THE ALCYONIDM. 311 



genus Haimea. Compound kinds may have root-shaped stolons, and the polypes may be tubular. In 

 some of these, the Cornularise, for instance, the polypes are completely drawn in, and are retractile, 

 and the stolons fix 011 to all kinds of substances. There are no spicules, and the bottom of the 

 visceral cavity communicates with the buds by minute canals. They are Mediterranean species. 

 The Clavularise resemble these, but contain spicules, and inhabit the shores of Vanikoro. Some 

 species without retractile polypes, but otherwise like the Cornularioe, are found in the Moluccas, the 

 Bay of Naples, and coast of Norway. They belong to the genus Rhizoxenia. Some wai-t-shaped 

 polypes, hardly higher than the stolons which bear them, characterise the Sarcodictyons of the 

 Scottish coasts. The colour of the stolon in one species is red. and the polypes are yellow, and in 

 another the tint is yellow-brown. 



The next division refers to species which have a membranous basal expansion, and not 

 stolons, and in the genus Anthelia the polypes are very projecting, and when it contracts the 

 tentacles come within the base. 



The ancient forms of the Anthozoa have been slightly alluded to in the past pages, and it is 

 necessary to add that the groups Aporosa and Perforata were faintly foreshadowed in the Palaeozoic 

 ages, and began to be of importance in the early Secondary times. The Aporosa appear to have been 

 the most numerous. The reefs of the Oolitic age had a great fauna, and the Chalk contains relics of a 

 fauna which resembled that of the deep seas of the present time. Many genera of Tertiary corals are 

 now existing, and a few species also. The group Rugosa is a very difficult one to define, and it 

 nourished during the Palteozoic age. In many forms the septa are so close together, and the space 

 between them is so restricted, that it is doubtful whether mesenteries and ovarian apparatus could 

 have existed there. In some there is a groove, or more than one, in the place of a principal septum ; 

 and in several genera of compound kind the columella and surrounding septa almost recall the 

 Stylasters. Some of the Rugosa may have been corals having soft parts, something like those now 

 existing, but others were probably Alcyonarians, and not a few must be classified near the Millepores. 



CLASSIFICATION. 



CLASS .ANTHOZOA. 

 ORDER. ZOANTHARIA. 



Sub-order. Madreporaria. 

 Gro up . Aporosa . 



Families. Turbinolidae, Oculinidne, Astrceidte, Stylinacese, Astroeinae, Fungidae, 



Sub-family. Stylophorinae. 

 Group. Perforata. 



Families. Eupsamminaj, Poritidae. 

 Group. Rugosa. 

 Sub-order. Antipatharia. 

 Sub-order. Actinaria. 



Fam Hies. Actinidae, Cerianthidse. 

 OSDER. ALCYONAUIA. 



Families. Helioporidae, Pennatulidas, Gorgonidse, Alcyonidae. 



P. MARTIN DUNCAX. 



