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ON A NEW SPECIES OF FLABELLUM.

BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS, F.G.S., F.L.S., &c.

 

The coral here described was obtained at a moderate depth from Bass' Straits. It was attached to a dead oyster shell. It differs from any Australian form previously described by the almost cylindrical form and the irregular tubular radiciform appendages. The genus is very poorly represented in our present Australian Marine fauna, though this was not the case in the later tertiary period. The living and fossil species have no common characteristic form, but the present species is very aberrant from all previously known.

Flabellum tubuliferum, n.s. - Corallum tapering from a propor­tionately thick pedicel, cylindrical or only slightly compressed, of pale livid color and darker purple within, irregular in growth with well marked incremental lines, with three or four short tubular radiciform appendages projecting straight down along the axis, irregular and apparently broken. Costa very fine, corresponding to the interstices of the septa. Epitheca pellicular. Septa in four systems, developed according to the orders, undulating at the edge and slightly granular at the sides. Alt. 14, diam. 7, mil. Specimen which is much damaged is deposited in the Sydney Museum. The tubular appendages arise from about one-third the height from the base.