A monograph of the British fossil corals - kreidefossilien.de

50 BRITISH FOSSIL CORALS.
3. Parasmilia Cylindrica. Tab. VIII, fig. 5.
It is not mtliout some hesitation that we inscribe this species in the Ust of our
Parasmiha, for the specimen about to be described is extremely incomplete ; but it does
not present the specific characters of any other species, and although very nearly allied to
P. elongata and P. Mantelli, it appears to differ from both in some esserftial points. The
fragment here alluded to is deficient both in the basis and in the calice, but it appertained
to a tall, nearly cylindrical corallum, that was some vvhat bent. The costce are almost equal,
extremely thin, sublamellar, but not very prominent, subfiexuous, very slightly granulated,
and divided at short intervals by circles of small dissepiments, formed by rudiments of an
exotheca. The intercostal furrows are broad, rather shallow, almost destitute of granulations,
and presenting sometimes in the middle a small rudimentary costa. Columella well
developed. Sejjfa forming four complete cycla, not very closely set, somewhat flexuous,
and slightly granulate ; those of the first and second cycla equally developed, and rather
thick ; the tertiary ones smaller and thinner ; those of the fom'th cyclum very small, although
the costse corresponding to them are as large as those of the other cycla. Length, above
two inches ;
diameter, about six lines.
This fossil much resembles the Parasmilia elonyata found at Ciply, but differs from it
by the unequal development of the septa belonging to the fij-st two and to the last two
cycla, a mode of structure which does not exist in P. elon(jata. It difi'ers from P. centralis,
P. Fittoni, and P, serpentina, by the delicacy and almost lamellar form of the costae, and
bears greater resemblance to P. Mantelli and P. Gravesiana, from which it
may, however,
be easily distinguished by the breadth of its intercostal furrows.
The specimen here described belongs to the Palaeontological collection of Mr. J. S.
Bowerbank, and was found in the upper chalk at Norwich. Another fossil, which we
consider as belonging to the same species, exists in the Poppelsdorf Museum at Bonn, and
was found in the upper chalk at Damp, in Westphaha.
4. Parasmilia Fittoni. Tab. IX, fig, 2, 2 «, 2 b.
Corallum stout, adherent by a somewhat broad basis, immediately above which it in
general becomes very narrow ; elongate, much bent, and ]3resenting at intervals ckcular
•constrictions.
Costa broad, closely set, not very prominent, excepting near the basis, down
to which they are quite distinct, rather unequal alternately, and covered with very numerous
and small granulations. Calice cu'cular ; fossula large and rather shallow. Columella well
developed, but very slightly prominent, of a spongy structure, and terminated by a broad
subpapillose surface. Sej^ta forming four complete cycla, rather thin, straight, not very
closely set, slightly exsert, and having but few granulations on their lateral surfaces.