CA R TOP II YLLIA CEA , 
OCULINADJS. 
THE TUFT-CORAL. 
Lopliohelia prolifer a. 
Plate X. Fig. 1 (reduced). 
Specific Character. Corallites cylindrical. 
Madrepora proUfera. 
Lithodendron prollferum. 
Oculina prolifera. 
Lophohella prolifera. 
Lixn. Sy.st. Nat. Ed. 12, 1281. Ellis and 
SoLANDER, Zooph. pi. xxxii. figs. 2—5. 
Esper, Pflanz. i. 104; Madr. pi. xi. 
ScHWEiGGER, Handb. der Nat. 416. 
Lamarck, An. s. verteb. ii. 286. L.amour. 
Exp. mdtb. 64 ; pi. xxxii. figs. 2 — 5. 
D.vna, Zooph. 393. 
M. Edw. and IIaime, Ann. des Sci. Nat. Ser. 3. 
xiii. 81. M. Enw. Hist. Corail. ii. 117. 
GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 
CoraUum. Forming a massive, compact, many-branched tree, rising 
from a slender base, permanently attached to rocks. 
Corallites. Free laterjilly, in general budding only once or twice, 
cylindrical, or but slightly expanding at the summit, moderately long. 
Exterior surface covered with very minute close-set granules, without ribs, 
except very faint marginal traces. The margin is often surrounded by a 
thin lamellar expansion. 
Plates. Systems generally une-jual and irregular, being formed of 
seven, or five, or three derived plates, but easily recognisable by following 
the development of the primaries, which are far greater than the others. 
The^^ato themselves arc thick in the centre and towards the mai’gin, but 
are thinned off to a sharp edge, w'hich is irregular in outline, but not 
notched ; their surfaces covered w’ith minute granules. The principal 
ones, from eight to twelve in number, are stouter and far more salient 
than the rest. 
Ha/fe. Very thick and dense, gradually filling up the bottom of the 
cavities. 
SiZK. 
The individual corallites are from one-fourth to half an inch in height 
and diameter. The dimensions of the compound mass vary according to 
