Mr. A. E. Verrill on the Classification of Polyps. 193 



chiefly septal ; walls imperfectly developed, often perforate, sub- 

 ordinate, usually forming the basal attachment. 



Families : Cyclolitidse, Lophoseridje, Fungidse, Merulinidae. 



Suborder III. Astreacea. 



Polyps mostly compound, either by fissiparity or various modes 

 of budding. Tentacles usually well developed, long, subcylin- 

 drical, limited in number, in multiples of six, encircling the disk. 

 Coral mural, septal, and endothecal ; growth vertical and centri- 

 fugal, producing turbinated forms which are often elongated. 



Families: Lithophyllidse, Mseandrinidse, Eusmiliidae, Caryo- 

 phyllidae, Stylinidse, Astreinse, Oculinidse, Stylophoridse. 



Suborder IV. Madreporacea {Madreporaria perforata). 



Tentacles in definite numbers, twelve or more, well developed, 

 encircling the narrowed disk, therefore nearer the mouth ; po- 

 lyps with the upper portion much exsert, flexile ; growth chiefly 

 vertical; coral mural and septal, porous. Polyps compound by 

 budding, sometimes simple. 



Families: Eupsammidse, Gemmiporidse, Poritidse, Madre- 

 poridae. 



Order II. ACTINARIA. 



Polyps with well developed, often highly specialized, basal or 

 abactinal region. Walls well developed; tentacles longer, more 

 concentrated around the mouth, which is also usually, if not 

 always, furnished with special tentacular lobes or folds. Ambu- 

 lacral spaces always open, destitute of connecting tissues and 

 solid deposits. 



Suborder I. Zoanthacea. 



Polyps encrusting, adherent, budding from mural expansions j 

 tentacles simple, short, at edge of disk. 

 Families : Zoanthidae, Bergidae. 



Suborder II. Antipathacea. 



Polyps connected by a coenenchyma, secreting a solid sclero- 

 base or coral-axis. Tentacles few, six to twenty-four, simple, 

 conical. 



Families : Antipathidae, Gerardidse. 



Suborder III. Actinacea. 



Polyps free, capable of locomotion, with a highly specialized 

 muscular base or abactinal area. Tentacles well organized, 

 either simple or branched, varying from ten to many hundreds, 

 often with accessory organs arising from the same spheromeres, 



Ann. i^ Mag. N. Hist, Ser.3. Fo/. xvi. 14 



