120 PERCY SLADEN TRUST EXPEDITION 



G. retiformis more than any other species, but has somewhat larger cahces. Milne 

 Edwards and Haime's examples of G. hournoni and G. retiformis number respectively five 

 (locality unknown) and two (large, from Seychelles). Ehrenberg's type-specimen of 

 Astrcea spongia (later referred by Klunzinger to G. retiformis) is a large example 

 measuring 20 x 15 x 11 cm. In the Hofmuseum, Vienna, are two fine specimens ("Pola" 

 expedition), referred to G. retiformis by Marenzeller. Quelch has referred a large speci- 

 men from Kandavu, Fiji, to G. cerium (Dana) ; it is identical with G. retiformis. 



Localities. Maldives : Hulule (8) ; Goidu (2). Minikoi (4). Seychelles (13). Red 

 Sea (5). Aldabra (2). Rotuma (4). Ceylon (small specimens). Singapore (l). Also 

 from Fiji (Quelch) and Dar-es-Salaam (Ortmann). A common species in the Indo-Pacific 

 Ocean. 



3. GoNiASTREA PEGTiNATA (Ehronberg). (PL 28, fig. 6 ; 37, fig. 1.) 

 1834. Astrcea pectinata, Ehrenberg, Corall. roth. Meer., p. 96. 



1850. Goniastrea solida (pars), Milne Edwards and Haime, Ann. Sci. Nat., Zool., 3" s^r., xii, p. 160. 

 1850. Goniastrea quoyi, Milne Edwards and Haime, Ann. Sci. Nat., Zool., 3" ser., xii, p. 162. 

 1850. Goniastrea grayi, Milne Edwards and Haime, Ann. Sci. Nat., Zool, 3" ser., xii, p. 163. 

 1857. Goniastrea solida (pars), Milne Edwards and Haime, Hist. Nat. Corall., ii, p. 444. 

 1857. Goniastrea quoyi, Milne Edwards and Haime, Hist. Nat. Corall., ii, p. 447. 

 1857. Goniastrea grayi, Milne Edwards and Haime, Hist. Nat. Corall., ii, p. 447. 

 1879. Goniastrcea pectinata, Klunzinger, Korall. Roth. Meer., iii, p. 34, pi. 4, fig. 6 (non Goniastrwa pectinata, 



Gardiner). 

 1886. Goniastrwa coronalis, Quelch, Reef Corals, Challenger Eeports, vol. xvi, part xlvi, p. 101, pi. 3, figs 3 — 3a. 

 1907. Goniastrea pectinata, Vaughan, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. Washington, xxxii, p. 257. 



Oorallum, Incrvisting, raised into rounded humps. Corallites irregular with a 

 tendency to meander. Inter-calicinal walls thin. Single calices larger than in the 

 previous two species, average size 7 x& mm. — the longest meandering calyx without any 

 sign of fission 16 mm. — depth about 7 mm. 



Septa vertical, of equal width at calicular margin (1 — 1"25 mm.), here appearing as 

 one series, edges serrate, sides with blunt spinules, up to 30, average about 25 ; septa 

 continuous in arches over walls of neighbouring coralUtes, perhaps meeting rudimentary 

 septa; 10 — 15 septa (average 12) approaching centre of corallite, each with a blunt 

 paliform lobe. Columella quite rudimentary or absent. 



Towards edges calices are shallower, septa and inter-calicinal walls thicker, the latter 

 up to 3 mm. 



Polyps, (l) In the storaodseal region of polyp, subsidiary couples of mesenteries about 

 four or five times the number of principal couples. (2) In the same region, entoccelic 

 pleats when present very narrow and blunt, and not extending beyond outer half of 

 principal mesenteries, usually over outer one-third, sometimes absent ; pleatal region 

 thickened. (3) Nematocysts II h few in the terminal tentacular batteries as in G. reti- 

 formis. (4) Nematocysts lie resembling those of G. solida, each with its dark-stained 

 axis not more than one-third length of sac. 



Three polyps sectioned from a specimen from Donganab, Red Sea. 



Remarks. A. Polyps. As in G. solida the convolutions of the mesenteries are 

 abundant below the stomodaeum and also protruded through the oral-disc. The stomo- 

 deeum is somewhat wider than in G. solida, its diameters being 1 '5 and 1 mm. ; its 



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