161 



ASTR^ID^. 



Genus lIoMorHYLLiA, Briiggemann. 

 Homophyllia incrustans, v/^ec, nov. PI. vi., figs, oa, b. 



This very small solitary coral is incrusting on the sur- 

 face of a valve of Chi one rob o rat a. It presents the appear- 

 ance of being moored to the shell by its very slender costa^ 

 which, as prolongations of the septa, project beyond the wall. 

 The latter is extremely short, and so much concealed by the 

 projecting costae that a close scrutiny is required to determine 

 Its presence. There is a delicate epitheca, which is not con- 

 tinued on the costae. 



The calice is sub-circular and convex, with a slight de- 

 pression at the centre. The septa are stout, and vary in size 

 according to order. They are in six systems, with four cycles. 

 The primaries are free, and the remaining orders form six 

 deltoid combinations. The secondaries are joined near the 

 columella by the tertiaries, and the latter again fork near the 

 wall to form the quarternaries. In the centre of each loop, 

 thus formed, a thin septum represents the continuation of 

 the tertiaries. The septa are dentated, and strongly spined. 

 The columella is small and inconspicuous ; it appears to be 

 formed of two or three flat and lobed papilli. 



A scanty endotheca is visible between some of the septa. 



Height, about '5 mm. ; diameters of calice, 4'5 mm. and 

 4 mm. 



A single specimen only of this diminutive coral is known. 

 It was dredged in St. Vincent Gulf, and was handed to me 

 bv the late Professor Tate many vears ago. I place it pro- 

 visionally in the genus Homopliynia. 



FUNGID^. 



Genus Bathyactis, Moseley. 

 Bathyactis symmetrica, Pourtales, sp. 

 Fumjia symmetrica, Pourtales, Deep-Sea Corals, 1871, p. 46, pi. vii., 



figs. 5, 6. 

 Bathyactis symmetrica, Moseley, "Challenger" Reports, vol. ii., 

 1881, pp. 186, etc., pi. x., figs. 1-13. 



Numerous examples of this well-known coral were dredged 

 by Dr. Verco at 104 fathoms 35 miles S.W. of Xeptune Is- 

 land, but all are fractured. A single whole example was, 

 however, obtained off Cape Jaffa, at a depth of 130 fathoms. 

 This is 7 mm. in diameter. 



The species ha.s been very fully described by Moseley, 

 who reports that it was dredged b}^ the Challenger Expedi- 

 tion at depths varying from 30 fathoms up to 2,900 fathoms, 

 and in all parts of the world. Amongst other localities men- 

 tioned, specimens were obtained between Kerguelen Island 

 and Melbourne, but at a great depth. 



G 



