268 A, FE. Verril—The Bermuda Islands; Coral Reefs. 
In the latter work Oulactis formosa is described as a new species, 
and there is no evidence that it was considered the same as “ Actinos- 
tella formosa” of 1850. Indeed, there is good reason for believing 
that they were totally different things. Therefore there is no good 
reason why that obscure generic name should be adopted, for it had 
no definite diagnosis and no tangible type.* 
If Phyllactis, Oulactis, and Asteractis are all congeneric, as 
MeMurrich maintains, then it would be most correct to adopt the 
first for the whole group, for it has precedence, as to the pages, and 
has the characters of the family in the most specialized form. In 
that case the present species should be called Phyllactis flosculifera, 
and the closely allied West Indian species would be P. conchilega. 
But so far as I can judge, there is no sufficient reason for uniting 
these three genera, at least not until their internal organization has 
been fully studied comparatively, for their external differences are 
- greater than those of the majority of actinian allied genera. Aster- 
actis is especially characterized by the comparative simplicity of its 
pseudofronds, which are only slightly differentiated portions of the 
upper column or collar, and the tubercles that cover them are simple 
or only lobulated, while the slightly free border is due only to the 
projection of the outer tubercles; by the adhesive verrucz of the 
column, confined to the upper part; and the narrow naked true 
disk, with the true tentacles crowded around its margin. t 
* In fact, Edward and Haime even referred it to their genus Cereus, with a 
mark of doubt. 
+ The type of Phyllactis EK. and H. (Metridium pretextum Dana) has a wide 
collar consisting of large fronds that are free for about one-third of their 
length ; the free portion is stalked, digitately branched distally, and covered 
with lobes or tubercles, forming true fronds. They are thus quite unlike the 
far more simple pseudofronds of Asteractis. The verruce are confined to the 
under surface of the fronds, which are separated from the smooth column by a 
groove. 
The type of Oulactis (M. oe Dana has a very broad undulated disk, 
with the tentacles considerably scattered, in 5 or 6 rows. The column is 
entirely covered with verruce, which are represented as adhesive. The fronds 
are united nearly or quite to their ends, much as in Asteractis, but with complex 
lobules on the upper side. 
The character of the disk, areament of tentacles, and entirely verrucose 
body seem to be characters of generic value, and indicate the existence of inter- 
nal differential characters of greater importance. 
The third species (M. concinnatum) of Peru is similar to the last, as to the 
verruce of the column and tubercles of the pseudofronds ; the pseudofronds 
have the tips or terminal tubercles free, but apparently not branched; probably 
