294 OX IIETEROrSAMMIA MICIIELINII, 



This genus is placed by tlie authors iu their synopsis of the 

 family, among the first and largest division, that is, the simple 

 corals. The species is thus defined. Corallum very short, with 

 a base wider than the calice, which is shaped in the form of a 

 figure of 8. The shorter axis is the highest part of the margin 

 which re-enters here, and the ends of the longer axis are rounded. 

 The greater axis exceeds the smaller by one-third. Columella 

 well developed, of a finely spongy tissue and of velvetty surface, 

 not projecting from the fossa, which is shallow. Five cycles of 

 septa, those of the three first orders nearly equal, slightly exsert, 

 rather narrow, thick, and of a spongy texture, those of the last 

 cycle larger than the penultimate, thin, uniting two by two close 

 to the columella, internal edge strongly concave about the middle 

 then becoming conspicuously convex below. Alt. 10 millim., 

 major axis 18. minor 4. depth of fossa 3. Habitat Whampoa, 

 China. 



The same species was also described by J. E. Gray in the 

 Annals for Nat. History, for May 1850 (vol. 5. 2nd Series, p. 410.) 

 as Heterocyathus eupsammides, of which the following is the 

 diagnosis. Coral polymorphous, base fiat, sides shelving, sinuous, 

 surface covered with very close irregular, denticulated, sinuous 

 ridges and pierced with numerous minute pores ; star irregular, 

 compressed or sinuous, lamina3 narrow, then cribellated on the 

 surface and with an oblong elongated, convex, cribellated centre. 

 Yah. star more or less contracted in the centre, forming two 

 more or less distinct roundish stars. Hab. Chinese seas. 



From this description it would appear that Dr. Gray was in 

 possession of specimens wherein the calice was divided. If this 

 were the case, the coral would be no longer simple but compound, 

 and a totally different position in the family be required for the 

 species. 



Through the kindness of Moiis. Theophile Saves, of Noumea, 

 I have recently received a very extensive series of this coral from 



