MATTHAI— RECENT COLONIAL ASTR^ID^ 65 



Felidu, about whose identity Prof. Gardiner was uncertain, is only a skeletal variety of 

 G. lamarchi, differing from the latter in having less projecting corallites and indistinct 

 columella. 



The five small specimens referred by Milne Edwards and Haime to G. lamarcki, 

 perhaps originally Lamarck's examples of Sarcinula organum, are all much defaced. Of 

 their three examples of G. astreata — all of which are in good condition — one is in Lamarck's 

 collection, being probably his original of Caryophyllia astreata. 



Ehrenberg's type of Anthophyllum sphcerula is a small round specimen in bad 

 condition, but of its place in the present species there is no doubt. 



Quelch's large type (21x10 cm.) of G. explanata resembles my examples of G. lamarcki 

 in possessing only three septal cycles, the primaries and most of the secondaries meeting 

 columella, and large perithecal vessels, but the corallites project much higher and are further 

 apart ; the primaries are thicker than the secondaries and have more prominent costee. 



Localities. Maldives: Nilandu, 36fms. (1) ; Felidu, 25 fms. (l). Chagos : Diamont, 

 Peros, 16 fms. (l) ; Coin, Peros (l). Saya de Malha, 29 fms. Also from Red Sea 

 (Ehrenberg and ? Lamarck), Fiji (Quelch). 



4. Galaxea hexagonalis (Ed. and H.) (?). 



Galaxea hexagonalis, Gardiner, Fauna Geogr. Maldives and Laccadives, 783 (1904). 



Perithecal vesicles small. Corallites smaller than in G. fascicularis, irregularly 

 compressed, becoming sub-triangular in outline, projecting to 9 mm., 1 — 2 mm. apart. Walls 

 thin. Largest calyx 8x5 mm. Septa in four orders, the fourth incomplete — up to 19 — 

 sides with short spines, edges denticulate; about 15 septa meeting columella; secondaries 

 as thick as primaries ; tertiaries exsert obliquely outwards. Costse prominent, raised into 

 short spines at wide intervals. Columella distinct. Budding towards edge of corallum 

 from peritheca, sometimes towards bases of corallites. Sometimes two corallites fuse, in 

 appearance simulating fission. 



The polyps are too badly preserved to make out their specific characters. 



Locality. Minikoi. Milne Edwards and Haime's type specimens are missing from 

 the Paris Museum. 



5. Galaxea laperouseanea (Ed. and H.) (?). 



Galaxea laperouseanea, Gardiner, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1899, 762. 



Perithecal vesicles small. Corallites oval or sub-triangular, projecting to about 7 mm., 

 1 — 2 mm. apart. Walls up to 2 mm. thick. Largest calyx 10x5 mm. Septa in four 

 orders, up to 14 quaternaries, sides slightly rough, edges entire, about 17 septa meeting 

 columella ; secondaries usually as thick as primaries, both swollen in thecse and exsert 

 vertically; tertiaries exsert obliquely outwards, hence their costae appearing more 

 prominent than those of primaries and secondaries. Columella distinct. Budding near 

 edge of corallum from peritheca. 



The coralla are denser than those of other species of Galaxea, with corallites wider, 

 walls and septa thicker. 



No polyps. 

 SECOND SERIES— ZOOLOGY, VOL. XVII. 9 



