76 Mr. Biyce "Wright on new Sjjecies of Corals. 



This unique coral is the largest and most perfect example 

 known. Unfortunately, during the voyage of the ' Sunbeam' 

 a few of the fronds at the left side were broken off; otherwise 

 its width would have been 3 or 4 inches more. 



Distichopora AUnut(i\ nov. sp. 

 (PI. III. figs. 1 & 2, and PI. IV. figs. 5, 6, 6*.) 



Coenosteum fuscous orange-red in colour, paling towards 

 the extremities, infundibuliform, the branches ramifying from 

 a massive solid stem ; base very compact ; branches stout, 

 bulbiform, nearly circular, moderately ramose, with the ex- 

 tremities flattened, obtusely furcate ; the younger and lateral 

 branchlets more acutely pointed ; main branches closely 

 packed, giving a very stout appearance to the entire 

 coral. Surface of coenosteum more coarsely canaliculated 

 and granulate than in D. Brasseyi, corresponding to the 

 vertical and transverse sections (PI. IV. figs. 6, 6*) ; poriferous 

 zones on flabellar edges ; gastropores closely placed to each 

 other, with minute dactylopores on either side. Ampullse 

 small, flat, separated, forming a broad stellate mass, more 

 conspicuous on the younger branches than on the older ones, 

 placed towards the edge of the flabellum. Walls of canals 

 thicker than in D. Brasseyi or D. coccinea. Canalicular 

 meshes rather large. One of the fronds is figured life-size, 

 with transverse section. Longest axis 9 inches, shortest 8 

 inches. Height in all 4^ inches. 



Hah. Gilbert Islands ? 



Figured \ natural size. 



On*^ portion, that coloured white, has been overrun with 

 some hydroid Actinian polyp. 



Disticliopora coccinea^ Gray. 

 (PI. IV. figs. 7, 8.) 



I figure a frond and section of D. coccinea, to show its struc- 

 ture in comparison with the two preceding species, as they 

 appear to indicate different groups of this genus. In the one 

 the branches are rounded ; in the other {D. coccinea and D. 

 violacea) they are compressed, somewhat broad, with shelving 

 edges. In the former the gemmation takes place more late- 

 rally than in this species, where the main centres of the stem 

 have a series of small compressed tubercles. Dr. Gray 

 suggests that these may be the commencement of new 

 branches, which a specimen in the British Museum seems to 

 confirm. 



Many examples of D. coccinea appear to be complete corals. 



