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XXI. On the Genera Heterophyllia, Battersbyia, Palseocyclus, and Asterosmilia ; the 
Anatomy of their Species , and their Position in the classification of the Sclerodermic 
Zoantharia. By P. Martin Duncan, F.G.S., Secretary to the Geological Society. 
Communicated by Professor Huxley, F.R.S. 
Received March 30, — Read May 2, 1867. 
CONTENTS. 
Page 
1. Introduction 643 
2. Description of, and remarks upon, the species of Heterophyllia 644 
3. Anatomy of the Battersbyice, and remarks upon the genera Battersbyia and Heterophyllia 648 
4. Anatomy of the Palceocycli. Remarks 651 
5. On the genus Asterosmilia and its species 652 
6. The position in the classificatory scale of Heterophyllia, Battersbyia, Palceocychis, and Asterosmilia 654 
1. The admirable classification of the Zoantharia by MM. Milne-Edwards and Jules 
Haime* although very elaborate and natural, presents several very decided “ breaks” in 
the continuity of the generic succession. The great distinction between the important 
families of the Turbinolidce and Astrceidce f renders the classification rather more arti- 
ficial than it really is ; and at first sight this classification may appear not very practical, 
on account of there being, several genera which either cannot be placed at all or are 
arranged provisionally amongst certain divisions or families. 
The objects of this communication are to describe the species of a genus which unites 
the family of the Turbinolidce to that of the Astrceidce , to describe some very peculiar 
Heterophyllice and Battersbyice and to classify them, and to remove the genus Palceocyclus 
from the family of the Fungidce into that of the Cyathophyllidce. 
2. The genus Heterophyllia was established by M‘Coy, who described two species of 
it from the Carboniferous limestone of Derbyshire. He was so struck with the anato- 
mical peculiarities of the species that he had no hesitation in asserting that they were 
totally unlike those of any other recent or fossil group. 
MM. Milne-Edwards and Jules Haime placed the genus amongst the “ incertae 
sedis.” 
Several specimens from the Carboniferous beds of Ayrshire, Fifeshire, Lanarkshire, and 
Stirling have lately been found to contain no less than six well-marked species of the 
genus Heterophyllia ; and some of them are more paradoxical in their anatomy than 
those described by M c Coy. Still the generic peculiarities are strongly marked in all 
the species. 
The genus may now be admitted to contain the following species. 
* Histoire Naturelle des Coralliaires ; Paris, 1860. + Brit. Eoss. Corals, 2nd series, p. 34, 1866, pt. 1. 
MDCCCLXVII. 4 T 
