504 Verrill^ Notes on Radiata. 



It was based on the massive mode of growth and rudimentary pali, 

 but in the following massive species the pali are well developed. 



Porites Californica Verriii, sp. uov. 



Corallum encrusting, glomerate, irregularly lobed, or sub-ramose ; 

 the lobes or branches coarse, short, rounded at top, often compressed, 

 or confluent into wide irregular lobes, usually "SO to "75 of an inch 

 thick. Cells rather large, mostly separated by very porous walls of 

 moderate thickness, distinctly excavate, but not deep. Septa thin, 

 rough, sparingly spinosely granulated on the sides. Columella I'udi- 

 mentary, spongy, often wanting, surrounded by a circle of live or six, 

 small, prominent pali. 



Height 3 to 5 inches ; diameter 6 to 8 or more ; length of lobes or 

 branches "5 to 1*5 ; thickness '50 to '75 ; diameter of polyp-cells '04 

 of an inch. 



Gulf of California near La Paz, living in 4 or 5 fathoms, from divers, 

 and worn specimens common on the beach, — Capt. J. Pedersen. 



Porites porosa VerriU, sp. nov. 



Corallum encrusting, irregularly lobed and branched, much as in the 

 preceding ; lobes often rounded at top. Polyp-cells rather small and 

 shallow, crowded, separated by thin, fragile, very porous, roughly spin- 

 ulose and lacerate walls. Septa little developed, thin, narrow, the 

 edo"e roughly spinulose or lacerate, the sides with small spinule-like 

 granulations. Pali five to seven, slender, prominent, roughly spin- 

 ulose at top. Columella small, porous, little developed, often wanting. 

 Occasionally a larger cell with 24 septa and 12 pali occurs. Color 

 of the unbleached coral dark yellowish brown. 



Heio-ht 3 to 4 inches ; diameter about the same ; thickness of the 

 lobes '5 to 1 inch ; diameter of cells -03 to -04 of an inch. 



Gvilf of California, near La Paz, with the last, — Capt. J. Pedersen. 



Resembles the preceding, but is easily distinguished by the unusu- 

 ally porous texture, very thin walls and septa, and crowded cells. 



Porites excavata Verriu, sp. nov. 



Corallum encrusting, becoming thick, glomerate, massive, and form- 

 ing irregular hemispheres. Texture rather light and finely porous, 

 but firm. Polyp-cells rather large, polygonal or i-ounded, well defined, 

 deep and excavate, separated by rather firm, regular, moderately 

 thick, elevated walls, which are thickly covered with coarse, rough 

 granules. Septa very distinct, narrow at summit, wide below, extend- 



