EAMILIES AND GENERA OE THE MADREPOEARIA. 



153 



Q-enus Stephanoseeis, Milne-Edwards Sf Jules Haime, Hist. 

 Nat. des Gorall. vol. iii. p. 56 (1860). 



The corallum is short, with an unsymmetrical tumid base, which 

 is larger than the calice. Base containing a Sipunculid worm, 

 and perforated with large and small apertures, or fixed on a G-as- 

 tropod shell. Calice circular or subcircular, open. Septa 

 numerous, well developed, arched, tall, subentire, denticulate 

 axially. Septa of first and second orders tallest ; those of last 

 cycle close to and nearly as high as their neighbours of tlie 

 earlier cycles. Pali before all septa except the last cycle, small, 

 arched. Columella trabeculate, and minutely papillary at the 

 surface. Costae large, unequal, granular, with deep narrow in- 

 tercostal spaces. Underpart of base smooth or granular, not 

 costulate except at the edge. Wall very thick, solid. Granules 

 on septa numerous, elongate, radiating. 



Distribution. — Becent. Indian Ocean, Corean sea, Philippines, 

 Zanzibar. 



This last genus was placed by Gray amongst the Heterocyathi, 

 and separated by Jules Haime on account of its internal struc- 

 tures. I place it here with much doubt ; for I have not found 

 synapticula in any specimens, and the details of the soft parts are 

 not known. Indeed this Alliance is unsatisfactorily placed, and 

 requires greater revision than materials will at present permit of. 



IV. Alliance PODOSERIOIDA. 



Simple Lophoseridse with a wide base of attachment. Calice convex, 

 with a central fossula. Costae distinct, and covered or not with epitheca. 



Genus Podoseris, Duncan. 

 Genus Episeris, E. de From. 



Genus Podoseris, Duncan, Supp. Brit. Foss. Corals, Pal. Soo. 

 Lond. Pt. ii. No. 1, p. 25 (1869), amended in Pt. iii. p. 24. 



The corallum has a wide or pedunculate base of attachment ; 

 the height varies, but the calice is generally narrower than the 

 base, and is convex. Its central fossula is circular and small. 

 The columella is formed by the septal ends ; and the septa are 

 numerous, close, unequal, uniting. The costae are distinct, 

 straight, and covered more or less by epitheca. Synapticula 

 numerous. 



Distribution. — Fossil. Oolite and Cretaceous : England. 



