CORALS FROM THE UPPER CHALK. 49 



We must also remark that, in a note just published, our able friend M. Alcide 

 d'Orbigny 1 refers to the Caryopkyllia or Parasmilia centralis as the type of a new genus, 

 designated under the name of Cyclosmilia, and characterised in the following terms : 

 " Cyclosmilia are Parasmilia, in which the loculi are but very little divided by dissepiments, 

 the growth of the corallum is intermittent, the calice circular instead of being oval, and 

 the external costae distant from each other." Now, with the exception of this last 

 peculiarity, which is not even met with in P. centralis, all these characters may be seen in 

 every species belonging to our genus Parasmilia, and we therefore can find no reason for 

 separating from it this new generic division. 



2. Parasmilia Mantelli. Tab. VIII, fig. 2, 2 a. 



We have as yet seen but one specimen of this species, which appears to be very distinct 

 from all others. It is a small corallum, nearly straight, adherent by a broad basis, regularly 

 turbinate, and not very tall ; but being in all probability susceptible of increasing much in 

 height by progress of age, as is the case with the other species belonging to the same genus. 

 The costa are narrow, sublamellar, closely set, distinct down to the basis of the corallum, 

 very echinulate, and somewhat crispate. Those of the primary and secondary cycla are 

 equally developed, and rather more prominent than the others, especially towards the basis 

 and the calicular margin ; the tertiary ones also extend on the basal expansion of the 

 corallum, but are smaller ; and those of the fourth cyclum begin at a short distance above 

 the basis, and are very narrow at their lower part. The intercostal furrows are broad, deep, 

 and divided by small transverse dissepiments, formed by rudiments of an exotheca. Calice 

 circular ; fossula not deep. Columella, as far as we can judge by the specimen here 

 described, very simitar to that of P. centralis. Septa forming four complete cycla ; well 

 developed, thin, straight, closely set, rather unequal, and presenting well-marked striae 

 on their lateral surfaces. Height, seven or eight lines; diameter of the calice, nearly five lines. 



This fossil differs from the other species belonging to the same genus, and more 

 especially from P. centralis and P. Fittoni, by its costse, which are equally prominent and 

 subcrispate, whereas in the latter they are smooth and never sublamellar. It resembles 

 more closely P. Gravesiana, P. cylindrica, and P. elonyata ,• but it differs from them by the 

 strong granulations of the costae. In P. serpentina the basis is almost smooth, and the 

 septa do not form so many cycla. 



Parasmilia Mantelli was met with in the upper chalk at Bromley in Kent, by our 

 friend Mr. J. S. Bowerbank. 



1 This paper, bearing the title of ' Note sur des Polypiers Fossiles,' and published on the 10th of 

 October, 1 849, contains the exposition of the characters of a series of new genera proposed by M. d'Orbigny. 

 The author assigns to most of these divisions the date of 184 7, a period at which he appears to have adopted 

 them in the arrangement of his private collection ; but in referring to them here or elsewhere, we have 

 considered it proper to quote the year of their publication, which is the only authentic date that could be 

 made use of if any question of priority should arise concerning them. 



