114 MADEEPOEAEIA. 



110. Madrepora sinensis. (Plate XXXIII. fig. C.) 



Corallttm incrusting, with numerous short slender branchlets on the upper surface, 

 arranged singly or in groups ; marginal divisions oblique, with branchlets only on the upper 

 surface (subcorymbose) ; branchlets 1'5 to 2'5 cm. long and 5 to 6 mm. diameter at the base, 

 the distal parts tapering. Axial corallites cylindrical, 1-3 to 2 mm. diameter; wall usually 

 thin ; primary septa equal and well developed, the directives stouter ; a second cycle is also 

 present. Radial corallites usually open nariform, but varying from short subimmersed to 

 sublabellate or spreading scale-like, as in typical Lepidocyathus. The angle is consequently 

 very variable ; at first the corallites are ascending and irregular, the labellate ones are more 

 spreading, and the few which are scale-Kke extend almost horizontally. The longest coral- 

 lites measure 2 mm., and the diameter is usually 1*3 or slightly over, but the scale-like 

 corallites may measure 2 mm. across the lip. The condition of the septa varies according to 

 the form of the corallite. In those which are nariform or tubo-nariform the directive septa 

 are equal and well developed, the other primaries narrower. In the labellate and scale-like 

 forms the outer directive is more prominent than the inner, and in such cases the second 

 cycle of septa is represented but is not complete. The corallum is porous, the surface dense 

 and echinulate or provided with rows of echinulate plates ; wall striato-echinulate. This 

 species occupies an intermediate position between the M. spicifera group and typical Lepido- 

 cyathus, and combines in the form of its corallites the characters of both groups. In habit 

 the species resembles M. tumida, Verrill. 



Pacific Ocean : Formosa, China. 



a, b. Formosa. Consul Swinhoe [P.]. 70. 5. 9. 11 & 12. 



c. China (probably South). Fisheries Exhibition [P.]. 84. 2. 26. 23 



^1 Types. 



111. Madrepora ftondosa. (Plate XXXIV. fig. E.) 



Corallum extending horizontally or ? vasiform, bearing a general resemblance to 

 M. subulata in habit. Branches 1 cm. thick, about 1*5 cm. from centre to centre, arranged 

 in more than one row, but often quite irregular and fused together at intervals. Under 

 surface of the main branches not flattened, covered chiefly with immersed or subimmersed 

 corallites, and provided at intervals with a few spreading nariform corallites in which the 

 outer part of the wall is thickened, and also with a few short oblique twigs or proliferous 

 corallites up to 8 mm. in length. Branchlets on the upper surface simple or forked, 2 to 

 5 cm. long and 6 or 7 mm. thick ; most of them are rendered rough by the presence of 

 proliferous coralhtes and many of the apices are divided. Axial corallites cyUndrical, 2 to 

 2'5 mm. diameter and 1 to 2 mm. exsert; the wall is porous and strongly ribbed and 

 echinulate ; the aperture is somewhat funnel-shaped, and discloses a star of six moderate and 

 subequal primary septa, together with a narrow second cycle; a few which are 3 mm. 

 diameter have the second cycle of septa well developed. The prominent radial corallites are 



