56 MADEEPOEAEIA. 



35. Madrepora austera. 



Madrepora ausUra, Dana, Zoophytes, p. 478 ; M.-Edwards & Haime, Coralliaires, t. iii. p. 144 ; Verrill, 

 Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. vol. i. 1864, p. 41: Studer, Mitth. naturf. Ges. Bern, 1880, p. 19; 

 Ortmann, Zool. JB. 1888, Bd. iii. p. 150 ; ? auelch, ' Challenger' Beef Corals, p. 153. 



Corallum fruticose, spreading ramose and very proliferous ; branches nearly terete and 

 tapering above; with numerous unequal lateral branchlets and proliferous corallites. Corallum 

 scabrous; axial corallites 2 to 3 mm. broad, exsert; radial corallites ascending, rather 

 crowded, tubiform and tubi-nariform, 2 to 5 mm. long, rough and striate, aperture circular ; 

 star distinct but deep, 6-rayed, with the directives most prominent. Grows in clumps 15 cm. 

 or more in height. (Dana.) 



Dana remarks that "the species is near the abrotanoides (i. e. M. polymorpha, mihi), 

 but diflfers in its harsher surface and strongly striate calicles ; moreover, obsolescent calicles 

 are rare." The origin of the type specimen is not recorded. 



The specimen recorded by Quplch is much broken and worn, and is only doubtfully 

 referred to this species. 



Indo-Pacific Ocean : Singapore, ? Philippines. 



? a. Mactan Island, Philippines. H.M.S. ' ChaUenger.' 86. 12. 9. 220. 



G. Branches provided with numerous proliferous corallites which lead to the 

 formation of distinct twigs. 



36. Madrepora abrotanoides. 



Madrepora abrotanoides, Lamarck {non Dana), Hist. Anim. sans Vert. t. ii. p. 280 (ed. ii. p. 448) ; 

 Blainville, Manuel d'Actin. p. 390 ; Lamouroux, Exposit. Method, p. 63, ? pi. 57 ; M.-Edwards 

 & Haime, Coralliaires, t. iii. p. 140 ; ? Quoy et Gaimard, Voyage d' Astrolabe, t. iv. p. 232, 

 pi. xix. figs. 1 & 2 ; Ortmann, Zool. JB. 1888, Bd. iii. p. 150 (non Studer, MB. Akad. Wiss. 

 Berlin, 1878, p. 535). 



? Madrepora mwicata, EUis & Solander, Zoophytes, pi. Ivii. 



Madrepora dance, Quelch (? non Verrill), ' Challenger ' Eeef Corals, p. 151, 



Corallum in tufts of stout divergent branches, bearing numerous subtuberculiform 

 proliferations, disposed irregularly throughout their whole length. Main branches very thick 

 at the base (3 to 5 cm.), about 20 cm. long, often rapidly tapering to a relatively slender and 

 proliferous apex, and thus appearing subconical ; little subdivided, excepting at the apex. In 

 other cases the branches are more slender, only slightly tapering, and extended obliquely. 

 Axial corallites 2"5 to 3"5 mm. diameter and 2 to 3 mm. exsert ; aperture about one third the 

 diameter ; wall thick, and rounded a little above. The whole surface of the main branches is 

 studded with numerous spreading tubular corallites, ultimately similar to the axial ones, but 

 at first having the inner part of the wall little developed. They appear first as short curved 

 nariform corallites, which ou the formation of the inner part of the wall become stout. 



