Yerrill, Notes on RacUata. 353 



four complete cycles of septa. Most of the specimens are about six 

 inches in diameter. Color dark ash-gray when unbleached. 

 Abrolhos Reefs, — C. F. Hartt. 



This is one of the commonest species of Brazilian corals, and may be collected abun- 

 dantly from the reefs and rocky shores everywhere northward of Cape Frio. It flour- 

 ishes in the pools of rocks and reefs left by the tide, m company with Favia gravida V., 

 and seems to be a very hardy species, enduring not only great changes of temperature, 

 but also great variation in the degree of saltness of the water. It frequently Uves in 

 large ponds on the top of the stone reefs, which are only filled at high tide, and are 

 exposed to be much heated by the sun and much freshened by heavy rains. I have 

 found it also in little ponds above the sea level, to which the waves had access only at 

 high tide. It sometimes grows on the level surface of the reefs, and I have seen it 

 exposed to a hot sun for an hour or more, at very low tides. This species occasionally 

 forms elongated masses, 8 — 12 inches in length. When ahve it varies much in color, 

 usually being of a very pale pinkish tint, almost white, but sometimes blotched with 

 deepened spots of the same color. On the border of the reef, I have collected it at a 

 depth of 3 — 4 feet, at low tide. — c. f. h. 



Var. conferta. 



Some of the specimens show a curious deformity of the cells, aris- 

 ing from crowding, especially in the central portions. These have 

 the septa and walls between the cells more elevated and convex, and 

 in many places broken through, so as to unite adjacent cells. The 

 cells, consequently, are irregular and appear deeper. But near the 

 basal margins of such specimens, cells of the normal form may 

 usually be found. 



Pectinia Braziliensis Edw. and Haime, Coralhaires, ii, p. 209. 



One small specimen of this elegant species was obtained at the 

 Abrolhos Reefs by Mr. Hartt. It is distinguished by its turbinate 

 form and by having the exterior obsoletely costate and covered with 

 short conical spines. The cells are deep and narrow, the ridges 

 slightly sulcate at top, sometimes with separated walls. Septa rather 

 numerous, slightly projecting, the upper part regularly arched, per- 

 pendicular within. Coral 1*5 inches high ; 1 "25 wide; 2 inches long. 



This species appears to be quite rare in the vicinity of the Abrolhos. The above 

 specmien was found growing on the border of the Recife do Liooo, in about two feet of 

 water at low-tide. It also occurs at Victoria, in the Province of Espirito Santo, to the 

 southward, where it is thrown up on the beach by the waves, but I could not find it 

 alive. — c. F. H. 



Favia leptophylla Verriii, sp. nov. 



Corallum rather cellular, forming large hemispherical masses, 

 evenly rounded above, with a thin, imperfect, concentrically wrinkled 



