158 PAPERS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF MARINE BIOLOGY. 



Characters of some Tuberculale Montipora from Australia. 



Montipora aff. M. informis Bernard. 

 Plate 65, figures I, la, specimen from Murray Island. Also plate 19, figure 47, of Dr. Mayer's article. 



The following is a description of Montipora afF. M. informis from Murray Island: 



Corallum, represented by a triangular fragment, forms a thin, expanding free lamina. 

 Length of radius of fragment 12.2 cm.; thickness near inner end, 1 cm.; thickness of edge, 2 

 mm. Both upper and lower surfaces undulating. Epitheca on lower surface ranges from 



4 mm. to 19 mm. from edge. 



Calices on upper surface from 0.5 to 1 mm. in diameter, distance apart from about 

 0.5 mm. to 1.5 mm., arranged in rows roughly concentric with growing edge. Walls usually 

 not well marked. On lower surface diameter averages about 0.5 mm.; distance apart 0.5 

 to 1.5 mm., walls distinct, usually slightly elevated. Septa on upper surface, in two dis- 

 tinct, complete cycles, first cycle only slightly the more prominent, plane of symmetry 

 distinct. Usually an axial thickening of the ends of the directive septa simulates a col- 

 umella. On lower surface, cycles irregular, septa faintly developed. 



Ccenenchyma of upper surface glabrous or tuberculate. Tubercles where present either 

 surround the calices or are especially developed on the proximal sides. They are small, 4 or 



5 to half a calicular circumference, erect, and densely frosted. Reticulum rather coarse, 

 becomes secondarily compacted. 



Station, Murray Island. — Southeast reef, line I, 1,400 to 1,450 feet from shore, 

 water 14 inches deep at lowest tide; hard, rock bottom of broken corals; about 

 200 feet inward from the inner edge of the breakers. 



This coral differs from M. informis by the thickening of the inner ends of several 

 primary septa on the upper surface to form a columella plug, by the irregular septal 

 development in the calices on the lower surface, and by a less uniform development 

 of the tubercles on the upper surface. 



Montipora verrilli Vaughan. 

 1907. Montipora verrilli Vaughan, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 59, p. 168, pi. 63, figs. 2, la, lb; pi. 64, figs. I, la. 



Mr. Elschner obtained at Fanning Island a specimen which is essentially 

 typical, except that the surface is not so corrugate as that of the cotypes. Its 

 dimensions are 140 mm. long, 135 mm. wide, and about 70 mm. thick. The calices 

 and septa are as in the cotypes. 



Distribution: Hawaiian Islands; Fanning Islands. 



