EASTERN COAST OF THE UNITED STATES. 



37 



prickles, disposed in close panicles. The trunk rises from a broad-spread base, and divides 

 immediately into several large branches of one third of an inch diameter ; as these rise 

 up, one side of them appears flat, with a groove or channel along the middle part of it, 

 where there are the remains of many little branches that have grown in rows on each side 

 of it. It then divides into branches, and often into other branches, all of which are in form 

 of close panicles, not unlike the fox-tail grass. These panicles are composed of very 

 rough, thorny, minute branches, which are twice as long on one side of the stem as on the 

 other. The outside of this Antipathes is of a grayish color ; the inside is black and very 

 brittle. It is near two feet high. 



" This was brought from South Carolina, and presented to Corbyn Morris, Esq., F. E. S., 

 and has not before been described." 



Sub-order III. Astr^earia. 



In this division the polyps have elongated, more or less cylindrical tentacles, the surfaces 

 of which are generally covered by distinct papilla3 or spots, caused by groups of lasso- 

 cells. The walls are highly developed and likewise the septal organs, and solid corals 

 are formed by the secretion of lime in these parts. The corals have mostly solid, imperfo- 

 rate walls ; septa in multiples of six, often in great numbers, compact, imperforate, usually 

 extending on the outside of the walls as costoe. Between the septa transverse plates, one 

 above the other, are formed by basal secretions, or the space is filled from below by a con- 

 tinuous deposit of solid matter, as in Oculina. 



The last character would exclude the Turbinolidce of Milne-Edwards, which, in most 

 other respects, agree with the Uusmilince, and ought, perhaps, to be considered as low and 

 simple forms of Astrjearia. There is a gradual and almost complete transition from the 

 Turbinolidce through such forms as Ceratotrochus duodecim-costaius, in which imperfect trans- 

 verse dissepiments are often present, to Parasmilia, Ccelosmilia, etc., among the Astrceidce, in 

 which the dissepiments are but slightly developed. There is also a very close connection 

 of the Turbinolidce ( Caryophyllince) through Paracyccthus, which sometimes has rudimentary 

 dissepiments, with the Astrangiacece M.-Edw., particularly with such genera as Phyllangia 

 M.-Edw. and H. and Syndepas Lyman, which have very imperfect dissepiments and, at the 

 same time, nearly entire septa. The polyps, also, seem to have a very close resemblance, 

 since so accurate an observer as Dana united species of Flabellum with his genus EuphyUia, 

 principally with regard to this feature. 



The character among Turbinolidce of always remaining simple has no weight, since there 

 are, also, many simple Astreidce, and especially since the observations of Mrs. Thyme, if 

 accurate, prove that Caryophyllia undergoes, while young, complete and extensive fissi. 

 parity. 1 



We unite Oculinidce 2 with the Astrceidce without hesitation. While young, Oculina diffusa 

 and 0. arbuscula are low, incrusting corals, spreading over the surface of rocks in precisely 

 the same manner as Astrangia, and budding in the same way, so that it is even difficult, 

 sometimes, to distinguish the two genera while young. The polyps of these two genera 

 and also of Cladocora are very similar in all respects, as is beautifully shown in an ex- 

 cellent series of unpublished plates in the possession of Prof. Agassiz. 



i On the increase of Caryophyllia Smilkii, with notes 2 This position of Oculinidce was suggested by Prof. Agassiz 

 by P. H. Gosse, Ann. and Mag. of Nat. Hist., iii. p. 449 three years ago, and has been constantly confirmed by fur- 

 (1859). ther examinations. 



MEMOIRS BOST. SOC. NAT. HIST. Vol. I. 10 



