276 ZOOPHYTES. 



7. MERULINA LAXA. (Dana.) 



M. ramosa, ramis divaricatis scepe coalitis, I -3'" crassis, scepe alatis et 

 compressis, interdum %" latis et subpalmatis. Corallum collibus par- 

 vulis, acutis, interdum elongato-conids ; lamettis laxis, valde obliquis 

 et assurgentibus, apice valde laxioribus. 



Ramose, branches divaricate, often coalescent, with the branches an- 

 gular, often alate and compressed, 1 to 3 lines thick, sometimes 

 an inch broad and subpalmate ; ridges small, acute, sometimes 

 elongato-conical ; lamellse lax, very oblique and ascending, much 

 more lax at apex. 



Plate 16, fig. 3, corallum, natural size. 



Sooloo Sea, East Indies. Exp. Exp. 



The specimens of this species seen by the author are apparently 

 but fragments of the complete clump. They are arboriform in shape 

 and about six inches in height The loose oblique lamellae and sharp 

 angular branches distinguish it from the preceding. In one small 

 specimen, possibly a distinct species, the branchlets were only a line 

 to a line and a half in diameter. 



Corallum tenerum ramosum, plumatile, ports intus stellatis, &c., Seba, Thesaurus iii. 

 tab. 116, fig. 5. This appears to be the above species. It resembles most nearly the 

 slender variety mentioned. 



8. MERULINA RIGIDA. (Dana.) 



M. valde ramosa, ramis proliferis, interdum coalitis, 3-6'" crassis, conu- 

 los contiguos undique gerentibus; ramulis attenuatis scepe curvatis ; 

 animalibus Monticulariis affinibus. Corallum conulis lamello-radi- 

 atis incequalibus, vix compressis, apice ramulorum laxis, attenuatis, 

 obsolescentibus ; lamettis granulosis. 



Very much ramose, branches proliferous and sometimes coalescent, 

 3 to 6 lines thick, covered with small contiguous cones ; branchlets 

 attenuate, often curved ; animals like those of the Monticularice. 

 Corallum with small lamello-radiate cones, which are unequal 



