FAMILIES AKD GTENERA OF THE MABEEPOEAEIA. 



173 



joined by vertical and transverse processes, and having apertures 

 in t"he intercostal spaces. Calices well developed. Septa in several 

 cycles, some orders uniting with others, directly or by trabeculse, 

 to form symmetrical star-like patterns. Septal laminae stout, and 

 tlie principal ones entire and imperforate, except sometimes near 

 tbe wall ; the higher orders more trabeculate and perforate. 

 Endotheca scanty. Sclerencbyma may exist. Epitheca occasional. 

 Increase by gemmation and fissiparity. 



Although there is a great family likeness amongst the genera 

 now recorded, it is very difficult or impossible to place them all 

 indefinite Alliances. Some groups of single genera are therefore 

 established. 



But the Eupsammidse indicate their right to be considered 

 a family by having varieties of form w^hich are noticed in 

 other great families. There are simple and colonial types, and 

 the forms are turbinate, discoid, incrusting and massive, dendroid, 

 &c. ; and there are types which undergo fissiparity, gemmation 

 from the sides, and also from stolons. 



There are the following Alliances in this family : — Stephano- 

 phyllioida, Balanophyllioida, Dendrophyllioida, Leptopsammioida. 



I. AlHance STEPHANOPHYLLIOIDA 

 Simple Eupsaramitlse; with a discoid, basal, horizontal wall. 

 Genus Stephanophyllia, Michehn. 



Subgenus Discopsammia^ d'Orb. 

 Genus Leptopenus, Moseley. 

 Genus Cyclobacia, Bolsche. 

 Discopsammia, d'Orb., becomes a subgenus. 



Genus Stepkanophyllia, Michelin, Article Astree. Diet, des Sci. 

 Nat., Supp. t. i. p. 484 (1841); Icones Zooph. p. 32, pi. 8 ; 

 Moseley, ^Challenger' Report on Corals, p. 198 et seq. (1881). 



The corallum is simple, free, discoid, wdth a horizontal wall. 

 Calice circular, with five cycles of septa, and some of a sixth, not 

 projecting outwards, but large, high, thin, and close, uniting by 

 their upper or internal borders, the primaries only being free, 

 with conical projecting points on their sides. Septal edges 

 dentate more or less near the axial space, and the laminae are of 

 fused trabeculae more or less perforate. Columella distinct, in a 

 well-marked calicular fossa. CostsD straight, delicate, and radi- 



