48 PEOP. p. MAETiN Duncan's eetision of the 



Internal cavities obliterating almost completely with the growtli 

 of the base of the columella and walls. Traces of tabulae. 



Distribution. — Becent. Eed Sea, Indian Ocean, Pacific. 



If Seriatopora is admitted into the Oculinidse with Focillopora 

 the question occurs, what is to be done with Bendropora, Miche- 

 lin, Bhabdopora, Milne-Edwards & Jules Haime, and Trachy- 

 pora. They are associated with Sei^iatopora by Milne-Edwards 

 and Jules Haime in a family of Tabiilata ; and before I had read 

 Nicholson's excellent analysis of the genera (Nicholson, ' Tabu- 

 late Corals,' p. 105, 1879), I agreed with the great Erench zoo- 

 phytologists, but now I see the necessity of placing those 

 genera amongst the Pavositidae. 



CHAPTEE III. 



Family AatrEeidse, definition. The necessity for the union of the old 

 subfamilies Eusmilinse and Astrainas. The condition of the upper edge of 

 the septa not of physiological or subfamily importance. Subfamilies 

 determined by the method of 'growth. List of the seven subfamilies : — 

 I. Subfamily Aste^id^ simplices: the Alliances and Tribes; description of 

 the Grenera, lists. — II. Subfamily AsTRiEiDiE eeptantes : Alliances, Genera, lists. 

 ■ — III. Subfamily AsTRjEiDiE gemmantes: definition, Alliances, Genera, list. IV. 

 Subfamily Aste^iDjE cjespitosjE : Alliances, Genera. — V. Subfamily Astr^eid^ 

 CONFLUENTES : Alliances, Genera. — VI. Subfamily Astejsid^ agglomerate 

 FissiPARANTES : Alliances, Genera. — VII. Subfamily Astreide agglomerate 

 gemmantes : Alliances, Genera, Lists. 



Family ASTE^IDtE, Dana (pars), 1846 ; Milne-Edwards ^ Jules Haime, Hist. 

 Nat. des Corall. vol. ii. p. 142 (1857). 



Simple or colonial Aporose Madreporaria, multiplying by 

 ova, rarely by deciduous buds ; increasing in bulk by gemmation 

 and by fissiparous division and serial growth. Interseptal loculi 

 containing dissepimental endotheca, rarely tabulae. Septa smooth 

 or entire at the free edge, or dentate, ragged or spinulose. Soft 

 parts closely resembling those of the Turbinolidae : the long serial 

 calices have several mouths in the limited disk, which is sur- 

 rounded by tentacles. Tentacles contract and are hidden by the 

 edge of the disk. A mesentery projects downwards in each 

 interseptal loculus as far as the upper dessepiment, and sustains 

 the ovarial organ. Corallites may unite by their walls, or costae, 

 or exotheea, or a vesicular peritheca may exist, but true inter- 

 mural solid coenenchyma is rarely seen. 



The subfamily Eusmilinae and the subfamily Astraeinae of Dana 



