30 MADREPORARIA. 
This Porites is very remarkable. A branching form, built up mainly of flat flakes, and 
having at the same time surging walls, is a rare variation on the ordinary texture of Porites. 
A skeleton built of flakes usually results in thin, flat, explanate coralla (see P. China Sea 4, 
also Goniopora China Sea 3, Vol. IV. p. 72). Smooth branching forms, built up of horizontal 
flakes, are not unknown (see Table III.), so it can hardly be said that it is exclusively to 
the foaming ccenenchymatous ridges that we owe the fact that the surface of the original thin 
explanate stock rises into tufts and tangles of jagged, angular stems. For the peculiarly fluffy 
appearance of the surface, compare the form called Montipora friabilis, from some unknown 
locality, Vol. III. p. 138. 
The specific name “Jatistellata” is due to a misunderstanding. Mr. Quelch measured 
the calicles from ridge to ridge and found them 3 mm. across, as if the tops of the ridges 
were the walls. He also says the septa were from twelve to sixteen in number (see his 
fig. 6a, Pl. XI.) This latter number can only refer to the few double calicles which occur 
here as on most other Porites. 
Since Mr. Quelch’s description of his “species” appeared, in 1886, two large complete 
specimens, formerly in the Museum Godeffroy, have been acquired. These, being also from 
Tahiti, and showing the same essential features, serve to link together the specimens called 
“ Porites latistellata” with the type specimen of the proposed genus Napopora. The resemblance 
between the two had not been overlooked by Mr. Quelch, but he would hardly have been 
justified, with the material at his disposal, in classing them together. (Cf. note on the genus 
Napopora, Introduction, p. 12.) 
The Museum is fortunate enough to possess three complete stocks showing great varia- 
tions, but all essentially of the same texture and structure. 
a*—-b. Complete stocks, with long, rounded or flabellate 
stems. Originally from the Museum Godeffroy, Zool. Dept. 99. 3. 2. 10-9. 
and purchased from Mr. John Morgan. 
c. A small stock, with short, stunted stems, the type- 
specimen of Mr. Quelch’s “species,” “Porites } Zool. Dept. 80. 11. 25. 218 (part). 
latistellata”’ (in spirit). 
d—f. Small fragments. Zool. Dept. 86. 12. 9. 294. 349. 390. 
g. Type of the genus Napopora (see p. 12). Zool. Dept. 86. 12. 9. 302. 
3. Porites Society Islands 38, (P. Sociorum tertia.) (Pl. I. figs. 3, 4,5; Pl. X. fig. 5.) 
[Tahiti,t coll. H.M.S. ‘Challenger’ and the Museum Godeffroy ; British Museum and 
Cambridge University Museum. ] 
Syn. Synarea convera Verrill, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. i. (1864) p. 43. 
Synarea solida ibid. 
Synarea conveca Quelch, Chall. Rep. xvi. (1886) p. 187. 
Description.—The corallum, starting from a small base, sends up thin, angular, flame-like 
processes. These increase rapidly in thickness, become crowded and fused together till they 
* Specimen a is encrusted on one side by a portion of a Montipora, having somewhat the same 
skeletal texture as the well known Singapore form called by Dana “ Montipora hispida.” 
+ Specimen f is from the Papeete reefs. 
