532 FUNAFUTI ATOLL. 
Millepora nodosa, Esper. 
ne tortuosa, Dana. 
Distichopora rosea, “ent. 
Physalia megalista, Lamarck. 
Class SCYPHOZOA. 
Aurelia clausa, Lesson. 
Polyrhiza orithyia, Haeckel. 
Class ACTINOZOA. 
The following list of Actinozoa is compiled from different sources 
under the supervision of Mr. Whitelegge, whose papers in this 
volume (pp. 213 — 225, 307 - 320, 349 — 368, and 384 — 391) have 
formed the basis. With these have been incorporated information — 
from the articles of J. 8. Gardiner and I. L. Hiles.* 
In some prefatory notes to the Mollusca, it was remarked that 
the high proportion of novelties to the mass of previously known 
forms should not be mistaken for an indication of endemic impor- 
tance, but should be ascribed to the imperfection of our knowledge 
of the continental faunas. This statement has received support 
from the Gorgonidz in the brief time that has elapsed since it was 
written. Keroeides gracilis has been retaken by Willey in New 
Guinea, Villogorgia rubra by Willey in the Loyalty Islands, 
Acamptogogia spinosa by Willey in New Britain, Lobophytwm 
hedleyi and L. densum by Hedley in New Caledonia. 
Some giant specimens of a white Sea Anemone, ten inches in 
diameter, were observed on Funafuti, but defied any effort to 
remove them and are hence unnoted in the following list. 
The specific identification of Reef Corals is regarded by the 
highest authorities as a matter of extreme uncertainty. H. M. 
Bernard wrote :—‘ The only specimens which can be claimed with 
absolute certainty as specifically identical are a few which have 
ineach case been gathered at the same place and time, and resemble 
one another as closely as if they were two fragments of one and 
the same stock. Beyond these no certainty exists, and strict 
regard to the variations of form and structure would compel us to 
label all the remaining specimens as different varieties or species.” + 
To maintain such a position means chaos. Either we must, as 
Bernard proceeds to suggest, “break loose from the restraint of 
the Linnean species,” or deal with the group on the broader lines 
on which Hickson has lately dealt with the Heliopora and 
Millepora. 
* Gardiner—Proc. Zool. Soc., 1897, pp. 941 — 958; Idem 1898, pp. 257 - 
276, 525 - 5389, and 994-1000; Hiles, in Willey, Zoological Results, 
part 2, 1899, pp. 195 — 204. 
+ Bernard—Cat. Madreporarian Corals Brit. Mus.. 1896, p. 20. 
