REPORT ON THE REEF-CORAILS. 149 
short and irregular, and indicate the characteristic shape of the species as described by 
Dana. 
Locality.—Reefs, Fiji. 
3. Madrepora palmata, Lamarck. 
Madrepora palmata, Lamarck, Hist. Anim, sans Vert., i. p. 278, 1816. 
As pointed out by Pourtalés ' from actual observation on the Florida reefs of a large 
number of specimens, of all sizes and ages, Madrepora flabellum, Lamarck, Madrepora 
alces, Dana, Madrepora cornuta, Duchassaing and Michelotti, and Madrepora thomast- 
ana, Duchassaing and Michelotti, are but varieties of this species, and “pass from one 
to the other by gradations among which it is impossible to draw the limit.” A series of 
specimens in the collection fully bears out this conclusion. 
Locality.—St. Thomas, West Indies. 
4, Madrepora prolifera, Lamarck. 
Madrepora prolifera, Lamarck, Hist. Anim. sans Vert., ii. p. 281, 1816. 
A single specimen of this species was obtained. It is very close to Madrepora 
cervicornis, and bears out the remark of Pourtalés as to the doubtfulness of their specific 
difference.” 
The figure in the Report on the Florida Reefs, pl. xix., can scarcely be considered 
typical of the species, since it presents a form with the thick, short calicles which are 
more generally characteristic of Madrepora cervicornis. The calicles in this species are 
generally very long, tubular, and rather slender, especially towards the distal parts. 
Madrepora ethica, Duchassaing and Michelotti, does not seem to be separable from 
this species. 
Locality.—St. Thomas, West Indies. 
5. Madrepora cervicornis, Lamarck. 
Madrepora cervicornis, Lamarck, Hist. Anim. sans Vert., ii. p. 281, 1816. 
A fine example of this species was obtained. The form, size, length, and striation of 
the calicles are very variable in the species ; and the variable thickness of the corallum 
in a series of specimens is a marked feature. 
A very good figure of the species is given in the Report on the Florida Reefs, 
pl. xviii. 
Locality.—St. Thomas, West Indies. 
1 Illus. Cat. Mus. Comp. Zool., No. iv. p. 83. 2 Tilus. Cat. Mus. Comp. Zool., No. iv. p. 84. 
