BATTERSBYIA, PAL^OCYCLUS, AND A STBEO SMILI A . 
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includes amongst others the family of the Astrceidce, the interseptal loculi and visceral 
cavities are not open from the base to the calice, but are more or less completely shut 
off from below upwards by endothecal dissepiments. 
This endotheca is absent in the Turbinolidce, although it is very faintly foreshadowed 
in the well-known Paracyathi of the London clay, and it is invariably present in the 
Astrceidce. There are two divisions amongst the Turbinolidce : in one the septa reach 
inwards from the wall and have no appendages between their inner ends and the colu- 
mella ; and in the other these appendages or pali always exist before certain definite 
septa. The first division, the Turbinolince, has, then, neither pali nor endotheca ; and the 
second division, the Caryophyllince, has pali but no endotheca. 
The second great group of the Ma drep or aria has endothecal structures but no pali. 
The new genus Asterosmilia has species which possess pali and endotheca. 
Endothecal dissepiments are secreted by the innermost of the tissues which line the 
visceral cavity of recent corals ; and the portion of the corallum shut off by the for- 
mation of the dissepiment is no longer filled with any of the soft parts, but is dead to 
all intents and purposes. As the coral grows in height, these dissepiments are formed, 
so that the soft tissues are really restricted to a space a very little lower than the calice. 
Where there are no dissepiments the visceral cavity reaches to the base of the corallum. 
The pali are structures which spring from the base of the corallum, are secreted by 
the soft tissues, and determine the existence of a row of tentacles between the mouth 
and the innermost of the rows of the tentacles of the septal part of the disk. 
The corals contained in the Turbinolidce are simple and not aggregate. The species 
of the new genus are simple ; and it is interesting to observe that the form of the coral- 
lites closely resembles that of the elongate Trochocyathi. The position of Asterosmilia 
in the classificatory scale is between the Turbinolidce and the simple Astrceidce. 
Description of the Species. 
1. Asterosmilia ajsomala, Duncan. Plate XXXII. figs. 3 a- 3 d. ! 
Trochocyathus abnormalis , Proc. Geol. Soc. 1863, p. 26. 
2. Asterosmilia cornuta, sp. nov. Plate XXXIi. fig. 4. 
The corallum resembles Asterosmilia cinomala in shape, but is often longer. The costae 
are wavy and are slightly prominent, especially those of the principal septa. There are 
crests interiorly. The endotheca is abundant. Height of corallum 1J inch. 
Locality. Nivaje shale. In the collection of the Geological Society. 
3. Asterosmilia exarata, sp. nov. Plate XXXII. fig. 5. — V 
The corallum is small, pedunculate, nearly straight, and it enlarges suddenly. All 
the costae are prominent and nearly equal. There are no crests. Height f inch. 
Locality. Nivaje shale. In the collection of the Geological Society. 
From the characteristics of the species the generic diagnosis may be thus given. 
Asterosmilia. — The corallum is simple, long, and more or less cornute. The costae are 
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