TRIBE I. ASTR^ACEA. 217 



Lamarck, who gives the above description, states that the species 

 is near the A. heliopora, and also resembles a little the Madrepora 

 astroites of Esper (see A. galaxea). The stars are small and neat, 

 a little unequal, and appear somewhat crispate. 



Astraa crispata, Lamarck* ii. 416, No. 25. Astrtza crispata, Blainville, Man. d'Actin., 

 , Lamouroux, Encyc., 128. 370. 



15. A. ORBICELLA MICROPHTHALMA. (Lamarck.} 



A. glomerata, fusco-virescens ; polypis prominulis, 1-1 J"' latis, tenta- 

 culis albidis, minutis ; lamellisZk. Corattum subcettulosum ; caliculis 

 breviter globoso-cylindrids, extus granulate striatis, scepe contiguis ; 

 ceUis %'" latis, subprofundis ; lamellis minutis, scepius 12 paulum 

 exsertis et 6 vix majoribus ; interstitiis subtilissime granuhsis : 

 transverse secto, septis parce cettulosis, stellis irregulariter pauci- 

 radiatis. 



Glomerate ; greenish fuscous ; tentacles whitish, minute ; polyps a 

 little prominent, 1 to 1J lines broad ; lamellae 24. Corallum sub- 

 cellular, having short globoso-cylindrical calicles, granulato-striate 

 without, often contiguous ; cells j| of a line broad, rather deep ; 

 lamellae minute, usually about 12 somewhat exsert, and 6 a little 

 the most so ; interstices very finely granulous : in a transverse sec- 

 tion, the septa with few cellules, stars irregularly few-rayed. 



Plate 10, fig. 11, surface of corallum, natural size; 11 o, animal 

 enlarged; 11 b, calicle enlarged; 11 c, vertical section enlarged; 

 11 c', same, natural size ; 11 d, transverse section, natural size; 11 e, 

 same, enlarged. 



New Holland Seas. Peron and Lesueur. Feejee Islands. Exp. Exp. 



The small, unequally prominent, globoso-cylindrical calicles of this 

 species, with six of its minute lamellae a little more exsert than the 

 others, give the corallum a peculiar appearance. In a transverse sec- 

 tion the septa are nearly compact, and often as broad as the stars. It 

 is near the following species, but the calicles are a little larger, and 

 besides, that has in general twelve of the lamellae equally prominent, 

 and the interstices nearly smooth. 



55 



