SUPPLEMENTARY GONIOPOR^. 151 



The calicles are indistinguishable in size and character from those of G. Great Barrier 

 Reef 12, except perhaps the granules may be a little coarser. 



This specimen might be a fragment of G. Great Barrier Reef 12. It is unfortunately 

 only a small fragment and does not show any part of the base of the stock. It is impossible, 

 therefore, to say what its real method of growtli was ; that is, whether it is an independent 

 tuft formation, or a tuft as a secondary modification of the edges of an explanate form. For 

 characters see the description and figures of G. Great Barrier Reef 12, Vol. IV. p. 58. 



This is one of the few cases I have met with of two corals from different localities 

 resembling one another so closely as to appear as if they were parts of one and the same stock. 

 It is useless to ask " Are they of the same species ? " until we know what is meant by species. 

 One case of calicle resemblance, for here we do not know the growth-form, is rather a small 

 point upon which to build up wild speculations. Our duty is to study the local forms and 

 then endeavour to discover their inter-relationships. I should not be surprised if some new 

 conception of classification based upon the locality but embracing also larger geographical areas 

 will not have to take the place of that which finds its expression in a genealogical tree. 



a. Zool. Dept. 1903. 4. 3. 4. 



158. Goniopora Bay of Panama (dI. {G. Panamensis prima.) 

 [Pearl Islands, 4-6 fathoms, coll. F. H. Bradley ; Yale College Museum.] 

 Syn. Pmites excavaia Verrill, Trans. Com. Acad. i. part 2 (1867-71) p. 504. 



Description. — The corallum thickens so as to be glomerate, and irregularly hemispherical. 



The calicles vary from 1 • 2 to 1 • 5 mm. " polygonal and rounded, well-defined, deep, and 

 excavate." Walls firm, regular, moderately thick, elevated, and thickly covered with coarse 

 rough granules. The septa are very distinct, narrow at the summit, wide below, extending to the 

 columella, varying in number from ten to twenty-four, commonly fifteen to eighteen ; their edges 

 are lacerate and sides roughly granulous. There are five to twelve pali, small but prominent, 

 roughly spinulose or granulous. Columella little developed, trabecular, frequently absent. 



The colour' of the unbleached corallum is a dull brownish-yellow. 



Two specimens of this coral, about 20 cm. in diameter and 10 cm. high, were brought 

 up by divers. They were mistaken by Dr. Verrill for Porites, but the description, which 

 gives the average number of septa as from fifteen to eighteen, shows that it was a Goniopora. 

 The numbers " ten to twenty-four " would not alone be conclusive, for such numbers might be 

 given by normal and abnormal or double calicles, great numbers of which are sometimes 

 developed as in Mr. Quelch's P. miraUlis.* Tliough this is the conclusion we are driven to 

 by Dr. VerrUl's description, the variations " ten to twenty-tour " are certainly somewhat re- 

 markable (cf. G. Jamaica 1, p. 159), and would appear to include the very young calicles 

 appearing in the interstices. 



* Cf. Chall. Eep. xvi. (1886) p. 185, pi. xi. figs. 5, ba, and this Catalogue, Vol. V. part 1, p. 164. 



