222 



24 



others are less developed. The septal edge is entire. The lateral surfaces of the septa are nearly 

 smooth in so far as they may be seen in the calyx. 



The columella is covered by a hardened deposit of chalk and cannot be described more 

 closely. 



Opposite the septa of the third ordo and toward the center are 12 well-developed pali 

 of which the upper edge is entire and smooth and reaches into the calyx to about the same 

 height as the septa. 



Locality: Danien: Younger Danien: Coral chalk at Faxe. 



14. Coelosmilia excavata, v. Hagenow sp. 

 Table III. Figs. 8, 8 a, 8 b. Table. II. Figs. 21—28. 

 Turbinolia excavata. 1839. v. Hagenow. 

 Monomyces ■ — 1850. Forchhammer and Steenstrup. 

 Turbinolia — 1851. Puggaard: Möens Geologi p. 66. Fig. 9. 



Coelosmilia excavata 1856. INIilne, Ed. et Haime. Histoire naturelle des Coralliaires T. H. 

 p. 179. 



— 1858. Fromentel, E. de. Introduction à l'étude des polypes, p. 102. 

 Parasmilia excavata. 1908. Ravn: Faunalistcn i IMilthers: Kortbladet Stevns og Faxe. 

 D. G. U. 1. Række. No. 11. 



The species is well-known from olden times and belongs to the more common fossils 

 from our white chalk where it is found in its natural condition with the parts of the 

 skeleton preserved and as flint stone-kernels. It is rather common, too, in moraine deposits 

 in gravel beds in secondary layer. 



It is readily recognized on account of its size, enormous for a single coral. 



Its determination has been rather difficult. Its inner construction is hard to recognize 

 on account of deposits of solid masses of chalk very difficult to remove without injury 

 to the septa and theca. The original determination of the species as Turbinolia was changed 

 in 1856 to Coelosmilia because dissepiments and the lack of columella were observed. It is 

 plain enough for the same reason that it cannot belong to the Parasmilia genus. 



The coral is a single coral adhering at the base to other solid bodies at the bottom of 

 the ocean. Its base widens, forming a disc showing on its under surface traces of the object 

 to which the coral was fastened. On the upper surface of this basic disc are fine longitudinal 

 stripes. A thin stem rises from the base, bearing the obovate-conical coral which rapidly 

 increases in breadth; later on the growth in breadth is minimal, and long cylindrical parts 

 are formed in the upper end of which is the calyx (table II, fig. 26). 



The entire coral may measure about 100 mm from tiie base to the edge of the calyx, 

 with a diameter of about 40 mm at that point. 



The theca is rather thin and brittle; it is practically smooth. On the outer surface 

 all the extremities of the septa are visible like slightly protruding costae. When examined 

 through a magnifying glass they are found to be granulated. Countless cross lines, sometimes 



