SYSTEMATIC PART. 
CLASSIFICATION. 
Brook’s method of systematic classification of the Antipatharia (l) 1 ) is criticised by Schultze 
(6) in a very appreciative but at the same time very radical manner, so that Schultze found it 
necessary to make a number of great changes in Brook’s system. He was of opinion that the 
system could be made more natural by paying less attention to the form and other charac¬ 
teristics of the axis, which are very subject to the influence of the surroundings as Schultze 
could demonstrate with an instance of Savaglia , and by reckoning more with the anatomy of 
the separate individuals, especially the number and the place of the mesenteries, since in this 
respect a constant, hereditary condition exists. Schultze does not hold the form of the colony 
absolutely valueless for the classification, but he will only make use of it for the distinction of 
lesser groups, by which however a conformity of colonies may be very well a phenomenon of 
convergency so that the result would be an artificial system; but we are less probable to 
make an error than by using the form of the colony as typical for the principal division. The 
family of the Dendrobrachiidae subsists without more. Schultze proposes to subdivide the 
family of the Antipathidae, emendated by Brook, into three subfamilies: Dodekamerota, Deka- 
merota and Hexamerota, according to the polyps having twelve or ten or six mesenteries. To 
the Dodekamerota appertains only the genus Leiopathes , to the Hexamerota only the genus 
Cladopathes , while Kinoshita’s Hexapathes would now also belong to it. The Dekamerota fall 
asunder in two unnamed tribes according to the polyps having peristomal folds or not, des¬ 
cending into the gastral cavity. To the tribe with peristomal folds belong the three genera 
Schizopcithes , Bathypathes and Taxipathes , while the tribe without peristomal folds is subdivided 
into three subtribes, viz. the Crustosae, whose colonies form a crusty covering over foreign 
bodies and are only free for the matter of their ultimate branchlets, the Ramosae, whose 
colonies are branched and always free, and the Indivisae, whose colonies are also free but 
always unbranched. To the Crustosae belongs Savagliopsis and also Silberfeld’s genus Pro- 
pidopctthes. The Ramosae contain the genera Antipathes , Aphanipathes and Parantipathes, 
while Cirripathes and Stichopathes appertain to the Indivisae. The genera Antipathes Brook, 
Antipathella Brook, Pteropathes Brook and Tylopathes Brook are joined by Schultze in one 
genus Antipathes Pallas (emendated by Schultze). Schultze’s argumentation is conclusive but 
i) The numbers refer to the bibliography. 
S1BOGA-EXPED1TIE XVII. 
2 
