THE 



AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE 



[FOURTH SERIES.] 



Art. I. — Ohservations on the Genus Itomingeria ; by 

 Charles E. Beecher. (With Plates I-Y.) 



Introduction. 



The type species of the genus Roniingeria (R. umhellifera 

 Billings) has been known since 1859, but on account of its 

 rarity and fragmentary occurrence it has failed to attract more 

 than casual attention. In many ways the genus should be con- 

 sidered as one of the most interesting and remarkable of fossil 

 corals. Several large and well-preserved colonies, recently 

 found by the writer in the Corniferous limestone near Leroy, 

 I^ew York, emphasize the importance of reviewing the . char- 

 acters of the type, especially since it has been confused with 

 other species and also because some details not hitherto observed 

 are now to be noted. 



Eight species have at various times been referred to Romin- 

 geria^ mostly upon very insufficient grounds ; hence the original 

 conception of the genus has become obscured and is without 

 much present significance. If the original description and 

 figure of Billings.be taken as a starting point, the subsequent 

 vicissitudes of this genotype will be a23preciated. 



In 1859, Billings' described three species of Aidojoora, — A. 

 Gormota^ A. filiformis^ and A. umhellifera. The original 

 diagnosis of the latter is reproduced herewith : 



" AULOPORA UMBELLIFERA (Billiugs). 



" The mode of growth of this remarkable species is sufficient 

 to distinguish it at once from all other described forms of the 

 genus. The parent stems are about one line in diameter, and 

 remain single and straight for the distance of one fourth, 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 connected 

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



Am. Jour. Sci.— Fourth Series, Vol. XVI, No. 91 —July, 1903. 

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