140 PBOF. P. M. DUNCAN ON THE 



to term synapticula, vary a little in their shape. Usually, and 

 we believe it is the case in all the species of the subfamily Eun- 

 ginse and in most of the subfamily Lophoserinse, where conti- 

 guous septa are forced apart, well-marked ridges placed vertically 

 or slightly obliquely, and composed of compact sclerenchyraa, 

 are seen on the two ruptured faces. They are usually smaller in 

 breadth here and there, or may be interrupted and separated off 

 into series. In such genera as Troclwseris and Psammoseris these 

 vertical rows of synapticula are made up of small bars, few in 

 number, and they are only found low down in the interseptal 

 loculi. But here the tendency to an appendicular growth on 

 the faces of the septa is seen by the presence of numerous and 

 projecting cylindro-conical and subspiniform granules, 



" The synapticula appear to have escaped the notice of previous 

 observers ; and even Dana, in his beautiful illustrations in the 

 Atlas of his great work on the Zoophytes, does not notice them 

 in the Punginse, and only just indicates them in some Lopho- 

 serinse. 



" In simple forms of Fungidse the calices are usually superficial 

 and turned down at the sides ; and they are always imperfectly 

 circumscribed in the compound forms. These increase by lateral 

 gemmation and not by fissiparity. 



" The septa, or the septocostal rays, are made up of perfect 

 laminae, or they may he feebly 'perforate ; their free edge is inva- 

 riably dentate or echinulate. 



" The corallum being disciform or foliaceous, the 'walls' occupy 

 the base of the individual, and the sclerenchymatous laminae which 

 constitute them are often entire and continuous ; but in many 

 other instances these laminae are more or less perforated. 



" The Eungidae, whilst being naturally classified amongst the 

 Aporosa, show a very clear indication of a passage into the 

 Madreporaria perforata, which may be well seen in Anabacia and 

 Genahacia. Moreover, the Fungidse are readily distinguished 

 from the preceding groups (all the other Aporosa) by the pre- 

 sence of synapticula ; whilst their usual shape allies them with 

 the Echinoporinae and Merulinae. 



"The family Eungidae is divided into two subfamilies, which are 

 differentiated as follows : — 



" The Fungince, which have a disk or mural plateau without ejii- 

 theca, and which is usually strongly echinulate and always more 

 or less porous. 



