48 



PEOF. P. MARTIN" Duncan's -revision of the 



Internal cavities obliterating almost completely with tlie growth 

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



Distribution. — Becent. E-ed Sea, Indian Ocean, Pacific. 



If Seriat&pora is admitted into the Oculinidae with Pocillopora 

 the question occurs, wbat is to be done with Dendropora, Miche- 

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

 pora. They are associated with Seriatopora by Milne-Edwards 

 and Jules Haime in a family of Tabulata ; 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 Eavositidae. 



CHAPTEE III. 



Family Astr'seidte, definition. The necessity for the union of the old 

 subfamilies Evismilinje aind Astraiinas. 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 Astk^id^e simplices: the Alliances and Tribes; description of 

 the Grencra, lists. — II. Subfamily Astr^eid^ reptantes : Alliances, Genera, lists. 

 — III. Subfamily AsTH^iDiE gemmantes : definition, Alliances, Genera, list. IV. 

 Subfamily Astr^id^ c^espitos^ : Alliances, Genera. — V. Subfamily Astr^id^ 

 coNFLUENTEs : Alliances, Genera. — VI. Subfamily Astr^id^ agglomerate 

 rissiPARANTES : Alliances, Genera. — VII. Subfamily Astr^eide agglomerate 

 GEMMANTES : Alliances, Genera, Lists. 



Family ASTR^ID^, 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 deciduoiis 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 Turbinolidse : 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 costse, 

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

 mural solid coenenchyma is rarely seen. 



The subfamily Eusmilinse and the subfamily Astrseinae of Dana 



