TRIBE II. CARYOPHYLLACEA. 391 



the stars. The surface is smooth, or faintly striate about the calicles. 

 The branches have not an axial star, like the Dendrophyllise ; each 

 polyp starts as the apical one, and becomes afterwards oblique and 

 lateral. The cells vary in size from one line to three-fourths of an 

 inch. The lamellae, in some species, are slightly exsert, and very 

 even, with the centre of the cell broad and convex; in others they are 

 much exsert, and give the corallum a bristled aspect. 



These species pass into the Astraeas through the A. micropthalma, 

 a glomerate and incrusting species, whose cells have nearly the cha- 

 racters of those of this genus. They are also like the branching 

 Echinopores among the Astrseidee, in their cumulate mode of budding 

 and growth. The species with prominently exsert lamellae resemble 

 in their cells the Anthophylla. 



The Oculina? have a wide range, being found both in the tropics 

 and the cold regions of the north. Some species have been brought 

 up from a depth of one hundred and fifty fathoms. The known 

 species are mostly confined to the West India and European seas. 



The genus Oculina was made by Lamarck, from the Madrepora of 

 early authors, for the species here included, and a few with minute 

 polyps which are transferred to Ehrenberg's genus Allopora. It 

 forms part of the Lithodendrum of Schweigger, and is the Matrepora 

 of Oken. The Dentipora of Blainville belongs to this genus. 



The Allopora are compact species, like the Oculinae, but the cells 

 are minute, and the lamella are marginal crenulations, not traceable 

 to the bottom of the cell ; moreover, they grow in flabellate forms. 



Arrangement of the Species. 



I. Calicles with tlie lamellce much exsert. 



1. O. hirtella. *2. O. horrescens. 



II. Calicles with the lamelke but little exsert and even. 



3. O. prolifera. *7. O. pallens. 



4. O. axillaris. *8. O. virginea. 

 *5. O. varicosa. *9. O. diffusa. 

 *6. O. oculata. 



