MUSLIM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. 135 



The color of the polyps is generally greenish, sometimes pale brick red. 



Dredged in considerable number from 9-1 to 324 fathoms off the Florida 

 reef; most abundant about \-2» fathoms. It is frequently found growing on 

 a living Cueulhea, much smaller than its parasite. 



Oculina disticha Podrt. 



Mode of brandling unknown. Branchlets slender, with alternate calicles, 

 distant about one diameter from each other. Cos.tae giving a plicated ap- 

 pearance to the border of the slightly prominent and moderately deep 

 calicles. General surface faintly striated. Septa of the first and second 

 ord( r well developed, those of the third rudimentary, all finely granulated 

 and dentate. Pali fronting the septa of the first and second order. Colu- 

 mella formed by one or two papillae. 



A few dead branchlets only were obtained in 4 3 fathoms off the Ameri- 

 can shoal, Florida. They bear a general resemblance to the fossil Diplo- 

 lielid raristella, but the presence of pali prevents the generic association 

 of these corals. 



Diplohelia profunda Pourt. (Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. No. G.) 



A 1'l>\v small pieces of this coral were obtained in 324 fathoms off Bahia 

 Honda, Florida. They are in rather a decayed condition, like nearly all 

 the specimens of this species that 1 have ever seen. 



Lophohelia affinis Pourt. 



Corallum branching irregularly, sometimes coalescing ; the polyps bud- 

 ding in alternate series from the border of the calicle. Surface smooth, or 

 very finely granulated. Calicles very deep. Septa smooth, entire, exsert. 

 Systems unequal. No columella. Color white: polyps flesh-colored, with 

 about twelve club-shaped tentacles, hiding the mouth wdien contracted. 

 Dredged in seme quantity in 195 fathoms oil' Coffin's Patches, Florida, but 

 no trace of it was found in the numerous other dredgings in the vicinity. 



1 am unable at present to distinguish this coral from Lophohelia prolifera 

 Edw. \ Haime (Madrepora prolifera Pallas), except that the latter has 

 the calicles a little less expanded, as figured by Ellis. It is rather singular 

 that the largest coral of northern Europe has never been figured since 

 Esper, whose representation is much inferior to Ellis's. 



Stylaster erubeseens Pourt. 



Branching densely, flabellate, not coalescing; younger branchlets slen- 

 der, with rather dense alternate calicles; older branches much thickened 

 with calicles in irregular rows on one surface, interspersed with ampulla?. 

 Coenenchyma smooth. Calicles slightly prominent, about fa of an inch in 

 diameter, deep. Septa nine to twelve, most commonly eleven, equal, shaped 



