138 BULLETIN OF THE 



Genus Thecopsammia Pocrt 



Corallum simple, attached, without costre, covered with a complete epi- 

 theca. This genus is intermediate between Balanophyllia and Heterop- 



sammia : like the latter, it is destitute of costaj, but it lias an epitheca like 

 some of the Balanophyllia, but still more developed. 



Thecopsammia tintinnabulum Poubt. 



Corallum subcylindrieal, or almost hemispherical, with turbinate base and 

 small, abruptly constricted peduncle. Wall thick, very porous and vermicu- 

 lated. Epitheca well developed, seldom rising quite to the bonier of the 

 calicle,its tissue penetrating the mural pores and solidifying the wall. Cali- 

 cle slightly elliptical, moderately deep. Septa in six unequal systems and 

 four cycles, entire, thin, not exsert, covered with fine granulations; those 

 of the fourth and filth order scarcely bent towards those of the third, and 

 not connected with the latter or with each other. The septa of the first 

 and second order connected with the columella. The two opposite systems 

 on the longer sides of the calicle always incomplete in one of their halves; 

 and one or two of the other systems also sometimes incomplete in the same 

 manner. The columella is papillose and porous, sometimes sublamellose, and 

 form- three indistinct masses in the adult, of which the' middle one is largest. 



Height ;j of an inch to an inch; longer diameter of calicle about ^ an 

 inch, shorter about 0.1-1. Common between 100 and 300 fathoms off the 

 Florida reef. 



The mouth of the polyps is elongated, and surrounded by not very 

 numerous conical tentacles; the color, when living, is a handsome pinkish 

 orange. 



Thecopsammia socialis Pourt. 



Corallum turbinate, rather long conical, with a thick, not constricted, 

 peduncle frequently attached to each other. "Wall and epitheca as in the 

 preceding species. Calicle elliptical, fossa moderately deep. Septa entire, 

 smooth, crowded, not exsert; thick, near the wall. Five cycles of septa 

 in six unequal systems. The septa of the fourth cycle benl towards each 

 other, and meeting in front of those of the third, in the deeper pari of the 

 calicle (only visible in a horizontal section). The septa of the sixth and 

 seventh order appear only in a few of the systems in old specimens ; they 

 become larger than those of the preceding cycle ; the tertiaries generally 

 remain the smallest of all. The columella is papillose and porous, though 

 more compacl than in the preceding species, and nearly always tonus three 

 distinct masses, of which the middle one is lar < t. 



bound in the same depths as tiie other, but more common towards Som- 

 brero than near Sand bey. 



