MADREPORA. 35 
Corallum massive, incrusting, forming broad arched plates with broad pyramidal or 
conical elevations on the upper surface, and clustered ascending twigs towards the margin. 
The conés are very unequal in size, 2°5 to 65 cm, in diameter at the base and 2 to 3°5 cm. 
high. The axial corallites of the cones are only 2 to 2°5 mm. diameter, and scarcely exsert. 
Short proliferous tubular corallites, not over 5 mm. long, are scattered irregularly over the 
surface of the larger cones ; the radial corallites between them are short, tubular, with a more or 
less oblique aperture, outer part of the wall thickened, the inner thin; length 2 mm. or rather 
more, diameter slightly under 2 mm. Such tubular corallites are about 3 to 5 mm. apart, 
the interval between them is occupied by short nariform, subimmersed and small immersed 
corallites. The star of the prominent corallites consists of well-developed directive septa 
which nearly meet in the middle line, and of four other primaries together with part of a second 
eycle, all of which are narrow and subequal, but the primary septa are stouter. The 
marginal branches are 4 to 6 em. long and about 6 to 12 mm. thick ; the stouter ones are 
distinctly tapering. On these the axial corallites are hemispherical, 3 to 3°5 mm. diameter, 
with a well-developed star of 12 septa. The radial corallites are chiefly gutter-shaped, but 
with a variable number of short or immersed ones between ; length 2 to 3 mm., diameter 
2mm. at the apex, margin not rounded. The directive septa are prominent, the remaining 
primaries narrow, and a second cycle is not developed. The form of the radial corallites of 
the marginal branches resembles that of M. nobilis. 
China Sea. 
a,b. Tizard Bank, 2 fath. H.M.S.‘Rambler’ 89. 9. 24.100& 159. (=M. pyra- \ 
midalis, B.-Sm.) 
c. Tizard Bank, 2 fath. H.M.S. ‘Rambler’ 89. 9. 24.98. (=. seriata, B.- 
Types of the 
species 
Sm.) 
d. Tizard Bank, 1 fath. H.M.S. ‘Rambler, 89. 9. 24.112. (=M. pavilligera, 
B.-Sm.) 
e. is ——? 93.4.7. 87. (Specimen figured.) ) 
B. Corallum consisting of horizontal or oblique radiating branehes which ultimately become 
fused into a disk-shaped plate or shallow vase, with numerous proliferous corallites on 
the upper surface. 
11. Madrepora efflorescens. 
Madrepora efflorescens, Dana, Zoophytes, p. 441, pl. xxiii. fig. 6; M-Edwards & Haime, Coralliaires, 
t. iii. p. 159 (non Ortmann, Zool. JB. 1888, Bd. iii, p. 153; ibid. 1889, Bd. iv. p. 511; non 
B.-Smith, Ann. Mag. N. H. 1890, vol. vi. p. 454). 
Corallum vasiform?, branches coalescing into a solid plate 12 to 18 mm. thick, 
reticulate only at the margin and ribbed with the coalescing branches. Corallum flat below, 
and having very short crowded branchlets above ; the marginal ones 12 mm. long and 
3 mm. diameter; those near the middle of the colony not terete, 6 mm. long, acervate and 
proliferous. Corallites on the under surface short; on the upper surface the branchlets 
bear labellate corallites with long erect lip. Apical corallites cylindrical, 2 mm. long and 
1mm. broad, (Dana.) 
