178 A. E. Verrill — Comparisons of Coral Eaunce. 



Sometimes this feature, in that species and others, may he found 

 characteristic of many entire calicles. It is then, scarcely more than 

 a variable specific character in some species. 



In respect to the /Symphyllia condition, I will add that I have one 

 specimen of 31. {IsophyUia) fragilis, from Bermuda, in which the 

 six calicles terminate entirely distinct dichotomous branches, as in 

 M. Harttii, var. laxa. The calicles are partly isolated, partly under- 

 going fission. There is no exotheca. 



As to Ulophyllia, I am in some doubt, for I have been unable to 

 study more than a few specimens of that group. Other species that 

 have been figured appear to differ more from Mussa than those that 

 I have seen, and possibly some of them may be genetically distinct. 



The Indo-Pacific species of Mussa (including /Symphyllia, typical ) 

 differ as a whole from the West Indian species in having broader 

 and more exsert septa, with larger and usually broader distal teetli, 

 and usually in having stronger or more spiniform costal teeth. The 

 columella is also apt to be more lamellose. But all these parts are 

 variable and do not present any tangible generic characters for sepa- 

 rating them from the West Indian group. These last present a wide 

 range of variation in the size and character of the calicles and septa, 

 and in their dentition. 



Mussa (Symphyllia) annectens Ver., sp. nov. 



Plate xxxv, figures 1, 2. 



Rose Coral. Cactus Coral. Tooth Coral [Bahamas). Figure 12. 



Coral massive, either pedicelled or broadly attached, more or less 

 hemispherical, up to inches (150 ram ) in diameter, with the walls of 

 the corallites united, to their summits, by costa? and cellular exotheca, 

 but nearly always showing a narrow groove along the summit. The 

 proper walls are thin and solid. Calicles of moderate size and deep, 

 mostly in short, separate, lobulate series, with two to four centers. 

 Many of the compound calicles have a stellate or rosette-like fornj 

 with three to six lobes, each of which has a calicinal center, which 

 surround a larger central one. In other places the calicles run 

 together in sinuous valleys, which are then about 12 to 15 mm wide 

 from wall to wall, but between the edges of the septa only 7 to 10 mm 

 wide. The largest calicles that are not dividing are usually about 

 18 to 20 mm across, rarely 25 mm ; depth of calicle to top of wall, 

 9-1 2 mm . The septa are not very wide, but rather thick distally, and 

 strongly exsert ; their summits are often wider than the middle por- 



