32 VBBBILL, SYNOPSIS OP 



FAMILY, ALEANDBINID^E. 



GONIASTBEA ASPEBA Verrill, nov. sp. 



Corallum evenly convex, or hemispherical, adherent at 

 the centre below, with a well developed epitheca which is 

 marked by uneven, concentric ridges. Cells deep, polygonal, 

 pretty regular, separated by very thin walls. Septa with 

 prominent and strong, but narrow, pali at base, above narrow 

 and thin, a little exsert, acute at summit, the edges divided 

 into slender and very acute teeth which are directed upward. 

 Columella rudimentary, trabicular. 



Diameter of the cells .30 ; depth .20 of an inch. 



Hong Kong, China. Dr. Wm. Stimpson. 



COSLOBIA SINENSIS Edw. and Haime. 

 Hong Kong, China. Dr. Wm. Stimpson. 



CCELASTBEA, nov. gen. 



Corallum massive, cellular, fasciculate, formed by pris- 

 matic coralites intimately united by their walls which are 

 thin and simple. The exterior of the corallum is destitute 

 of an epitheca, lobed and distinctly costate like that of Met- 

 astrea. The cells are polygonal, often closed below by the 

 dissepiments, which, occuring at the same level, unite from 

 all sides forming thus transverse septa. In a transverse sec- 

 tion traces of a very rudimentary and loose columella are 

 seen in some cells. Septa in three or four cycles, unequal, 

 the inner edges prolonged into strong paliform teeth. 



The polyps increase by fissiparity, and near the margin 

 by disk-budding. This genus appears to bear the same re- 

 lation to Ganiastrea that Metastrea does to Prionastrea, dif- 

 fering from it in the absence of epitheca and the lobed and 

 striated exterior, thinness of the walls, and rudimentary 

 columella. From Metastrea it differs in the last character, 

 and in its mode of increase as well as in the coincidence of 

 the dissepiments and the strong pali. 



