A. E. Verrill — Bermudian and West Indian Beef Corals. 155 



New buds appear chiefly between the angles of the calicles. 

 Passion of the larger calicles occurs occasionally. 



Siderastraea stellata Ver. 



These Trans., i, p. 352, 1868. Rathbun, R., Amer. Naturalist, xiii, p. 541, 

 1879, (habits). Vaughan, op. cit., p. 62, 1901. 



Plate XXX. Figures 4, 5. 



This species is related to S. radians and has the same ability to 

 endure impure shallow waters and exposure to the air and sunshine, 

 without injury. 



It is widely distributed on the coast of Brazil ; Bahia, Abrolhos 

 Reefs, etc., — coll. C F. Hartt ; R. Rathbun. 



I have figured one of the types, from a photograph. No. 1404. 



Var. conferta Ver., op. cit., p. 353. 



Plate XXX. Figure 5. 

 This peculiar Brazilian form has not yet been figured. Therefore 

 I have reproduced a photographic figure of one of the types, — the 

 extreme form. No. 1404''. 



Asteroseris Verrill. 



This genus seems to be related to Plesioseris Duncan.* 



Dana described in 1S40 a rare, thin, laminar or foliaceous coral 

 (Af/arioia planulata) that is the type of this genus. 



I have studied a fragment of the original type, which is here 

 figured (pi. xxvii, fig. 8). No. 4309. 



The genus is remarkable for the low, reticulated collines, enclos- 

 ing polygonal areas in which there are usually two or several stellate 

 calicles. Each of these groups consists of a pai'ent calicle from 

 which the others around it have been produced as buds from it. 

 These calicles of a group are not at first separated by definite boun- 

 daries, the costse being continuous from one to another. Columella 

 is a minute tubercle, or is lacking. Under side naked, finely striated. 

 Calicinal walls solid. Synapticula and trabecule few or lacking. 



The type of that genus (Mcendroseris Australia! Rouss., from 

 Australia) is a convex, gibbous, encrusting coral. But as both 

 encrusting, massive, and foliaceous species occur in allied genera 

 (Pavonia, Agaricia, etc.), it is possible that they might also occur 



* Mceandroseris (pars) Rousseau, Voy. Dumont d'Urville, Zool., v, p. 121. 

 1854. Edw. and Haime, Hist. Corall., iii, p. 61, 1860. Plesioseris Duncan, Jour. 

 Linn. Soc, Zool., xvii, p. 309. 1883; Revision Scler. Zoanth., op. cit., xviii, p. 

 161, 1884. 



