74 MADREPORARIA. 
In connection with this form may be mentioned a free stock discovered by Mr. Gardiner 
at a depth of seven fathoms. It shows an astonishing variation in its calicles. There is every- 
where the conspicuous wall-ridge showing most of the specialisations above described under the 
different headings. There is sometimes a shelf with short septa, at others the septa are long 
and thin, asin P. Ellice Islands 8; while on one side of the stock the calicles show conspicuous 
rings of septal granules on the same level with the pali. 
One might perhaps infer, since this specimen which was a free rolling mass has calicles at 
one spot like those of No. 8, and at another like those of No. 10, that that fact established a 
link between those numbers. And this it certainly does, but how are we to interpret it? That 
there exists some affinity between the corals of this whole group, from Nos. 5 to 10, and 
perhaps 11, is already admitted, and was indicated by Mr. Gardiner’s names, but what the nature 
of this affiinity is has to be discovered; we have no data for any decision, and guessing serves 
no useful purpose. We have no alternative but to describe them under symbols for reference. 
Further, if we knew the exact relationship, we should even then have to invent a method by 
which it could be recorded in the symbols. 
d. A detached stock. Zool. Dept. 1904, 10, 17. 31. 
50. Porites Ellice Islands q7yl1. (P. Elliciana wndecima.) 
(BE WAG sie WS TL WANE siren, bo Tel, GOL, sites, 0) 
[Funafuti lagoon ; coll. J. S. Gardiner; British Museum. ] 
Syn. Porites arenosa (partim) Gardiner (non Esper), Proc. Zool. Soc. (1898) p. 272. 
Description—The corallum is massive and rounded, with edges closely adherent and 
bending under. The surface is raised into mounds and flattened ridges separated by open 
valleys, about 0°5 cm. deep. 
The calicles are crowded and flush with the surface, with straight sides, and hence 
very angular, 1-5 mm. in diameter. The wall-ridge, seen from above, is a thin echinulate 
thread, which, seen sideways, is often continuous and straight, seldom divided into separate 
trabecule. The calicle is occupied by two rings of small but very echinulate granules, reach- 
ing to the level of the wall, the outer ring the septal granules (not T-shaped), and the 
inner ring the pali. Beneath these can be seen parts of the shelf running round the calicle, 
and dimly the septal and columellar skeletons. Seen sideways, the granules appear as tall 
spikes, the inner ring—the pali—being the larger ; but there are great variations in the size of 
the septal granules (see Pl. VII. fig. 1). The pali form a rather compact ring of six—that is, 
four larger principals and two small directives. These latter are often flattened, and here 
and there a palus is joined to a septal granule, to make a long radial plate. 
There are two variations on this calicle on this same specimen; in one the wall-thread 
and the granules become horizontal flakes, so strikingly echinulate as to form a pattern quite 
unique—this is on one side of the stock, and perhaps simply a growth stage. A small 
