Verrill^ JVotes on Eadiata. 519 



as a distinct family, which has, perliaps, closer relations with Madre- 

 poracea. The genus Seriatopora^ has been united with certain genera 

 of fossil corals to constitute a distinct family, Seriatoporidce, but it 

 would appear to be more in accordance with their true affinities to 

 lanite Seriatopora and the allied genera with the PocillipoHdce. The 

 living polyps are unknown, however, and might show other relations. 

 The Thecidce E. and H., and especially Columnoria, are evidently 

 very closely allied to Poclllipora and, ought, perhaps, to be united in 

 the same family. 



The association by Edwards and Ilaime, and others, of the MUhpo- 

 ridcB with PoGUliporidte and allied forms, under the name, Tabulata^ 

 was particularly unfortunate, since they have no relations whatever, 

 and indeed there is no resemblance except in the fact that in certain 

 genera of both groups there are transverse septa, — an artificial char 

 acter of comparatively little importance, which also occurs in the 

 AstrcBid(e [Coelastrcea) and sometimes even in the Eupsamtnidoe 

 [Astrceopsammia) . Prof. Agassiz has shown that 3Iillepora belongs 

 to the Hydroidea, and holding the opinion that Pocillipora and other 

 taljulated corals were allied to Millepora he consequently united all 

 the Tabulata of Edwards and Haime to the Ilydroidea, thus removing 

 them from the class of polyps. This view is no longer tenable, since 

 the genus Pocillipora has animals identical in structure with the most 

 typical genera of true polyps. Even were the animals of Pocillipora 

 unknown, the examination of such species as P. elorigata Dana, P. 

 plicataT)ix,nQ., P. stellataY erril\, and others, in which there are -twelve 

 well developed septa, having the same essential characters as those of 

 OculinidoB and Stylophoridte, would be sufficient to convince us that 

 the genus could not possibly belong to the Hydroidea, unless that 

 group is to be so modified as to lose the principal characters by which 

 it is separated from the class of polyps. The absence of radiating 

 lamellae, such as would be required to secrete the radiating septa of 

 Pocillipora^ Columnaria, and some FavositidcB is one of the principal 

 class characters by which Acalephs are separated from Polyps, and is 

 a constant feature of acalephs ; the presence of such lamellae is equally 

 constant and characteristic of true polyps. 



Pocillipora Lamarck. 



Pocillopora {pars) Lamarck, Hist. anim. sans vert, ii, p. 273 ; 2nd ed., ii, p. 144. 

 PociUopora Dana, Zoophytes, p. 523; Edw. and Haime, Corall., iii, p. 301. 



The coralla consist of clusters of branches or lobes, varying in the 

 difierent species from very slender, much divided branchlets to stout, 

 Tkans. Connecticut Acad., Vol. I. 65 Nov., 1870. 



