24 University Geological Survey of Kansas. 



This species is profusely branched baso-laterally and anasto- 

 moses to such an extent as often to form solid mats of coral. 

 It differs from Aulopora in having no tabulae, in which respect 

 it agrees with Cladochonus, but it is prostrate, and does not seem 

 to reproduce by lateral gemmation as does the latter; hence it 

 is referred, provisionally, to Aulopora. At first it was thought 

 to be the base of a colony of Syringopora, as it was attached to 

 the top of a colony of that species, but, on examining the bases 

 of Syringopora, they were found all to contain very great num- 

 bers of tabulae, which clearly separates the genera. 



It differs from A J prosseri in the proximity of the corallites 

 and the degree to which it anastomoses, and the corallites are 

 generally shorter and the mouths more flaring. 



CLADOCHONUS. 



Cladochonus? bennetti. Plate III, fig. 1; plate V, fig. 7. 



Cladochonus ? bennetti Beede, Kans. Univ. Quart., vn, p. 17, pi. — , f. 1, 



(1898). 



Corallum loosely fasciculate ; corallites one or two or more di- 

 ameters distant ; erect corallites larger than the basal branches, 

 often five times as high as thick, upper portion budding and 

 sending off branches as at the base ; epitheca strongly wrinkled, 

 upper portion of the wall of the calyx thin, opening circular, 

 deep, funnel-shaped by the thickening of the wall interiorly, in 

 the lower portion of which, as a rule, there is only a small cap- 

 illary opening, though sometimes larger. Average diameter of 

 corallite, 2 mm. ; length, 6 to 18 mm. 



Range and distribution : Upper and Lower Coal Measures ; 

 Fort Scott, Howard. 



This species resembles Aulopora ? prosseri more closely than 

 any other Kansas species. It differs from this, so far as known, 

 in having no tabulae, and in the manner of budding profusely 

 at the upper part of the corallites. It resembles Romingeria 

 umbellifera Rom., but the absence of tabulae removes it from 

 this genus. It agrees with Cladochonus McCoy, save that they 

 are only funnel-shaped when young, and very slightly so then. 

 The corallites are long and very stout, resembling Syringopora 

 in general appearance. 



