turing, and in the surface being covered to a greater extent by 

 papillae. The characters of the lamellae in the French fossil are 

 not given, but in the Alabama specimen (fig. b.), they were of 

 nearly equal breadth, partially grouped, and densely covered by 

 sharp tubercles projecting far across the interspaces ; between the 

 lamellae and the external ribs was in general a slight furrow. 

 These characters differ greatly from those represented in figure a ; 

 and as it was impossible to ascertain by sections the young con- 

 dition of that fossil, it was considered advisable to figure the 

 smaller specimen without venturing to determine its precise nature. 



Concerning the larger coral (fig. a) no additional remarks appear 

 requisite ; but it may be stated, that the papillae strongly resemble 

 those which coat the under side of Fungia agariciformis ; and that 

 in the light porous stone of Stoudenmire Creek (South Carolina), 

 casts occur, possibly derived from an analogous body, though they 

 have greatly the aspect of impressions from a sponge. 



Localities. — Alabama ; Stoudenmire Creek ? 



4. Dendrophyllia l^evis. (sp. n.) 



Branches with a persistent, central, lamelliferous structure, and many lateral 

 shoots scarcely projecting beyond the thickened surface of the stems ; lamella? 

 numerous, unequal, about ten principal plates in the side shoots ; cast of the 

 outer surface generally smooth, sometimes finely ribbed in young branches, or 

 near the extremity of the shoots. 



This fossil resembled Oculina in the mode 

 of branching, and in the numerous lateral shoots 

 scarcely extending above the surface of the 

 main stem ; but in none of Lamarck's or De 

 Blainville's typical species of that genus does a 

 master star or lamelliferous column range con- 

 tinuously throughout the centre of the branches. 

 Ehrenberg unites Oculina with Dendrophyllia y 

 but De Blainville was apparently justified, 

 on account of the structure just noticed, in 

 making a marked distinction. In the side shoots 

 scarcely projecting above the surface, the Ame- 

 rican coral resembles Dendrophyllia digitalis 

 (De Blainv.), found in the tertiary deposits of 

 Touraine, but in all other particulars the dif- 

 ferences are very great. (Consult M. Miche- 

 lin's excellent figure, Icon. Zooph. pi. x. f. 10. ; 

 also Guettard's Mem. t. iii. p. 512. pi. 53. f. 8.) 



In the specimens of the coral which were 

 examined, the whole of the original substance 

 had been removed, and even casts of the central 

 structure were partially wanting. The most 

 illustrative portion is represented in the wood- 

 cut. Of the nature of the thickened matter in 

 which the lateral shoots were originally im- 



In the upper part 

 of the figure (Mag. 

 twice, lin. ) is repre- 

 sented a portion of a 

 main stem of Den- 

 drophyllia lcevis,with 

 a side branch struc- 

 turally disconnected 

 from it ; also casts 

 of burrowing para- 

 sites ; and in the 

 lower a cast of the 

 exterior of the coral 

 with portions of side 

 branches. 



