ALCYONAEIA OF SIND. 31 



are large, deep, and some of the intercalicular pillars are very stout, long-, and usually 

 pointed, whilst others are small and striated. 



The calices are largest in the midst and smallest at the edges of the corallum ; 

 they are irregularly hexagonal in shape, deep, with a closed fossa as broad as the 

 margin. There is a small styliform columella, which is compressed from side to side, 

 and presents an elongate transverse section. The septa are thin, wide apart, do not 

 project much into the calicular cavity, are often wavy, and ten equal in size unite with 

 the columella. In some calices a very rudimentary intermediate septal series exists, 

 and is continuous on the intercalicular ridge with small costal prolongations. 



There are some endothecal growths between the septa, but not extending far from 

 the wall, and the interseptal loculi are closed in below. On the intercalicular ridges, 

 which are moderately broad, are long, linear, short projections, which give off, on either 

 side, costse which go to the septa, and sometimes two unite to form a septum. On the 

 linear projection is a solitary ridge, and the septo-costal arrangement arises from a 

 reticulation close to the calicular margin. In some instances the linear ridge is broken 

 or sinuous. 



The columns or intercalicular pillars are situated at the angle of junction of four 

 or five calices. The largest are broad at the base, and cover nearly as much surface 

 as a calice. The smaller occupy much less space according to their size ; they are 

 cylindrical for much of their height, and then are usually compressed but not inva- 

 riably ; they diminish in breadth rather suddenly, and end in a point which is long and 

 blunt. Wide apart, narrow, slightly projecting, sometimes wavy, but usually straight 

 linear projections are placed longitudinally up the columns ; they converge at the top, 

 and unite there at a point, or on either side of a short line, and they are sometimes 

 connected throughout their course, here and there, by cross linear projections. 



The longitudinal lines sometimes bifurcate, and may be equal or subequal, or an 

 intermediate set may be smaller than the others ; and the intermediate structure of the 

 column usually presents a series of more or less regular slight swellings, when slightly 

 magnified. 



The longitudinally linear projections of the large columns may be 10, 16, 20, or 

 24 in number ; but the first three numbers are the commonest. They in some instances 

 have a clear relation, at the base of the column, with some of the septa of the neigh- 

 bouring calices, and with the middle intercalicular linear projections ; but in other 

 instances this is not seen, and the columnar " costse " are independent. 



One of the columns on the typical specimen is stunted, and clearly indicates by its 

 construction that it and all of them are aborted gemmations in which the calice has 

 been modified by the unusual growth of the wall and costse. Another column, broken 

 across, shows that the external longitudinal " costse " are really such, and are continuous 

 within with irregular septa and endotheca. Moreover the columella may be traced, 

 and it is to be recognized at the top in the line there. 



The smaller pillars are miniature larger ones ; they cover less space, are usually 

 compressed, and terminate rather bluntly as the remains of an aborted calice, or as a 

 tip with an elongate columella. 



The base of the coral, large, symmetrical, resting on its thin circular edge, has 



