126 TABULATE CORALS. 



Alveolites suborbicularis, Lamarck. 



(PI. VI., figs. 2-2 h.) 



Alveolites suhorbiailaris, Lamarck, Hist, des An. sans Vert, vol. ii. p. i86, 

 1816. 



„ escharoides, Lamarck, ibid., p. 186. 

 Calamopora spongites, var. tiiberosa, Goldfuss, Petref. Germ., p. 80, PL XXVIIL, 



figs. \ a-\ e {cx.V. exclusis), 1829. 

 Favosites spongites (?), Phillips, Pal. Foss., p. 16, PI. VIII., fig. 23, 1841. 

 Alveolites suborbicularis, Milne-Edwards and Haime, Pol. Foss. des Terr. Pal, 



p. 255, 185 1, and Brit. Foss. Cor., p. 219, PI. XLIX., figs, i and i a, 1853. 



Spec. Char. — Corallum forming masses of considerable size 

 and variable form, consisting of concentrically superposed layers, 

 attached parasitically to some foreign body, and having an 

 irregularly elevated surface. Corallites very oblique, com- 

 pressed, mostly subtriangular, with a long convex and two 

 short concave sides, but very variable in form, though never 

 regularly polygonal or cylindrical. Long diameter of the tubes 

 about one-third of a line, transverse diameter about one-sixth 

 of a line. Walls moderately but not excessively thick, not in- 

 crassated towards the terminations of the tubes, and pierced by 

 few remote mural pores. Septa represented only by a single 

 longitudinal ridge, which does not appear to be constantly 

 present. Tabulee numerous, close-set, horizontal, complete. 



Obs. — -The specimens from which the above description is 

 taken were collected by myself in the Eifel, and agree in all 

 respects with the figures given by Goldfuss (Petref. Germ., PI. 

 XXIX., figs. \ a- \ e; Milne-Edwards and Haime add figs \f- 

 I h of the same plate, but I think these belong to a different 

 species). These figures give an excellent idea of the general 

 form and appearance of this species ; and I have not, therefore, 

 thought it necessary to give an illustration of one of my own 

 specimens. So far as I can judge at present, I think that the 

 name of A. suborbicularis will have to be restricted to the 

 specimens which have the habit of forming irregularly gibbous 

 masses, composed of successive concentric strata enveloping 



