uri.LiniN "lit, i-N'iTi'.n siatks nationai. mt-seum. 189 



PORITES COMPRESSA forma BREVIRAMOSA, new. 

 Plate LXXV, figs. -', •_'.<. 



The type .specimeti is a lir;iiirli 11 cm. loiiji-. witli scvoral short, compre-ssed 

 tuberous branrhlets and a considerable number of swelling.s, or tuberosities, on its 

 sides. The ends of the side l)nuK'hes may bo somewhat swollen, and show incipient 

 bifurcation. For further details the ti<;uresare suHicient. In this forma the branches 

 are free; they are not crowded tojfether and fused in the lower portion of the colony. 



A description of the calices would be almost a repetition of what has been said 

 concerning iovuMi j>r<if>imtor>uii; the cliaracters are practically the same in both: in 

 the latter the septa are somewhat thicker. 



Locality. — Vicinity of Modu Manu. or Bird l>land. Station 41(;'.»; depth, 'li to 

 22 fathoms; bottom, coral; temperature, 78.6- F. ; 1 specimen, the type. 



Type.— G&i. No. :.'127.5. T.S.N.M. 



PORITES COMPRESSA forma ABACUS, new. 

 Plate KXXVII; I'latc LXXN'IIl, li^'. L'. 



The corallum is composed of ascending, comi>resscd. truncate branches oi' fle.ved 

 plates and crests, nuich fusi-d one to another from near the base to near the upper 

 edges. Height of the corallum, 22.7 cm. The branches vary in widtli from 1.15 

 cm. to 4.85 cm. ; in thickness, from 0.0 cm. to 1.5 cm. 



The calices are shallow, polygonal, from 1 to 2 mm. in diamcttT. average about 

 l..'i nmi.; separated by definite, thin, more or less zigzag, slightly elevated walls. 

 Mural denticles rather coarse, rough, nearly twice as many to a calice as there are 

 septa. The tiiickncss of the septa is moderate, approximately equal to the width of 

 the interseptal loculi, which are open. Between a palus and the wall there is usualh' 

 one trabecula, rarely two; likewise on the septal margin there is usually one, some- 

 times two, septal granules or dentations. The single septal granule, or the outer 

 one, if two are present, is detached from the wall and is conipai-atively tall; it may 

 be almost as tall as the wall. 



A ring of synapticula, usually separate fioiu tiie wall, unites the trabecuhe 

 next the wall and extends ui)ward to near the base of the septal granules. The septal 

 gramiles form a crown within the wall; the synapticula form a kind of platform 

 that often reaches nearer the wall than the outer edge of the granules and is slightly 

 lower. 



The pali are slender, prominent, and rough; the fornnda is usually complete; 

 .sometimes there is none on the ventral directive. The ring of palar synapticula is 

 rarely complete, but it is neai'ly always almost complete. 



The columella is a small, compressed, rough till )e role, more or less loosely con- 

 nected with the inner ends of the septa. 



The granulations of the skeletal surfaces are crowded and i atli(>r I'oarse. 



Local it ie.f. — 



Kaneohe, Oahu; depth. ;{ to (1 feet; received from Prof. A\'. T. Hrigham; 8 speci- 

 mens, including the type. 



Pukoo. Molokai; depth 3 to *> feet; received from Prof. W. T. Brigham; 4 

 specimens. 



