174 A. E. Verrill — Comparisons of Coral Faunaz. 



On the smaller branches and branehlets the swollen bases of the 

 corallites gradually decrease in size, till they may disappear. In 

 such cases the distal corallites are cylindrical, somewhat prominent, 

 and they stand at a rather wide angle to the branch, even to near 

 the tips. But quite often the bases are distinctly swollen nearly to 

 the tips of the branches. 



The costal striae are often well developed, about 24 in number, 

 radiating on the sides, but often curving at the sutural lines, when 

 the latter are distinct between the bases of the corallites. On the 

 larger branches and trunk the costal strias and sutural grooves are 

 often entirely lacking and the whole surface appears smooth. 



Figure 11.— Oculina varicosa Les. Part of a branch with the polyps expanded; 

 much enlarged. From a drawing by A. H. Verrill. 



The septa are mostly 24 to 36, varying in width and thickness 

 according to the cycles. The 12 larger ones are usually distinctly 

 thicker and wider than the others, subentire, and only a little exsert, 

 broadly rounded at summit, thick at the walls. 



The pali are generally 10 or 12, rather small and thin, and not 

 very prominent, The columella is of moderate size and papillose. 



On our largest specimen there are several scattered, abnormally 

 large corallites, having 40 to 56 or more septa. These are exsert 

 and have large and deep calicles with narrow septa. Their calicles 

 are 5 to 7 mm in diameter. 



The ordinary calicles are mostly about 2-75 to 3'50 mm in diameter, 

 rarely 4 mm , but on the thicker branches and trunk their diameter is 

 often only 2 mm , being smallest in those corallites that have very 

 swollen bases ; these large bases are often 10 to 13 mm in diameter 

 and 6 to 8 rara high. 



Our largest specimen was about 4(>i) ra,n (16 inches) high, when 



entire. 



Bermuda, 6-12 fathoms ; in Harrington Sound, etc. Rare on the 



Florida Reefs and in the West Indies. 



