307 
Measurements. —Diameter of corallites, i to 1.13mm. in diameter in 
the type specimen, ranging to 2mm. in others. Average space between 
tabulae, imm. 
Characters of Loyolophyllum, subgenus nov. —Structural features as in 
Columnaria, but having deeply concave tabulae and a lateral or outer 
vesicular zone. 
Observations. —The type specimen of the above new species is selected 
from the Rev. A. W. Cresswell’s collection, presented many years ago to 
the National Museum (October, 1887). Several remarkably fine examples, 
as regards external form, of the above very interesting coral, occur in 
the present series. The internal structures of the specimens are, however, 
not so* well preserved as could be wi'shed. This indifferent condition of 
structure resembles to a remarkable degree the general characters seen in 
Cyathophyllum elegantulum Dun 1 , the agreement in the number of septa, 
the curved tabulae, and the zone of vesicular tissue making the resemblance 
very striking. From an examination of the original types of C. elegan¬ 
tulum very kindly lent to me by Mr. W. S. Dun, F.G.S., it was possible 
to distinguish the two forms on the following characters :—The greater 
thickness of the corallite walls in our C'olum?iaria ; the continuance of the 
septa to the centre of the calice; the more widely spaced tabulae; the 
smaller corallites; and the radiate habit of the corallum. 
The specimens of Columnaria presented by Mr. Cresswell I had already 
referred to that genus in 1902, but feeling some doubt as to certain dif¬ 
ferential characters here regarded as subgeneric, they were put aside until 
the present time. In these specimens, the walls and septa are preserved 
as a finely granular, grey material; whilst fire contiguous corallites are 
separated by a conspicuous dark line. The intermediate, calicular pouches 
are traversed in the outer zone by endothecal or vesicular tissue in the form 
of curved dissepiments, the latter rudely concentric; the whole cavity 
being infilled with coarsely crystalline calcite. The primary septa, which 
are of irregular lengths, in some cases extend quite to the centre; whilst 
often there are four or five nearly meeting at the centre; thus recalling 
the septal arrangement in Stauria. To this point, we will revert a little 
farther on. The secondary septa, starting from the centre of each “ petal,” 
are much shorter, usually only one-third the length of the primaries. The 
thecal margins of the visceral cavities are rounded and scalloped like the 
petals of a rose, giving a petaloid appearance to' the corallites as seen in 
Columnaria. Vertical sections of the coral show the inner thecal wall 
striated longitudinally, as in Columnaria , but unlike the genus in its strict 
interpretation, the tabulae, instead of being horizontal, are more often 
curved and concave, or even funnel-shaped ; whilst the highlv developed 
vesicular structure further removes it from typical forms of that genus. 
The following details of the external form of the coral may be of in¬ 
terest. On slab No. 2494, there are three examples of this coral, all of 
which are in a young stage. The largest, measuring 36mm. across, is 
figured here. The remaining two coralla measure about 13mm. across, one 
of which shows a very perfect root-stalk. The coral is of a depressed 
mushroom shape, with a distinct foot-stalk. During growth, the coral¬ 
lites show a tendency to curve outwards, so that a section parallel to the 
central axis is fan-shaped. The increase in the number of corallites and 
the consequent growth of the corallum, is maintained, bv the insertion of 
young corallites in the interspaces formed bv the recurvation of the existent 
corallites, according to the law of intermural gemmation. In older speci¬ 
mens, the corallites show only a slight tendency to divergence, being prac¬ 
tically of the same diameter nearly throughout. 
1. Cuathonht/llum elegantulum W. S. Dun, Proc. Roy. Soe., Viet., vol. X. (X.S.), pt. II., 1898, p. 85, 
pi. ITT. figs. 5, 6. See also R. Etheridge, jun., Prog. Rep. Geol. Surv., Viet., No. XI., 1899, p. 31, pi. B., 
figs. 2-4. 
