CORALS FROM MURRAY, COCOS-KEELING, AND FANNING ISLANDS. I4I 



Psammocora gonagra EUunzinger. 

 Plate 59, figure I, specimen from Murray Island. Also plate iS, figure 43, of Dr. Mayer's article. 

 1879. Psavtmocora gonagra Klunzinger, Korail. Roth. Meer., pt. 3, p. 80, plate 9, fig. i. 



Gardiner^ refers this species to the synonymy of P. digitata Milne Edwards and 

 Haime, but as he does not give the basis of his opinion, although he may be correct, 

 I am using Klunzinger's name, of which I can be sure. Klunzinger's description 

 applies so well that to write another seems superfluous. Dana's original specimen 

 of P. plicata (not Lamarck) =type of P. froiidosa Verrill, from Fiji Islands, is in tlie 

 U. S. National Museum, No. 217. As the surface seems corroded, perhaps as the 

 result of cleaning, I should not like to express a positive opinion, unless I had other 

 specimens from the Fiji Islands for comparison, but I am inclined to believe it is the 

 same as Klunzmger's P. gonagra. 



Stations, Murray Island. — Southeast reef, line I: 



545 feet from shore; water II inches deep at lowest tide; rocky bottom. 

 600 feet from shore; water 15 inches deep; bottom sandy. 



Distribution. — Red Sea; although reported only by Gardiner, it must be widely 

 distributed in the Indian Ocean; Murray Island. 



Psammocora haimiana Milne Edwards and Haime. 



Plate 59, figures 2, la, specimen from Cocos-Keeling Islands. 



1852. Psammocora haimiana Milne Edwards and Haime, Ann. Sci. nat., 3d ser., Zoiil. vol. 16, p. 68. 



i860. Psammocora haimiana Milne Edwards, Hist. nat. Corall., vol. 3, p. 221. 



1879. Psammocora haimea?ia Klunzinger, Korail. Roth. Meer., pt. 3, p. 81, plate 9, fig. 5. 



1905. Psammocora haimeana Gardiner, I'auna and Gcogr. Maldive and Laccadive Arch., vol 2, sup. i, p. 953. 



1910. Agaricia Wood Jones, Coral and Atolls, p. 109, text-fig. 39. 



The specimens from Cocos-Keeling Islands are so precisely like those figured 

 by Klunzinger that no further description is needed. 



Habitat and color, Cocos-Keeling Islands. — Dr. F. Wood Jones states: "Growth- 

 form as flattened cakes; occurs as free masses in barrier pools and as incrusta- 

 tions on the dead bases of other corals in exposed places. Not abundant. Color 

 while alive brownish or reddish brown." 



Distribution. — Red Sea; Indian Ocean (Seychelles to Cocos-Keeling) ; Funafuti 

 (Gardiner). 



Psammocora sp. 

 Plate 59, figures 3, 3a, specimen from Cocos-Keeling Islands. 



The following is a description of Psammocora sp. from Cocos-Keeling Islands: 



Corallum incrusting, with an irregular, humpy, and hydnophoroid surface. Although 

 the two small specimens show no branches, the form of one suggests that branches may be 

 formed by the continued growth of some of the protuberances. 



The dimensions of the specimens are: specimen No. I, greater- diameter 49 mm., lesser^ 

 diameter 33 mm., total height 29 mm.; specimen No. 2, greater diameter 38 mm., lesser^ 

 diameter 17 mm., total height 18 mm. 



The distance between the summits of the ridges and hydnophoroid eminences ranges 

 from about 1.5 to about 5 mm.; their height ranges up to 2 or 3 mm. The calices occur as 

 clusters or as rows in the depressions, and on the eminences after a certain size has been 

 attained. The ccenenchymal surface and the septal margins are roughened by tall, project- 

 ing trabecular ends, whose surfaces are closely granulate. 



Calices fairly distinct or not distinct from the surrounding coenenchyma; surficial, 

 except a depressed central fossa; diameter about I mm. 



'Fauna and Geogr. Maldive and Laccadive Arch., vol 2, sup. i, p. 951. 



-As the outline of the base is irregular these measurements are intended only roughly to indicate size. 



