""=E- ] CANADIAN PALjEOZOIC CORALS. 47 



In. the original description of this species Billings remarks : " The 

 parent stems are about one line in diameter, and remain single and 

 straight for the distance of one quarter, or half an inch, when they give 

 off branches in all directions, sometimes ten or twelve at once. These 

 are at first oblique or somewhat parallel with the main tube, and are con- 

 nected laterally ; they then radiate like the spokes of a wheel, at right 

 angles to the parent corallites, each soon giving birth to a similar circlet 

 of new tubes." 



Dr. Rominger points out that the parent stem after having given forth 

 a circle of branchlets grows on in a straight Hue and again produces a 

 similar circle at a higher level ; he also mentions that within the group 

 of young corallites the main stem is generally inflated. 



In one of the type specimens in this museum a few small circular open- 

 ings between contiguous branchlets, and between them and the parent 

 stem are plainly seen ; these appear to be structural, and are evidently 

 the same as the pores mentioned by Rominger in his description of the 

 species. The tabulae are irregular in disposition, from 1 to several lines 

 apart ; they appear to be generally convex or obliquely transverse. The 

 exterior of the tubes is annulated by striae of equal strength, about eight 

 occurring in a space of 1 line. No septal spines have been observed. 



This species was first consigned provisionally to the genus Aulopora, by 

 Billings, who stated, however, that it possibly should constitute a new 

 genus. Later this idea was carried out by Rominger, who proposed 

 Quenstedtia as the name of a genus for the reception of this species as the 

 type. Unfortunately this name was preoccupied, and Nicholson substi- 

 tuted the name Homingeria in its stead, in honour as he says "of one 

 who has so largely contributed to the elucidation of the fossil corals of 

 North America." 



Devonian. — Corniferous limestone of Ontario ; also from rock of the 

 same age at Long Portage, Missinaibi River. 



Genus Fletcheeia, Milne-Edwards and Haime. 1851. 

 (Polyp. Foss. des Terr. Palseoz. p. 300.) 



" Corallum composed of cylindrical tubes which multiply by calycinal 

 gemmation, and which are not united laterally, either by connecting tubes 

 as in Syringopora, nor by mural expansions as in Thecostegites ; walls 

 strong and furnished with a complete epitheca ; calyces circular or sub. 

 circular, with thin edges ; septa rudimentary ; tabulae complete, horizon- 

 tal, well developed." (Milne-Edwards and Haime.) 



