272 ZOOPHYTES. 



The species of this genus appear to be confined to the warm coral- 

 reef seas. 



Arrangement of the Species. 



I. Ezplanate. 



*1. M. ampliata. *4. M. crispa. 



*2. M. regalis. 5. M. folium. 



*3. M. speciosa. 



II. Ramose. 



*6. M. scabricula. *8. M. rigida. 



*7. M. laxa. 



I. Merulince explanatce. 



1. MERULTNA AMPLIATA. (Lamarck.) Ehrenberg. 







M. late explanata, varie undata, margine labata, unifrons. Corallum 

 cottibus rotundatis, vix 1'" altis, scepe reticulato-coalitis et cettas obli- 

 quas includentibus ; lamellisfere cequalibus, serrulatis. 



Broad explanate, variously undulate and with the margin lobed, 

 unifacial. Corallum with the ridges rounded, scarcely a line high, 

 often reticulately coalescent and enclosing oblique cells; lamellae 

 even, serrulate. 



Plate 15, fig. 2, cells and ridges, enlarged ; 2 a, lamellae of surface, 

 enlarged. 



East Indies. Exp. Exp. 



The fronds of this species are large and appear to be seldom clus- 

 tered. The specimens are often eight or ten inches in breadth, and 

 somewhat concave, with occasional nodular appendages or incipient 

 branches rising from the surface and often coalescing. The thick- 

 ness is hardly a line, yet the folia are strong and ring when struck. 

 The ridges are round and more even or less ragged in appearance than 

 in the following species; the septa also are rotund. The lamellae are 

 nearly even, and are distinct along the bottom of the cells or furrows. 



Mad. ampliata, Ellis and Solander, 157, , Esper, Fortsetz. i. 96, tab. 77. figs. 



tab. 41, figs. 1, 2; the under surface is 1, 2, 3; the enlarged view, figure 3, is 

 better figured than the upper. good ; the others are badly drawn. 



