ZOOLOGY OF THE BERMUDAS. 103 



the transparent waters at depths of from six to fifteen or 

 twenty feet. I cannot say how much further down the species, 

 extends. It is equally abundant in Castle Harbor, where it is 

 largely instrumental in building out the shore-platform which, 

 at a moderate distance from the shore, descends vertically into 

 deeper water. When attached by a contracted base, the brain- 

 coral may be readily removed from its moorings; but where 

 the base is largely coextensive with the under-surface of the 

 corallum the difficulties of removal are very great, necessitat- 

 ing much undercutting with a chisel. The largest specimen 

 obtained by us measured about 28 inches across ; our efforts to 

 dislodge a specimen about four feet in diameter proved un- 

 successful. 



Diploria Stokesi, Edwards and Ilaime. 



We obtained a number of specimens of this species in Castle 

 Harbor, and through presentation ; for the latter my thanks 

 are due to Miss A. Peniston, of Peniston's. The habitat of the 

 species, as far as I am aware, has not hitherto been noted. 

 Edwards and Haime in their description of the species (Hist. 

 Nat. des Coralliaires, II, p. 403, pi. D, fig. 3) state " Patrie incon- 

 nue" I believe it may be assumed that this species is the 

 form described and figured by Knorr as Madrepora labyrinthi- 

 formis (Delicise Naturae Selects, I, p. 18, PI. A 4, fig. 1). In our 

 collections we have a closely related, and possibly identical, 

 species, which assumes a ring form, and in which the peculiar 

 calycular hollows of D. Stokesi run out into parallel transverse 

 grooves on the inner side of the ring. 



ALCYONARIA. 



The gorgonians are abundant in the waters inside of the 

 bounding reef, whence nearly all our specimens were obtained. 

 A few were nipped up on the south side of Castle Harbor, and 

 at the passage way conducting from the north into that body 

 of water. 



Rhipidogorgia flabellum, Valenciennes, 



The purple variety of this species is abundant more par- 

 ticularly in the northern waters, both near the outer reef and 



