CORALS OF THE LONDON CLAY. 43 



2. Genus Websteria. 



Websteria crisioides. Tab. VII, figs. 5, 5 a. 



Corallum composite, slender, and dichotomous, with its branches straight, flat, of the 

 same dimensions as the stem, spreading out on one plane, and forming very acute angles 

 with each other. Corallites subverru'ciform, disposed in opposite order, and forming 

 two vertical series, the outer edge of which is occupied by a row of small, oblique, circular 

 calices. These two lateral parts are separated by a median line, which usually has the 

 appearance of a small furrow ; sometimes they disunite, and so bring to view a small, 

 styliform, central axis. Breadth of the branches about a fifth of a line ; height of the 

 corallites, a quarter of a line. 



It is not without much uncertainty that we refer this delicate fossil to the family of the 

 Gorgonidae. By its general aspect, and by the mode of arrangement of the verruciform 

 individuals of which it is composed, it resembles the genus Pterogorgia of Ehrenberg, and 

 the existence of a central axis furnishes a strong argument in favour of the opinion which 

 we have adopted provisionally ; but, on the other hand, the structure of the individuals is 

 very similar to that of some Sertularidae, and still more so to divers Bryozoa, such as Crista 

 denticuluta. The specimens that we have examined have not enabled us to decide the 

 question concerning the natural affinities of the animals to which these organic remains 

 belonged ; but whether they be Polypi or Bryozoa, they appear to differ from all the known 

 generic forms, and to constitute the type of a new genus, that we dedicate to Mr. 

 Webster, whose observations on the formation in which they are found have been so 

 serviceable to geology. 



Websteria crisioides is the only species belonging to this zoological division. It was 

 discovered in the London Clay at Haverstock Hill, by Mr. Frederic Edwards, to whose 

 kindness we are indebted for the communication of the specimens here described. 



