630 



ZOOPHYTES. 



plates, having the shape of inverted cones. A somewhat analogous 

 structure is at times found in the Tubiporae, which favours this view 

 of the relations of the Syringoporae ; yet it is only a monstrosity in 

 this genus, as it is of comparatively rare occurrence, being met with 

 here and there in a tube or in a part of a tube of a zoophyte. It is 

 simply a smaller tube within the larger, produced by a sudden narrow- 

 ing of the interior, and as abrupt an enlargement again. Upward 

 growth is attended by the death of the parts below, and in part their 

 retraction, and this effect appears to be connected with this retraction, 

 which in some instances may be delayed in its progress till the inner 

 calcareous tube is completed. There are no conical plates, like those 

 in the Syringoporae, uniting the inner tube to the outer. The inner 

 tube, moreover, is generally formed between two budding periods and 

 terminates with the second. The Syringoporae, if of this family, which 

 seems probable, should form a distinct sub-family SYRINGOPORIN^E, 

 characterized, as stated, by fasciculate tubular coralla, having an axial 

 tube within, united to the outer tube by a series of inverted conical 

 dissepiments. 



GENUS I. AULOPORA. 



Tubiporidce non acrogence, stolonibus e basi repentibus. Coralla calcarea, 

 tubulata, incrustantia, tubulis scepe reticulatim anastomosantibus ; 

 cettis subremotis, interdum prominulis. 



Non-acrogenous Tubiporidse, budding from a creeping filiform stolon. 

 Coralla calcareous, tubular, incrusting, often reticulately anasto- 

 mosing; cells subremote, sometimes a little prominent. 



The tubular corallum of the Auloporae, with rounded holes or cells 

 at intervals, has considerable resemblance on a minute scale to a pipe 

 or flute, and hence originated the name, from the Greek ouXoj, a pipe. 

 The filiform tube often forms a network over the rock to which it is 

 attached. The species hitherto described are all fossils. A single 

 recent species was obtained by the Expedition in the Pacific. 



