PBOr. p. M. DUNCAK OK THE FUNGID^. 137 



be none the worse; but suddenly the spinea began to become 

 depressed in a disorderly manner, while irritability ceased imme- 

 diately and entirely. If the dose were not quite strong enough, 

 or the exposure not prolonged enough to cause death, there was 

 nevertheless a permanent weakening of the animals produced ; 

 for next day they were found to be but slightly mobile, scarcely 

 at all responsive to stimulation, and not adhering to the tank. 



Observations on the Madreporarian Family — the Fungidse, with 

 especial reference to the Hard Structures. By Prof. P. 

 Martin Duncan, M.B. Lond., F.E.S., &c. 



[Eead January 18, 1883.] 



(Plates V.-VI.) 



Part I. The History of the Classification of the Fungidae, and remarks 

 on the Diagnosis. — Remarks on the absence of satisfactory descriptions 

 and delineations of the S}'napticula and the resulting confusion. — A de- 

 scription of the Hard parts of Fungia scutaria (variety), Lmk., general 

 and microscopical. — Considerations regarding Growth and the Nature 

 of the Interseptal Loculi. 



The family of Aporose Madreporaria called the Fungidse was 

 established by Dana in 1846 in his Report on the Zoophytes of 

 the Wilkes Exploring Expedition. He defined several genera, 

 and gave beautiful illustrations of the general configuration of 

 species, noticing moreover the tentacular arrangement. 



In 1849 MM. Milne-Edwards and Jules Haime published a 

 monograj)h on the family in the ' Annales des Sciences Natu- 

 relles,' ser. 3, torn. xv. ; and, dealing rather with the hard parts 

 than with the soft dermal tissues, they consolidated the know- 

 ledge given by Dana, and discovered some new and family pecu- 

 liarities and deficiencies. They had the advantage of studying 

 large collections of recent and fossil Eungidse ; and they saw the 

 necessity of founding their classification on data derived both 

 from ancient as well as modern species. 



In 1860 the great work by these authors, ' L'Histoire natu- 

 relle de Coralliaires,' reached the third volume, and the Fungid^e 

 were very carefully described and classified. They differentiated 

 the family, explained most clearly its position in relation to the 

 Aporosa and Perforata, and divided it into subfamilies. 



This work has remained, up till lately, the recognized authority 



