TRIBE I. ASTR^EACEA. 313 



The Polyphylliae are confined to the warm coral-reef seas. 



The animals of the Polyphylliae were first observed and figured by 

 Quoy and Gaymard, by whom the genus was instituted. The name 

 alludes to the small lamellse of the surface, and is derived from *oXuf, 

 many, and <puXXov, leaf. The Lithactinia of Lesson pertains to this 

 genus. 



' Arrangement of the Species. 



I. A medial interrupted series of oririmes. 



*1. P. talpa. 3. P. sigmoides. 



*2. P. leptophylla. 4. P. pelvis (a medial series in adult, 



only). 



II. Oririmes very distinct, no medial series. 

 *5. P. fungia. 



III. Oririmes indistinct, no medial series. 



*6. P. pileiformis. *7. P. galeriformis. 



I. Oririmis medianis longitudinaliter seriatis. 

 1. POLYPHYLLIA TALPA. 



P. angusto-oblonga, convexa, subtus concava. CoraUum |" crassum, 

 oririmis apertioribus, scepe oblique substellatis, medianis seriatis ; 

 lamellis brevibus, sapius ferme \", sed marginalibus " longis. 



Narrow oblong, convex, below concave. Corallum of an inch thick, 

 oririmes quite distinct, often obliquely substellate, the medial 

 seriate ; lamellae short, mostly about \ of an inch, but the marginal 

 of an inch, long. 



Plate 21, fig. 5 a, lamellae as they radiate from one side of an 

 oririme ; 5 b, c, outline of lamellae ; 5 d, marginal lamella. 



East Indies. (Lamarck.) 



This is the Talpa marina, of the old authors. One specimen seen 

 by the author, measures eight and a half inches in length, three and a 

 half in breadth, and two and a half in height, with the thickness three- 

 fourths of an inch. It agrees well with Seba's fig. 6, tab. 111. The 

 under surface is finely scabrous. The oririmes are one-third to one- 



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