530 It. ETHERTDGE ON THE PALAEONTOLOGY OE THE 



tive formations — F. gothlanclicus in the Silurian deposits everywhere, 

 and F. Goldf ussi in the English, Ehenish, Erench, and Belgian 

 Devonians. 



The ramose forms are more widely distributed, but are few in the 

 polar area. Possibly F. alveolaris occurs also ; I have recorded it 

 from one locality (Washington-Irving Island), but have difficulty in 

 distinguishing the pores in the angles of the corallites. We record 

 F. gothlanclicus from twelve or fourteen different localities, and have 

 nearly forty specimens of all sizes and habit of growth, some of the 

 large circular convex masses with complete wrinkled epithecal bases 

 being of considerable diameter. The individual specimens vary both 

 as regards the width or size of the corallites (columns) and in the 

 distance or spaces between the tabulae. 



I have not observed the variety F. Troostii in Captain Eeilden's 

 series. Although a common American form or variety of F. gothlanclicus, 

 it is distinguishable by usually having three rows of pores and lon- 

 gitudinal lines on the faces of the tubes or corallites and very close- 

 set tabulae ; but so variable are the forms in F. gothlanclicus that every 

 shade of difference can be detected, and may be made the basis of a 

 new species. It must be admitted that no more variable coral exists ; 

 and no rule can be given for the size of the cell-opening, number of 

 pores, or number and distance of the tabulae in a given vertical space. 

 Again, the pores do not always possess the elevated rim or border. 

 Little or no trace of the radiating septa or their spinose or tuber- 

 cular representatives can be detected in the specimens, owing to the 

 metamorphism of the limestones. Hall's F. niagarensis appears to 

 be only a variety of F. gothlanclicus. Astrocerium, Hall, and Emmon- 

 sia, Edw. & Haime, seem to be identical with Favosites. No less than 

 eleven of the twenty-six species known are American, and four arctic, 

 viz. F. megastomus, F. perplexus. F. alveolaris, and F. gothlanclicus. 



Loc. Washington-Irving Island, Polaris Bay, Cape Erazer, Bessels 

 Bay, Offley Island, Dobbin Bay, Cape Tyson, &c, in situ, Com- 

 mon also in the drift. 



Eavosites alveolaris (Goldf.). 



Calamopora alveolaris, Goldf. Petr. Germ. vol. i. t. 26. f. 1. 

 Favosites aspera, M.-Edw. & Haime, Mon. Brit. Foss. Corals, 

 Pal. Soc. p. 257, t. 60. f. 3. 



One or two specimens of this coral in perfect condition have been 

 received from the Wenlock rocks of Washington-Irving Island ; it 

 does not seem to occur elsewhere in the Arctic region. Hall identi- 

 fied the species in the Onondaga group, our Upper Wenlock, in 1S43 ; 

 but it does not seem to have been recorded from East or West Canada, 

 either under this name or that of F. asper, D'Orb. F. multipora, 

 Lonsdale, may be another form and name for this coral. 



These Eavositae are troublesome species to determine unless the 

 coralla are sufficiently well preserved to allow of sections being- 

 made for determination. Favosites alveolaris, like F. gothlanclicus, 



