A monograph of the British fossil corals - kreidefossilien.de
A monograph of the British fossil corals - kreidefossilien.de
A monograph of the British fossil corals - kreidefossilien.de
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Ixxiv<br />
BRITISH FOSSIL CORALS.<br />
2. Genus Mortieria.<br />
De Koninck, Anira. foss. du Terr, carbon, <strong>de</strong> Belgique, p. 12, 1842.<br />
Corallum having <strong>the</strong> form <strong>of</strong> a bi-concave disc, presenting a radiate structure and<br />
numerous costae.<br />
Typ. sp., Mortieria vertebralis, De Koninck, loc. cit., pi. b, fig. 3.<br />
3. Genus Cyclocrinites.<br />
Eichwald, Uberdas Silurische Schichten-System in Esthland, p. 192, 1840.<br />
Corallum composite, astreiform. Calices hexagonal and shallow. Septa well characterised,<br />
but not extending to <strong>the</strong> centre <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> visceral chamber, which appears to be<br />
occupied by small tabulae. (?)<br />
Tvp. sp., Cyclocrinites Spaskii, Eichwald, Die Urwelt Russlands durch abbildungen erlaeutert, p. 48,<br />
tab. i, fig. 8, 1842.<br />
Or<strong>de</strong>r 11.<br />
ALCYONARIA.<br />
Alctjoniens, Audouin and Milne Edwards, Reclierclies sur les<br />
Anim. sans Vertebres faites aux iles Chausay,<br />
Ann. <strong>de</strong>s So. Nat., 1st series,, vol. xv, p. 18, 1828; Zoophijtaria, Blainville, Manuel d'Actinologie, p. 496,<br />
1834; Zoophyta asterdi<strong>de</strong>a, Johnston, Brit. Zooph., p. 164, 1838; Alcyonaria Dana, Exploring Expedition,<br />
Zooph., p. 586, 1846 ; Anthozoa asterdi<strong>de</strong>a, Johnston, Brit. Zooph., 2d edit., p. 138, 1847.<br />
Polypi with bi-piunate tentacula, and only eight perigastric membranaceous laminae,<br />
containing <strong>the</strong> reproductive organs.<br />
Alcyonaria have, in general, <strong>the</strong>k <strong>de</strong>rmal tissue consolidated by isolated spicule; or<br />
nodular concretions only, and very rarely present a vaginal polypidom similar to that <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> Zoantharia ; but even when that is <strong>the</strong> case, <strong>the</strong> visceral chamber is never subdivi<strong>de</strong>d<br />
by any longitudinal septa, and consequently <strong>the</strong> calice never presents any appearance <strong>of</strong><br />
radii. In general, <strong>the</strong> corallum is entirely composed <strong>of</strong> epi<strong>de</strong>rmic tissue, (or basal secretion,<br />
Dana,) and constitutes a sort <strong>of</strong> stem or axis in <strong>the</strong> centre <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> compound mass formed<br />
by <strong>the</strong> gemmation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Polypi. This sclerobasis is always covered by s<strong>of</strong>t <strong>de</strong>rmic<br />
tissue, and increases by <strong>the</strong> addition <strong>of</strong> concentric layers.<br />
This or<strong>de</strong>r is far from being as numerous as <strong>the</strong> preceding division <strong>of</strong> Corallaria, and<br />
comprises three natural families,—Alcyonidse, Gorgonidae, and Pennatulidae.