134 



CORALS 



The tubes are not tabulate and show no signs of septa 

 or cohimella, and the coralhim is imperforate. They are 

 about 0-2 mm. in diameter and i mm. in length, ending 

 below in a conical pit in the solid calcareous substance. 



Fig. 6i. — CcvatoporcUa nichohonii. Off Cuba, loo fathoms. Xat. size 



The onlv evidence there is of the affinities of this coral is 

 afforded by the presence in the margin of the tubes of a 

 number of slender calcareous tuberculate spicules. These 

 spicules have a close resemblance to the spicules of some of 

 the Alcvonaria. 



Fig. 62. — Surface view of Ceratoporella 



10 diams. 



It must not be considered as certain that Ceratoporella 

 is an Alcyonarian from this single piece of evidence, as 

 spicules of various kinds and sizes are also formed by cal- 



