190 MADREPORARIA. 
M. granulosa in habit. Branches 11 cm. long, 7 mm. thick, subterete near the base, but 
becoming divided into broad, much-flattened divisions, which are more or less completely 
fused together. The under surface bears stunted twigs on the margins of the flattened 
branches, pressed into the general plane; they consist usually of a thick, elongate tubular 
corallite from 8 to 12 mm. long, and 2°5 to 4 mm. thick, usually bearing short appressed 
tubular to subimmersed corallites; a very small number of immersed corallites are also 
scattered over the under surface. The upper surface of the flattened branches bears a number 
of stout nariform or hemicotyloid corallites usually disposed in three or four irregular rows, 
two of which are lateral and give a serrate outline to the margins ; they are 3 to 4 mm. long 
and 2 mm. thick. From amongst these corallites a large number of slender branchlets extend 
subvertically, which are 1°5 to 2°5 em. long and 4 mm. thick at the base; the distal portion 
frequently consists of 3 or 4spreading, elongate, tapering, tubular corallites, 7 to 15 mm. long, 
the larger ones 2°5 mm. diameter at the base and 1 mm. at the apex ; some are simple, but 
the majority bear a few nariform, short labellate or tubular bud-corallites, sometimes to within 
1°5 mm. of the apex. The aperture of all the tubular corallites is small, one third the diameter 
or under; wall rather porous, but the surface is dense ; margin plane or slightly rounded, but 
not suddenly incurved. The septa have a variable development in different parts of the 
corallum ; the primaries are subequal, or the directives may be prominent and the others 
narrow, and a second cycle may be more or less completely represented. Corallum dense ; 
surface clothed with crowded blunt echinulations, which may be arranged in rows on the walls. 
M. fragilis, B.-Smith, is apparently a young form of this species, in which the flattened 
branches have not yet become fused together. 
Var. minor. 
The variety of M. rambleri recorded by Bassett-Smith, but not described, agrees closely 
with the type in habit, but the whole of the subdivisions are smaller. The chief distinction 
rests in the branchlets, which are about 1°5 em. long and bear numerous, rather spreading, 
tubular, dimidiate or labellate corallites often 4 mm. long and 1 mm. in diameter; the 
tubular corallites are only 8 to 5 mm. long, scarcely tapering, and rarely over 1 mm. diameter 
at the base. The wall, particularly of the tubular corallites, is finely striate, the strie being 
dentate. 
China Sea. 
a. Tizard Bank, 26 fath. H.M.S. ‘Rambler.’ 89.9. 24.152. (Type.) 
6. Macclesfield Bank, 27 fath. H.M.S. ‘Rambler.’ 89. 9. 24. 153. (Type of M. 
fragilis, B.-Sm.) Young. 
c,d. Macclesfield Bank, 31 fath. H.M.S. ‘Penguin.’ 92.10.17.18 & 19. 
e. Macclesfield Bank, 20 fath. H.M.S. ‘Rambler. 89.9. 24.72. (Var. minor.) 
f. Macclesfield Bank, 18 to 28 fath. H.M.S, ‘ Penguin.’ 92. 10.17.20. (Var. minor.) 
