142 MADEEPORAKIA. 



margin not rounded; on the central branches the corallites are more unequal, many are 

 tubular, dimidiate, or spout-shaped, with smaller thin-walled corallites between, but a little 

 distance below the apex the majority are dilated, nariform, bursiform, or subimmersed, many 

 of the dilated corallites are 2'5 mm. broad with a rounded margin ; numerous stouter, tubular 

 corallites, 2*5 mm. long and broad, occur at irregular intervals and indicate new outgrowths, 

 they are often collected into irregular groups at a point about 1 cm. below the apex of a 

 branch ; the bases of the branches are occupied by verruciform and immersed corallites. The 

 star consists of six moderately developed primary septa, of which the directives are a little 

 prominent ; sometimes a very narrow second cycle is also present. Corallum porous ; surface 

 covered with short blunt echinulations ; wall thick and very porous, striato-reticulate above, 

 becoming echinulate below. 



The habitat of the type specimen is not recorded. 



a. ? * ? 93.4.7.88. (Type.) 



146. lladrepora gemmifera.. (Plate XXI.) 



Madrepwa gemmifera. Brook, Ann. Mag. N. H. 1892, vol. x. p. 457. 



? Madrepora seriata, Quelch (non Ehrenberg), ' Challeuger ' Beef Corals, p. 155. 



Corallum massive corymbose, 35 cm. wide and 12 cm. high, base incrusting, 14 cm. 

 diameter. Branches simple, erect, and digitiform near the centre, 4 to 6 cm. long and 1*5 

 to 2"5 cm. diameter, often quadrate and proliferous near the base, conical above. Marginal 

 branches 8 to 10 cm. long, often divided into two principal arcuate and ascending divisions 

 similar to those nearer the centre, but the outer one bears on its outer surface numerous 

 spreading twigs 8 to 16 mm. long and 5 to 10 mm. thick. Axial corallites hemispherical, 

 4 mm. diameter ; septa in two cycles, both of which are narrow, directives a little more 

 prominent than the other primaries. Radial corallites broad, spreading, subtubular or 

 gutter-shaped, with small immersed cells between. The prominent corallites increase in 

 length from the apex downwards, and are often arranged in irregular rows, with immersed 

 ones between ; those near the apex are 2 mm. diameter or a little over, about 1-5 mm. long ; 

 wall thickened, but wanting or thin and incomplete on the inner aspect, margin not 

 rounded. Those situated some distance below the apex may be 3'5 mm. diameter, the upper 

 part of the wall scarcely thinner than the lower; such corallites are 4 mm. long, and bear a 

 few buds near the base ; others still lower may form proliferations 8 to 16 mm. long, and in 

 such cases the axial corallite gradually acquires a rounded margin. Star of the radial 

 corallites indistinct, often only the directive septa are recognizable. Some of the prominent 

 corallites situated near the base of the central branches do not form buds and assume a 

 verruciform outline. Corallum dense, surface closely reticulate and echinulate, wall closely 

 striato-echinulate. The habit and stoutness of the branches recall M. spectabilis, but the 

 axial corallites are much smaller than in that species. The radial corallites arc stouter and 

 more proliferous, the star is much less distinct, and immersed corallites are much more 

 numerous and extend to near the apex of each branch. The numerous proliferous twigs 



