1887. J PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 13 



9. Madrepora cerealis Daua. 



Dana, Zoophytes, p. 460, pi. 35, fig. 2,— Quelch, Cliallenger Eeef-Corals, p. 

 153. 



Sooloo Sea ; U. S. Expl. Exped., type (269). 

 East Indies; U. S. Expl. Exped., type (270). 



10. Madrepora cervicornis Lamarck. 



Lamarck, Hist, des Auim. saus Vert., ii, j). 281, 181G. — Daua, Zoopliytes, p. 

 479. — Milne-Edwards, Corall, ill, p. 136. — Pourtal^s, Ulust. Cat., Mus. 

 Comp. Zool., No. IV, p. 84, 1871. 

 Florida: (3085.) 



Liglit-ship Bank, three milea west of Carysfort Reef; E. Palmer, 18d4 (15473, 



15474, 15479-15481, 15483). 

 Garden Key, Tortugas; Capt. D. P. Woodbury (1642). 



Tortugas; Col. F. Farquhar (3929); E. Palmer, 1834 (15475-15478, 15432, 

 15484-15487). 

 West Indies; (301, 3965); U. S. Fish Comm. Str. Albatross, 1884 (11009, 11010). 

 Island of Curasao, Venezuela; U. S. Fish Comm. Str. Albatross, 18'S4 (7355, 73.58, 

 7362-7365, 7368). 



There are several specimens of Madrepora^ of the tyi>e of cervicornis 

 and prolifera, from both Florida and the West Indies, which the writer 

 has been unable to identify to his satisfaction, and they are not men- 

 tioned in this catalogue. As remarked by Pourtale.s, these two species 

 are usually more readily distinguished by their general shape and mode 

 of growth, than by the character of tlie cells, which are exceedingly 

 A'ariable as to size, prominence, and numbers, and intermediate forms 

 between the two are very common in all large collections. In the col- 

 lection made at the island of Oura9ao, by the steamer Albatross, the 

 greater number of specimens undoubtedly belong to cervicornis, but 

 some recall prolifera. 



Among the many specimens sent from Hayti by Mr. J. M. Langstou, 

 the majority are typical of prolifera, but the same series shows great 

 variation in mode of growth, in the direction of cervicornis. Similar 

 variations occur among specimens from Florida, but it would not be 

 safe to change the present status of the species without a more careful 

 study and comparison than appears yet to have been made. For this 

 purpose very large collections would be necessary. 



11. Madrepora conferta Quelch (f). 



Quelch, Challenger Reef-Corals, p. 164, pi. X, fig. 3, 1886. 

 South Sea Islands; donated by the Hon. H. F. French, 1885 (8923). 



There is in the collection a large and very i^erfect vase-shaped Madre- 

 pore, whicli appears to represent this species recently described by 

 Quelch. The exact locality where it was obtained is not known, but 

 it is said to have come from one of the "South Sea Islands." It was 

 presented to the Museum by the late Hon. H. F. French, together with 

 several other corals from the same region. 



It is a comparatively symmetrical, shallow, vase-shaped form, with 

 a short, rounded pedicel. The upper surface is slightly oblique, broadly 



