FAMILIES AND GElSrERA OF THE MADEEPOEAEIA. 127 



M. de Fromentel writes (' Introd. a 1' etude des Polyp, foss.' 

 p. 163), " Kous avons separe des Latimeandras des fossiles qui 

 presentent bien comme celles-ci des calices reunis en series, mais 

 dont les series restent libres par leur cote et ne sont meme pas 

 unies des cotes. Nous avons reuni les qnelques especes qui 

 presentent ce caractere sous le nom generique de Ohorisastraa.^^ 



Hence it is only to corals with serial calices that GJiorisas- 

 trcea can apply. 



In the Pal. Prang., Zoopb. Terr. cret. p. 445, M. de Promentel 

 states that the genus Ghorisastrcea, E. de P., 1858, includes the 

 Syrrastrseans which increase by budding, but whose series rest 

 free at the summit, and are not united dorsally or by their 

 costse. 



It is remarkable that M. de Promentel should classify Lati- 

 mcBandra with corals having serial calices. E. Pratz has pointed 

 out that this is an error. LatimcBandra has not what M. de 

 Promentel calls a Syrrastrsean type of growth, but a Disastrsean 

 or Polyastrsean (see Latimceandra Flemingi, Ed. & H.). Lati- 

 mcdandrce are modified Isastrseans ; and these last, like Lati- 

 meeandra, often have their calicular walls separated for a short 

 distance downwards. 



Many genera have the walls united, except close to the calices, 

 and during growth union takes place there. 



Heterogyra, Eeuss, cannot be included in the so-called genus 

 Ghorisastrcea. I do not think it advisable to retain this last 

 genus. 



Grenus Heteeogtea, Beuss, Fal. Stud. u. die alt. tertidrscJi. der 

 Alpen, Abth. i., Antlioz. v. Gastelgomlerto. "Wien, 1868, p. 20. 



Colony massive. Corallites increasing by gemmation and 

 irregular serial calicinal growth, united inferiorly, free superiorly. 

 Calicular surface irregular, showing nearly circular and very 

 deformed calices, free from the calicinal margin down to a certain 

 depth. Septa numerous, denticulate. Columella absent. Endo- 

 theca exists, but an epitheca does not cover the costge. 



Distribution. — Fossil. Eocene : Europe. 



The alliance of this form is with the Latimseandroids and not 

 with the SymphylHoida. Its importance is considerable in 

 relation to the so-called genus Ghorisastrcea, E. de Prom., and 

 the morphology of Latimceandra also. 



The genus Merulina was placed by Milne-Edwards and Jules 



