I^O PAPERS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF MARINE BIOLOGY. 



How many of these names applied to morphologic variations will be accepted 

 in systematic nomenclature can only be decided after a complete revision of the 

 genus. On page 151 I suggest that Bernard's M. divaricata, M. compressa (non 

 Dana), and M. fruticosa be referred to the synonymy of M. ramosa Bernard. 



Glabrous Montiporte. 



Montipora levis Quelch. 

 Plate 61, figures I, la, specimen from Cocos-Keeling Islands. 



1886. Montipora levis Quelch, Reef Corals, Challenger Reports, p. 172, plate 8, figs. 2, la. 

 1897. Montipora levis Bernard, Cat. Montipora, p. 41, plate 31, fig. 19. 



There appears to be no need to repeat the descriptions of Quelch and Bernard. 

 The species is not closely related to M. palmata Dana, as Quelch supposed, for the 

 latter belongs to the tuberculate Montiporae. 



Habitat, Cocos-Keeling Islands. — "In the lagoon and lagoon inlets; particularly 

 abundant upon the lagoon margin of the barrier flats stretching between Pulu Tikus 

 and Pulu Gangsa. A shallow-water species, which liveswhere thewater is not rough 

 but is moving." (F. Wood Jones.) 



Distribution. — Cocos-Keeling; Banda; Fiji Islands. 



Montipora tortuosa (Dana). 

 Plate 61, figures 2, la, Dana's type; figures 3, 3a, specimen from Cocos-Keeling Islands. 



1846. Manopora tortuosa Dana, U. S. Expl. Exped., Zooph., p. 509, plate 48, fig. 2. 

 1897. Montipora tortuosa Bernard, Cat. Montipora, p. 48. 



In the collection of the U. S. Exploring Expedition corals in the U. S. 

 National Museum, No. 310 is Manopora tortuosa Dana and No. 312 Manopora 

 digitata Dana. They seem to be Dana's types. The two are so nearly related 

 that it is doubtful if they represent different species, a relationship of which Dana 

 was aware. M. tortuosa has longer branches, the outer coenenchymal surface is 

 flaky, and the surface granulations are finer than in M. digitata. Each species 

 usually has six distinct primary septa; the second cycle may be, but usually is not, 

 completely represented by much smaller septa in M. tortuosa, while it seems to be 

 nowhere complete in M. digitata. 



The specimen from Cocos-Keeling is typical M. tortuosa, except that the calices 

 average smaller, diameter 0.3 to 0.5 mm.; distance apart, usually 1 to 1.5 mm., 

 near branch tips in places 0.5 mm. Second cycle of septa rarely complete. 



Habitat, etc., Cocos-Keeling Islands. — Dr. F. Wood Jones states: 



"Specimens brought up on lines from depths of 5 or 6 fathoms in the lagoon. The 

 branches are almost colorless, and are of great length, in many instances being 2 feet long 

 and without any indication of lateral branch formation. The zooid is pale yellow. In shal- 

 low water the color becomes deeper and the branching colony more compact and bush-like." 



Distribution. — Cocos-Keeling; Singapore (Dana's type). 



Glabro-foveolate Montipora. 



Montipora ramosa Bernard. 

 Plate 62 figures I, la, 1, 3, specimen from Murray Island. Also plate 19, figure 45, of Dr. Mayer's article. 



1897. Montipora ramosa Bernard, Cat. Montipora, p. 49, plate 5, figs. 1-3; plate 32, fig- 3. 



1907. Montipora palmata Bedot, Madreporaires d'Amboine, p. 272, plate 46, figs. 255-259 (non Dana). 



Dr. Mayer collected four colonies of this species on the Murray Island reefs at 

 the following stations: 



line II, northwest side of island, 150 feet from shore; exposed at lowest tides; bottom firm, sandy, 



covered with Posidonia-Vtke grass. 

 Line II, northwest side of island, 180 feet from shore; exposed at lowest tides; bottom firm, sandy, 



covered with grass. 

 Line III, north end of island, 1,150 feet from shore; exposed at lowest tides; bottom of firm coral 



mud and volcanic sand, destitute of corals except this species, which grows sparingly. 



