PREFACE. 
I reGRET the delay in the appearance of this volume, which I partly ascribe 
to the method of description employed in it, and partly to the great difficulty 
of the subject. Even now only the Porites of the Indo-Pacific region are 
described ; but the second and concluding part of the Catalogue of this genus 
ought not to be long delayed. 
The thanks of the Trustees are due to Professor Perrier and Dr. Ch. Gravier 
for enabling the Author to make a careful study of the splendid collection in 
the Museum of Natural History in Paris, which includes the types of 
Lamarck ; and to Dr. T. Wayland Vaughan, of the U.S. Geological Survey, 
for enlarged photographs of specimens, with much useful information. 
The volume has been carefully edited by Mr. F. Jeffrey Bell, the member 
of the permanent staff who has charge of the collection of recent corals ; while 
advice with regard to matters of horizon in dealing with fossil forms has always 
been readily given to Mr. Bernard by Mr. R. Bullen Newton, of the Geological 
Department. 
It is, of course, a matter for regret that the geographical arrangement of 
the forms proves so cumbrous and inconclusive, but I am not sorry that I 
allowed Mr. Bernard to try a new method, for the binomial is not one well 
adapted for corals. It is, however, convenient and generally adopted, and in 
returning to it, as we shall for other genera, we shall also, | hope, see much 
less sub-division of forms than we have had with Goniopora or Porites. 
E. RAY LANKESTER. 
British Musewm (Natural History), 
Cromwell Road, 
London, S.W. 
July 27th, 1905. 
