134 On the Interrelationships of the Madreporide. 
Madreporine. The chief objection to this rests in the 
specialized character of the laminate radial structures of 
Astreopora, which ought, perhaps, to separate that genus 
from Madrepora and Turbinaria. In the meantime, how- 
ever, they can be usefully united in the manner suggested. 
I therefore suggest the following arrangement of the 
family :— : 
Family Madreporide. 
ye a 
‘ a 
Subfamilies: I. MADREPORINZ. IL. MonTIPORINZ. 
y iN / 
J | / . 
al . . . Ay 4 . 
Genera: Madrepora. Turbinaria. Astreopora. Montipora, Anacropora. 
A serious objection may be raised to this description of the 
phylogeny of the Madreporide, viz. that it is apparently 
based exclusively upon study of the five genera dealt with. 
It is true that such a limitation of one’s survey makes all 
generalizations hazardous. I am, however, encouraged to 
state the conclusions I have arrived at with regard io these 
genera even at this early stage because they are not based 
solely upon study of the five genera concerned. Most of the 
other Madreporarian genera—at least, the better known of 
them—have been studied and compared again and again for 
the express purpose of arriving at some clear insight into the 
different lines along which the stony corals have been diffe- 
rentiated. [I am aware that this does not appear from 
anything said in this paper. I have, however, here pur- 
posely abstained from making any definite morphological 
statement about any genus which I have not studied syste- 
matically. The survey of a few specimens of any particular 
genus may give reliable hints for guidance towards a better 
understanding of the genera which are at the time the object 
of close study, but cannot be exact enough to admit of definite 
assertion. It is, indeed, quite possible that when all the 
available specimens of the genus Porites have been under 
review, the purposely very limited reference to the morphology 
of that genus given above may have to be qualified. i 
