250 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



In the Fish Hawk specimens the vernicse were much less prominent, and the capitular ridges and 

 longitudinal rows likewise indistinct and correspondingly indefinite. They appeared, therefore, of 

 smoother and cleaner texture than the former, which were rough and the furrows and nodular interstices 

 coated with a brownish deposit in marked contrast to the whitish points of the nodules themselves. 



While this species is seldom seen among the fauna of the region as strictly interpreted, still it has 

 seemed quite proper to make at least a brief reference to their presence among contiguous fauna. 



MADREPORARIA. 



Of the Madrepornria there are comparatively few species which come within the range of the present 

 synopsis. Of these by far the most common is Astrangia, which abounds almost everywhere. The 

 more characteristic features of the order have been given in an earlier section. 



ASTRANGIA M. Edwards and Haime. * 



Corallum forming an encrusting mass over the substructure, the colony forming variously disposed 

 aggregates of polyps, mostly of small dimensions, though occasionally branching in rather complex 

 fashion, as shown in figure 9, plate XLiii. The polyps are very transparent, but appear white as viewed 

 against a dark background. 



Astrangia dans Agassiz. [PI. xliii, fig. 9.] 



Astrangia dame Agassiz, Proc. Am. Assoc. Adv. Sci., vol. n. p. 6S, 1847: Milne-Edwards and Haime, Ann. des Sci. Nat., 



3d ser.. T. xa, 1850. 

 Astranijia astreiformis Leidy. Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci., vol. m, 1855, p. ,39. 



daruE VerriU, Mem. Boston Soc. Nat. His., vol. i. 1864, p. 40; Inv. An. Vineyard Sound, 1874, p. 740. 



This is the best-known coral, having a natural habitat within the region. Indeed, it is the only 

 one at all familiar along the shore waters of the New England coast. It occurs almost everywhere, 

 growing on rocks, piles of docks, shells, etc., at or just below low- water line to a depth of 15 to 20 fathoms. 

 Its range is given as from Florida to Cape Cod. It has also been reported from the waters of Casco Bay, 

 Me. The species forms irregular incrustations of rather small dimensions over shells, rocks, etc., though 

 it occasionally becomes larger and branches in rather complex fashion. It lives well in the aquarium 

 for an indefinite time. Polyps in expansion about 10 to 15 mm. in height and with about 24 delicate 

 tentacles, which bristle with nematocysts, especially about the tips. Cells of the corallum rather 

 shallow and with numerous septa, as shown in the figure. The breeding season seems to be chiefly in 

 midsummer. I have occasionally obtained eggs in the aquarium but it has been foimd difficult to 

 secure them under conditions favorable for development. 



ORBICELLA Dana, 1846. 

 Orbicella acropora (Linnseus). 



Madrcpora acropora Linnxus, Syst. Nat.. X ed., p. 708. 



Madrepora annularis Ellis & Solander, Nat. Hist. Zooph., 1786, p. 169. 



faTieolata Ellis & Solander, op. cit., p. 166. 

 Helias'.rea annularis M. Edwards & Haime, Hist. Nat. Corall., vol. n. p. 473, 1857. 



acropora Milne-Edwards & Haime, op. dt., p. 477. 

 Astrea annularis Lamarck. An. sans Vert., ad ed., vol. n, p. 405. 



Orbicella annularis Pourtales. Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. vu, 1880; A. Agassiz, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. xx. p. 61. 

 1890. 

 acropora Vaughan, Bull. U. S. Fish Comm.. vol. 11, p. 301, 1901. 



A fragment of tliis coral was found by Dr. F. B. Sumner on the beach at Nobska (Woods Hole) 

 in July, 1906, and still another some two years later. Both specimens were somewhat worn by water 

 action, yet easily identified. So far as known, the species has not hitherto been recorded north of 

 Bermuda, Porto Rico, or similar range. And while at first I was disposed to regard its occurrence here 

 as accidental, possibly through tourist agency, still the facts seem to warrant recording, leaving to 



