MADREPOEAEIA OF THE DEEP SEA. 327 



Stn. Diplohelia meneghiniana, Seguenza. 



doderleiniana, Seguenza. 



sismondiana, Seguenza ; and all other Diplohelice with costal strise. 



Branches irregular, and often coalescent. 



Columella moderately well developed. 



Septa in three cycles in six systems. 



Costal striations distinct, long, sinuous, general and often granular. 



Variety a. Septa, especially of third cycle, dentate. 



Variety j3. Surface of wall very aciculate, with granules on the costae. 



Variety y. Costal striae interrupted, and also continuous and curved. 



Variety S. With exsert septa. 



The question now arises, in which family must the Amphihelice be placed ? 



Are they Oculinidae '\ Have they dissepiments % Are there any proofs forthcoming 

 that the corallites fill up within ? 



It is very evident that the walls of the bud thicken immensely ; but I cannot detect 

 in any instance any diminution of the original calibre of the visceral cavity by a deposit 

 of any kind. Yet this is a necessary characteristic of the Oculinidae. 



The ragged condition of the septal edges is evidently an occasional peculiarity in the 

 Amphihelice. 



The Amphihelice, having no infilling of the visceral chamber, no dissepiments and no 

 pali, and having solid walls and septa, which are usually not dentate, must be allied 

 with such simple forms as Ceratotrochus, Conotrochus, and Desmophyllum amongst the 

 Turbinoliidse. 



From the presence of a columella, the Amphihelice may be regarded as Ceratotrochi 

 and Conotrochi which increase by marginal gemmation. 



The next species to be described is very remarkable, not only for the great depth at 

 which it lives, but also for the size and blue tint of some of the specimens. 



Family AstrSBidSB. 



Division Etjphylliace^, Milne-Edwards & Jules Haime, Hist. Nat. des Corall. 



vol. ii. p. 183. 



Section Euphylliace^e CjESpitos^. 

 Genus Solenosmilia. 



Genus nov. The corallum is bush-shaped ; and the corallites, which rarely unite, are 

 cylindrical and bifurcate. The terminal calices are produced by a bi-gemmation ; and 

 their fossae and columellae are in common. The tissue between the new calices is usually 



VOL. Tin. — PART v. March, 1873. 3 a 



