Vaughax. — Some Corals from Kermadec Islands. 277 



Goniastrea benhami n. sp. (Plate XVIII, figs. 1, 2, 2a; Plate XIX, 



figs. 1, la; Plate XX, fig. 1.) 



Description of Holotype (Plate XVIII, figs. 2, 2a; Plate XIX, figs. 1, la; 

 Plate XX, fig. 1).- — Corallum with a small basal attachment, from which it 

 grows outward with an upwardly inclined, subhorizontal, or undulate lower 

 surface. Epitheca distinct, thin, wrinkled, finely striate. Upper surface 

 curved, with one small hump. Length of radius of corallum, 9 cm. (diameter, 

 about 18 cm.) ; thickness at centre, 5 mm. ; thickness at edge, from a mere 

 basal membrane at the ends of valleys up to 5 mm. ; the height of a colline. 

 Texture light. Intercorallite walls thin, sometimes with slits between the 

 septa. Calices circumscribed or in series, but where they occur in series the 

 calicinal centres are distinct. Circumscribed calices about 7 mm. by 8 mm. in 

 diameter ; the series range from 9 mm. wide and 17 mm. long to 6 mm. wide 

 and 44 mm. long. Eange in width, from 6 mm. to 9 mm. ; in length, from 

 8 mm. to 44 mm. ; depth, from 5 mm. to 6 mm. Distance from the edge of 

 one columella to the edge of the next in the series, from 2 mm. to 5-5 mm. 

 Septa thin, 10 to 12 within 5 mm.— i.e., 20 to 24 within 1 cm. ; alternately 

 larger and smaller with fair regularity ; opposed outer septal ends meet in 

 an angle on the colline summit (a larger usually but not invariably opposite 

 a smaller). Below this angle the septa are narrow and fall steeply within 

 the narrow valleys, but slope more gradually within wide valleys. Between 

 the wall and the inner ends of the septa there are from about 12 to about 

 14 pectinations ; those near the lower ends of the septa somewhat larger 

 and more or less divided on their tips. Thin erect paliform lobes well 

 developed. Their inner edges fall steeply to the periphery of a columella 

 composed of fine, rather delicate septal trabeculae. Septal faces beset 

 with delicate, pointed granulations. Endotheca highly developed, very 

 vesicular. 



Description of Paratype (Plate XVIII, fig. 1). — This differs from the 

 holotype chiefly in having a more distinctly hillocky surface ; and some 

 septa are thicker. 



Localities. — Meyer Island: on rock; depth, 1 fathom (holotype). Meyer 

 Island: rocky and gravel bottom ; depth, 12 fathoms (paratype). Dayrell 

 Islet : volcanic submarine beds. 



Remarks.- — This coral is a species of Goniastrea, and except that it has 

 meandroid calicinal valleys it bears considerable resemblance to some speci- 

 mens of G. pectinata (Ehrenberg), which I have illustrated rather elaborately 

 in my paper on the shoal-water corals from Murray Island, &c. G. planulata 

 Milne-Edwards and Haime has meandroid corallites, but its skeleton is 

 much heavier. I know of no described coral species to which the one here 

 considered is referable, but that it has a rather wide distribution in the Pacific 

 Ocean is shown by a specimen from Formosa (according to label) in the 

 U.S. National Museum. 



Studer* has described a coral from Singapore, to which he applies the 

 name Scapophyllia lobala, which may be the same as this ; but he gives the 

 number of septa for it as 13-15 to 1 cm., while the number for Goniastrea 

 benhami is 20-24 to 1 cm. If Studer meant 13-15 to apply to the larger 

 septa the number per centimetre would be nearly the same as in the latter. 

 A good photographic illustration of Studer's species is needed. 



Naturforsch. Gesellsch. Bern., Mitth., Jhr. 1880, p. 34, 1881. 



