FAMILIES AND GENEEA OF THE MADEEPOEAEIA. 



31 



versely flattened. "Wall dense. Epitheca well developed, con- 

 cealing the costse up to the calicular margin. 



Distribution. — 'Recent. West-Indian Seas. 



The late M. de Pourtales placed this genus near Discotrochus. 



The remarkable genus Fungiacyathus of G. O. Sars comes in 

 here, in spite of its Fungoid appearance. 



Genus Fungiacyathus, Sars, Bemarhahle Forms of Animal Life 

 from the Great Deeps off the Norwegian Coast : Christiania, 

 1872, p. 58, pi. 5. 

 Corallum simple, free, without trace of former adhesion. Base 

 discoid, nearly circular in outline, tbin, nearly horizontal. The 

 septa rise from the base, forming a convex calice, and there is a 

 wide and deep central cavity bounded by the inner ends of the 

 septa. Septa numerous, thin, brittle, often wavy at the free edge, 

 more or less vertical, arched above, tallest externally, lowest near 

 the central depression, converging from the calicular edge inwards, 

 not anastomosing ; in six systems, with 6 to 8 orders in each 

 system. Columella formed by septal ends, small. There are no 

 pali. Edge of basal margin with dentations, each one corre- 

 sponding to a septum. Costse small, radiating from the centre of 

 the imperforate base. There is no epitheca. In the soft parts, 

 which are of brilliant vermilion colour in the species, numerous 

 small tentacles surround the mouth near the inner edge of the 

 septa. 



Distribution. — 'Recent. Lofoten Islands, 300 fms. 



The species of this genus resembles a Stephanophyllia or 

 Bathyactis in shape, but the septa do not anastomose. There is 

 only a basal wall, and there do not appear to be endotheca or 

 synapticula. The genus is evidently one of the Turbinolidse, or 

 simple corals without endotheca. 



VII. AlHance HAPLOPHYLLOIDA. 



Small simple Turbinolidse, with irregular or more or less quadrate septal 

 arrangement. With or without stereoplasma. 



Genus Gdynia, Duncan. 

 Genus Duncania, Pourtales. 

 Genus Haplophyllia, Pourtales. 



These are three genera of corals which belong to the fauna of 

 the recent deep sea, and which have given much trouble to the 

 classificatory zoologist. They present some af&nities with the 



