89 



that the basal portions of the axial groove were not entirely covered, 

 the impediment was not of a serions nature. This experimenting 

 method was most suitable for achieving results in a short time. 



After the lapse of nearly four months the putty could still be 

 seen unaltered as to shape, as a hardened substance above the mouth. 

 Some corals had already (levelo|)ed buds. On the Ji''' of December 

 1921 five specimens were brought back, one of which (N°. 464) was 

 preserved in formalin and the other four were left dry (N°. 460 — 463). 

 The changes resulting from the experiment are summarized as follows : 



N". 462. About one fifth of the upper surface is defunct. Beneath it buds have 

 developed on the under surface, smaller ones at the margin, larger ones more 

 towards the centre. 



N". 463. Half of the upper surface is defunct. Only few septa in this destroyed 

 part exhibit in the margin residues of living tissue. Portions of the margin of the 

 under surface, under the defunct part of the upper surface, are also defunct. The 

 rest is still covered with living tissue. On the upper surface some large buds and 

 many small bud.s at the margin. (Fig. 1— 3|. 



N". 464. Two opposite quarters of the upper surface devoid of living tissue. The 

 destruction of the soft parts has extended round the margiu of the coral, so that 

 here also some portions are defunct. On the under surface a few large buds, a 

 few smaller ones in the margin. 



N". 460. On the upper surface the living tissue was quite lost, on the under 

 surface only in some places at the margin. Here a few small buds are to be 

 recognised, while in the more central part a few larger ones have developed. 



N". 461. Upper surface quite defunct, under surface still covered with living tissue. 

 In the margin of the under surface many small buds, in the centre a few 

 larger ones. 



In all specimens a stretch of the tissue nearest to the putty first 

 died away. This process progressed along the septa to the periphery 

 so that the defunct part assumed the form of a sector of a circle. 

 The decay of the living tissue now spread along the margin on the 

 lower surface, the consequence of which was that the environing 

 tissue was stimulated to greater activity and accordingly developed 

 buds. 



At the living corals the larger buds, which were located at some 

 distance from the margin, were most conspicuous. (Fig. 3). The 

 diameter of the basal part of these buds varied from 2 lo 12 mm. 

 The mouth was invariably small and the height inconsiderable. The 

 spines of the costae of the parent coral were often visible through 

 the thin living portions of the bud. In these large buds the skeleton 

 is still very incomplete. The theca and the first septa are only little 

 developed; on the other hand the columella is already distinguishable 

 in the form of a large number of irregular trabeculae. 



