82 MADEEPOEAEIA. 



The fragments on which the species is founded are too much broken to admit of a proper 

 description being given; but the broad flattened branches (1-5 cm. diameter) with a few 

 irregularly scattered corallites on the under surface and short spiciform branchlets above 

 appear to indicate a new species. Bassett-Smith records the habitat as "Macclesfield and 

 Tizard Banks." All three specimens are labelled " Macclesfield Bank," and two are so very 

 small that it is useless to try and identify the species ; they do not agree with any part of the 

 larger specimen preserved. 



During the more recent exploration of the Macclesfield Bank by H.M.S. 'Penguin' a 

 number of fragments which possibly belong to this species were again obtained. All are 

 evidently only the marginal portions of a colony, and do not show the flattened branches of 

 the more central divisions, but agree better with the smaller fragments of the original 

 collection. The under surface is provided with distant appressed tubular corallites, usually 

 with the inner part of the wall scarcely free. On the upper surface certain corallites give rise 

 to suberect twigs about 1*5 cm. long and 4 mm. diameter at the base, the apices being about 

 1 cm. apart, simple or proliferous. Axial corallites cylindrical, scarcely 2 mm. diameter, 1 to 

 4 mm. exsert ; wall thin ; septa well developed, particularly the primaries, which sometimes 

 meet in the middle line. A few of the marginal axial corallites are 2'7 mm. diameter and 

 scarcely exsert. The radial corallites are appressed, tubular, with the inner part of the wall 

 only free in elongate individuals; length 3 to 5 mm., diameter 1"5 mm. ; wall striato-echinu- 

 late ; primary septa narrow, but the directives distinctly broader, the second cycle usually 

 wanting. This form has more elongate and more distant corallites than the type, and may 

 not belong to the same species. It appears nearly related to M. dilatata. 



China Sea : Macclesfield Bank, 20 to 27 fathoms. 



a. Macclesfield Bank. H.M.S. 'Rambler.' 89. 9. 24. 54. 



b-d. Macclesfield Bank. H.M.S. 'Rambler.' 89. 9. 24. 13 & 15 ; V ^ 



93. 4. 7. 167. ) P 



e-g. Macclesfield Bank, 13 fath. H.M.S. ' Penguin.' 92. 10. 17. 75 to 77. 



h-j. Macclesfield Bank, 18 to 28 fath. H.M.S. 'Penguin.' 92. 10. 17. 28 to 30. 



\ 



71. Madrepora nana. 



Madrepora nana, Studer, MB. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, 1878, p. 533, pi. ii. fig. 6. 



Corallum small, consisting of a few little- divided, slender, gradually tapering branches, 

 not over 2 cm. long and 4 mm. thick, which arise from an incrusting base. Axial corallites 

 cylindrical, 1 mm. broad and 1 mm. exsert. Radial corallites rather distant, appressed, 

 nariform or tubo-nariform, with circular aperture, 0'5 mm. long and 0'7 mm. broad ; star 

 distinct, the directive septa rather more prominent than the others. Coenenchyma porous ; 

 surface finely striate. 



The small size oi the colony renders it possible that the characters of the species are not 

 completely developed in the type specimen. 



Pacific Oceean: Matuku, Fiji Archipelago {Berlin Museum). 



