102 



PAPERS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF MARINE BIOLOGY. 



figure and his statement, "Sie kommen aus den siidhchen amerikanischen Meeren." 

 Verrill attacked the usage of Gregory and myself 1 , maintaining that "the name 

 acropora (L.) should be discarded as indeterminable, both genetically and specifi- 

 cally." I accepted VerrilPs correction 2 with the statement: "But as Ellis and 

 Solander had in the interval between Linnaeus and Esper given a definite name to 

 the species, I admit that it is better to use annularis Ell. & Sol., instead of acropora 

 Linn. (Esper)." 



For reasons stated the name acropora L. is not available for any coral. 



The type of Dana's stelligera is in the U. S. National Museum, No. 55. As the 

 right-hand one of Klunzinger's two figures (plate 3, fig. 9) of Favia lobata is so 

 similar to Dana's type that it might almost have been made from it, a redescription 

 of it scarcely seems necessary, but it is herewith figured. 



The type of Dana's Astraa intersepta (non Esper) = Plesiastrcea armata Verrill, 

 is in the U. S. National Museum, No. 65. This is only a growth-form of Favia 

 stelligera, with a somewhat less dense texture than is usual. The type is a segment 

 extending probably from the center to the periphery of the corallum. It was 

 attached by the central part of the base, it is convex on the sides, and has a flattish 

 upper surface. Thickness, about 67 mm.; radius along line of greater diameter, 

 about 87 mm.; radius along line of lesser diameter, about 65 mm. The size of the 

 calices, the number and arrangement of the septa, the pahform lobes, and the 

 columella are similar to those in the type of F. stelligera, but, as stated, the 

 texture of the corallum is lighter. 



Matthai's description of this species is fairly good, but there is greater range 

 in the diameter of the calices than he indicates, as is shown by the following table: 



Range in diameter of calices in Favia stelligera. 



The calices may be subcircular or deformed; where deformed the longer dia- 

 meter rarely exceeds the larger number given in the table. There is also a wide 

 range in variation of the thickness of the septa and costae; they may be thick or thin 

 and fragile on the same specimen. Asexual reproduction by subequal fission. I 

 did not observe any instance of a partition crossing septa as in Favites. 



Habitat, etc., Cocos-Keeling Islands. — Dr. Wood Jones collected two variants of 

 this species in Cocos-Keeling Islands, viz, one with thicker costae and septa, which, 

 he says, "occupies all stations from barrier to pools and lagoons"; and one with 

 thinner costae and septa, "which grows in clear water, either on the barrier or in 

 inlets where there is not much sand." The color is "light yellow or yellow brown." 



Distribution. — Red Sea; Indian Ocean; Pacific Ocean; Rotuma (Gardiner); Fiji 

 Islands (Dana's type); Paumotus {Albatross, 1 899-1900); Fanning Island (C. 

 Elschner). 



'Amer. Jour. Sci., vol. 13, p. 77, Jan. 1902. 

 ! Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, vol. 15, p. 56, 1902. 



