86 



PEOF. P. MAETiif Duncan's reyision op the 



mouth protruding. The tentacles are from 10 to 48 and some- 

 times more in number, elongated, the tips usually, if not always, 

 swollen or capitate, their surface being covered with small wart- 

 like clusters of urticating cells {op. cit. p. 512). This structure 

 of the tentacles is much relied upon by Yerrill. 



For a good representation of a Caryophyllia, which would be 

 included by Verrill, drawn from nature by Peach, see ' Monog. 

 Brit. Poss. Corals,' 2nd ser.. Pal. Soc. Lend., 1866, Duncan, 

 plate ii. figs. 9-20. The swollen ends of the tentacles are 

 shown, but they are not persistent characters in the genus. 



It is clear that the Oculinidae {Stylasfers omitted) of Milne- 

 Edwards and Jules Haime are closely allied to the family Turbi- 

 nolidse, and, although I cannot associate them in one family, they 

 are neighbours. The family (not suborder) which should now 

 be admitted, must exclude the Stylasteridse, the Stylinidge, 

 Astrangidse, and Caryophyllidse, which w^ere included by Yerrill 

 in his suborder, and should include the Oculinidae proper of 

 Edwards and Haime and some Stylophoridse, Ed. & H. 



The examination of a large series of specimens of the Ocu- 

 linidae of Milne-Edwards and Jules Haime has impressed me 

 with the general truth of their assertion that the visceral 

 chambers fill up by a deposit within, and are intruded upon by 

 the growth of the wall. The growth of the mural structure, 

 which is difficult to distinguish* from a solid ccenenchyma, is 

 very characteristic and is often excessive. 



II. Family OCULINID^, Milne-Edwards ^ Jules Haime (pars). 

 Oculinacea, Verrill (pars). 

 Corallites in colonies in the form of branches, espaliers, irre- 

 gular ramifications on a thick stem, or massive, or incrusting. 

 Increase by gemmation, which is usually lateral and often sym- 

 metrical ; fissiparity very rare. Interseptal loculi usually open 

 to the base, but dissepiments or tabulae sometimes occur. In- 

 ternal space diminishing on account of growth of stereoplasm. 

 Walls of corallites often increasing in thickness, exogenously, 



with age and becoming a solid mass by union with others. 



Solid intercalicular or intercorallite ccenenchyma usually present. 



Septa entire or not at their free edges, sometimes rudimentary. 



Polyps, when expanded, rising above the wall, or long and exsert, 



the mouth protruding ; the tentacles 10 to 48 or more, elongated, 



tips usually swollen or capitate. 



