1*72 A. E. Verrill — Comparisons of Coral Faunae. 



Plesiastraea Goodei Ver. See p. 106, cut 1. 



Plate xxx, figures 1, la. 



Small-eyed Star Coral. 

 Outer reefs, at North Rocks, rare ; Bailey Bay reefs, rare. 



Family Stylophoridee. See p. 108. 

 Madracis decactis (Ly.) Ver. See p. 108, cuts 2, 2a. 



Plate xiv, figure 6. 



Ten-rayed Star Coral. 



Outer and inner reefs, common ; Harrington Sound, 0.5 to 2 

 fath., not rare. 



Family Oculinidae. See p. 110. 

 Oculina (Lam., restricted); Dana (jjars); Edw. & Haime. 



"Ivory Corals.'''' 



The genus Octdina is common at the Bermudas, and especially so 

 in Harrington Sound, where it occurs in several forms usually con- 

 sidered as distinct species. 



During both my trips to the Bermudas I made large collections of 

 this genus, in order to ascertain, if possible, the number of species 

 and their variations. But I have not as yet had opportunities to 

 devote the requisite amount of time to this subject. 



Some of the species of Oculina grow at considerable depths. I 

 was told by fishermen that they had occasionally hooked up living- 

 branches from 20-25 fathoms, on the hard grounds outside of the 

 outer reefs, but I did not see any of these specimens. 



It is certain that all the species are highly variable in general 

 appearance, size of trunk and branches, mode of branching, prom- 

 inence and size of the calicles, presence and character of the costal 

 striations, amount of coenenchyma, etc. The number and character 

 of the septa and pali and the size of the columella are also more or 

 less variable. Thus it becomes very difficult to limit the species. 



I feel certain that too many species of Oculina have been recog- 

 nized among the Bermuda corals, especially by Quelch, who records 

 seven species. Apparently all my specimens can be arranged in four 

 species, at the most, and perhaps in three. Therefore I now give 

 the following species only provisionally : 



