70 



PAPERS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF MARINE BIOLOGY. 



Pocillopora dance Verrill was collected on the outer edge of the south 

 reef of the island, where there is a strong tidal current, in a place almost 

 awash at lowest tide, and subject to strong seas. Although of not espe- 

 cially delicate structure, the colony is ramose, and one would not think that 

 it could withstand the beating of heavy surf. 



Two fine colonies of Acropora gemmifera (Brook) were obtained from 

 the inner side of a reef patch on the Great Barrier Reef, 6 miles east by 

 north from Murray Island, in water 3 to 4 feet deep at low tide (see plate 77, 

 figures 1, \a, 2, id). A considerable area of the base of one specimen is 

 covered by an incrustation of Cyphastrea serailia, and there is a great deal 

 of Polytrema mineaceum (Linn.), as well as crustaceous lithothamnion. 

 Another specimen of A. gemmifera was collected on the inner edge of one 

 of the patches on the Great Barrier Reef, 6 miles east of Murray Island, in 

 water about 4 feet deep, where there is a strong current and within the 

 zone of breakers. This is the specimen represented by plate 77, figures 3, 3a. 

 A. gemmifera is a tremendously strong coral, entirely adapted to life on 

 exposed reefs. 



The following species were obtained from depths of 15 to 18 fathoms, off 



northwest reef, Murray Island: 



Stylophora pistillata (Esper), 18 fathoms. 

 Pachyseris speciosa (Dana), 15 fathoms. 

 Dendrophyllia nigrescens Dana, 18 fathoms. 

 Acropora syringodes (Brook), 18 fathoms. 



These are all fragile forms and could not exist in the zone of breakers, 

 but the required conditions are met by living at depths too great to be 

 affected by breakers. 



CORALS FROM COCOS-KEELING ISLANDS. 



Dr. Wood Jones has given two accounts of this collection in publica- 

 tions referred to on page 55, but the species represented had not then 

 been determined. 



List of corals obtained by Dr. Wood Jones in Cocos-Keeling Islands and their habitat. 



br. = branching; frag. = fragile; msv. = massive; pl. = plate; incrust. = incrusting. 



