MADREPORARIA. 783 



53. Galaxea fascicularis (Linn.). 



G. fascicularis et irregularis Ed. and H., ii. pp. 227 and 229; Klz., p. 78. 



I refer eight specimens to this species from which I am unable to separate G. irregularis, 

 since they all show variations intermediate to the previously given characters of the two 

 species. The variation is well dealt with by Klunzinger for G. irregularis. One specimen 

 in places recalls G. musicalis, but elsewhere clearly belongs to facies irregularis. 



Locality. Reef-flat, Addu and Turadu, S. Mahlosmadulu ; west reef, Hulule ; velu, Hulule, 

 6 /. ; N. Male, 18 /. and 21 /. ; Suvadiva, 20 /. 



54. Galaxea musicalis (Linn.). Ed. and H., n. ]). 225. 



I cannot define any specific characters beyond those given by Ed. and H. The larger 

 septa are 1 — 1'5 mm. exsert, all are represented by costae, and all three cycles are generallj- 

 clearly visible ; those of C3'cle I. are larger than II., but both I. and II. fuse by trabeculae 

 in the axial fossa. 



Locality. N. Male, 25 /. ; S. Male, 26 /., and Addu, outer slope, 25 /. 



55. Galaxea hexagonalis, Ed. and H. Ed. and H., il. p. 226. 



A very much more delicate coral than G. fascicularis with septa 2 — 3 mm. exsert, much 

 more marked costae and a well-developed columella, formed of coarse trabeculae, quite distinct 

 even in the smallest corallites, besides all the other characters given by Ed. and H. The 

 perithecal vesicles are thinner walled and appear rather larger than in G. fascicularis. 



Locality. Inner part of reef- flat of Minikoi and N. Male, 25 /, a few corallites. Colour, 

 transparent, hence appearing white, with peristome dark olive. 



56. Galaxea lamarcki, Ed. and H. Ed. and H., Ii. p. 225. 



Milne-Edwards published excellent figures of this species (Le Regne Animal de Cuvier, 

 Atlas, pi. 85, figs. 1, la — h) from which my specimen differs in having the corallites averaging 

 2 — 25 mm. in diameter, the primary septa '5 — 1 mm. exsert, in most calices 6 septa as in 

 fig. 1 fusing to form the columella, though certain rather larger and more upstanding calices 

 exactly resemble fig. 1 a, perithecal cells quite distinct on the surface, continuous throughout 

 and not in bands. The separate vesicles are larger than in any of the other species in the 

 collection, and the corallum is extremely light. Its under surface is covered by a distinct 

 epitheca. 



Locality. S. Nilandu, 36 /. 



57. Galaxea, sp. ? 



A fragment with 20 corallites with perithecal vesicles very similar to the last but smaller, 

 corallites slightly larger and rising for less than 1 mm. above the peritheca, septa scarcely 

 exsert, fusion of primaries only in the axial fossa, septal cycle III. scarcely represented, corallites 

 6 — 9 mm. distant. 



Locality. Felidu, 25 /. 



