MADREPORA. 93 
Madrepora microclados, Studer, MB. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, 1878, p. 526; Studer, Mitth. naturf. Ges- 
Bern, 1880, p. 20; ? Ortmann, Zool. JB. 1888, Bd. iii. p. 153 (non Briiggemann, Phil. Trans. 
1879, vol. elxviii. p. 576). 
Madrepora cytherea, B.-Smith, Ann. Mag. N. H. 1890, vol. vi. p. 454. 
? Madrepora efflorescens, B.-Smith (non Dana), Ann, Mag. N. H. 1890, vol. vi. p. 454. 
Corallum broad and shallow vasiform or tabulate, usually 2 to 2:5 cm, thick, but 
occasionally 5 em. Under surface complanate and closely reticulate, the branches frequently 
laterally compressed, about 1:2 cm. by 7 or 8 mm., usually devoid of branchlets. Corallites 
usually immersed, with a variable number of short appressed tubular corallites, sometimes 
only near the margin of the colony, at others scattered over the whole surface. In some 
specimens, which agree in other respects, the immersed corallites of the under surface are 
almost entirely replaced by appressed and dilated corallites with small aperture. Branchlets 
on the upper surface numerous, subequal, erect, rarely proliferous near the apex, but often 
furcate below, apices about 8 mm. apart; length usually 8 to 12 mm., diameter 4 to 5 mm., 
subterete and more or less distinctly tapering. Axial corallites 1°5 mm. diameter, 0°5 mm. 
exsert; wall not much thickened. Radial corallites immersed or subimmersed on the upper 
surface of the branches and at the base of the branchlets, becoming flattened labellate, and 
imbricate nearer the apex, about 2 mm. long and the lip 1‘5 mm. broad; wall thin; in some 
specimens the lip is not flattened and the corallites are rather more distant. Star rarely 
distinct, but the directive septa are more or less prominent. Corallum porous; surface 
reticulate and echinulate; wall striate and more or less distinctly echinulate. 
Var. abbreviata. 
Habit of the type: branchlets 6 to 25 mm. long, obtuse at the apex, with scarcely 
prominent axial corallites ; radial corallites much shorter and more closely crowded. (Dana.) 
Var. eucladia. 
Resembles the type form, but the under surface of the frond is covered with stout 
obsolescent corallites, which are rather crowded and render the surface uneven. Branchlets 
18 mm. long and 3 to 4 mm. diameter, 6 mm, apart, regularly tapering and subacute, 
crowdedly covered with small thin corallites. (Dana.) 
The small Fiji specimen figured by Dana does not represent the habit and appearance 
of the species, and it is probable, as hinted by Dana in the text, that the specimen does not 
belong to this species. I have referred it to M. armata. 
Var. sinensis (= M. spicifera, var. abbreviata, and M. cytherea and ? M. efflorescens, 
B.-Smith). 
Several specimens from the Tizard Bank present a general resemblance to this species, 
but may prove to be specifically distinct. The specimens vary considerably in appearance, 
but all seem to me to be variations of one form. Corallum shallow, half-vasiform, 44 cm. 
wide and usually under 2 em. thick. Under surface closely reticulate, sometimes with a few 
incipient branchlets, chiefly in the general plane. Corallites on the under surface short, 
0 
