176 A. E. Verrill — Comparisons of Coral FauncB. 



rather prominent, somewhat enlarged proxinially. They usually 

 stand at a large angle to the bi'anches. The septa are exsert, usually 

 24 ; pali are not very well developed ; and the columella is rather 

 large and papillose. 



It is common in Harrington Sound in 1 to 8 fathoms ; Bailey Bay, 

 2 to 6 fathoms, etc. 



Oculina Valenciennesi Edw. & Haime. 



Monog. OculinidjE, p. 69, 1850; Hist. Corall., ii, p. 108, 1857. 

 ? Oculina Banksi Edw. & H., Monog., p. 68 ; Hist. Corall., ii, p. 107, 1857. 

 ? Oculina Bermudiana Duch. & Mich., Supl. Corall. Antilles, p. 162 [68], pi. x, 

 figs. 1, 2 (poor), 1866. Quelch, op. cit., p. 51 (as Bermudensis). 



Plate xxxii, figure 5. 



Ivory Coral. Tree Coral. 



This species forms openly and irregularly branched, or rather 

 straggling arborescent corals, a foot or more high, with the branches 

 rather long and crooked. The larger branches are from 1 2 to 20™™ 

 in diameter, in large specimens ; corallites mostly circumvallate. 



The distal corallites are usually a little prominent, but those on the 

 larger branches and trunk are mostly low, and scarcely exsert ; their 

 bases are usually surrounded by a shallow, circular depression, out- 

 side of which there is a wide and low surrounding ridge. The 

 depressions and ridges are crossed by the curved, radial costal 

 striations. Common at the Bermudas, especially in Harrington 

 Sound, ] to 8 fathoms. 



The singular looking coral described by Edw. & Haime as 

 0. Banksii may be only an older and more developed form of this 

 species, with calicles larger and more deeply sunken in a fosse than 

 usual, and with higher investing ridges. The locality of the type 

 was unknown, but it was from the collection of Sir Joseph Banks. 



Catesby (Hist. Carolina, etc., Introduction) states that he made a 

 collection of corals in the Bahamas and afterwards presented them 

 to Sir Joseph Banks, who was one of his patrons. It is probable, 

 therefore, that this type was from the Bahamas. 



I have seen a fine specimen, agreeing well with the original descrip- 

 tion of Banksii, in the Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., from the Bahamas 

 (coll. R. P. Whitfield), but have not had an opportunity to study it 

 carefully. 



I can find nothing in the brief description and poor figure of 

 O. Bermudiana by which to distinguish it from the present species. 



