Madrepora in the British Museum. 453 



Kmhom^ {^Challenger ^); Seychelles, 12 fathoms {II.M.8, 

 ^ Alert'). 



Madrepora australis. 



Corallum small, cespitose, base very broad. Branches 

 divided near the base into two or three erect digitiform 

 branchlets 3*5 to 4*5 centim. long and 2 to 2*5 centim. diameter 

 at the base, slowly tapering to a blunt apex. Apical corallites 

 somewhat hemispherical, 3 to 4 millim. diameter. Lateral 

 corallites rather distant, short, spreading, tubular, with more 

 or less oblique apex ; diameter 1 to 2*5 millim., the more 

 prominent ones about 2 millim., length 1 to 2 millim.; wall 

 firm but not thick, the inner part rarely wanting. 



Darnley Island and Wreck Bay (Jukes) ; Gt. Barrier Reef 

 {Saville-Kent) . 



Madrepora hceodactyla. 



Madrepora seriata, Briiggemaun (non Ehrenberg), Phil. Trans, vol. 

 clxviii. 1878, p. 575, 



Corallum low, cespitose from a broad incrusting base. 

 Branches erect digitiform, simple or subdivided, apex blunt 

 or conical ; length 3 to 4 centim., diameter 7 to 10 millim. 

 Apical corallites 2 to 3*5 millim. diameter, margin rounded. 

 Lateral corallites chiefly open nariform or gutter-shaped, 

 lower border almost horizontal j length 1*3 to 2 millim., 

 rarely more, diameter 1*6 millim. Wall usually thin ; margin 

 not rounded, but a little thickened in one specimen. Star 

 indistinct. 



Rodriguez. 



Madrepora hifaria. 



Corallum horizontal, with numerous erect spiciform branch- 

 lets on both the upper and under surfaces ; colony 1 2 centim. 

 thick. Branchlets simple, bi- or trifid, rising obliquely, but 

 arched near the base, 3 to 4*5 centim. long and 7 or 8 millim. 

 diameter near the base, slowly tapering. Apical corallites 2 

 millim. diameter, cylindrical. Lateral corallites half-tubular, 

 labellate, or tubular with an oblique apex, at an angle of 

 about 45°; length 2 to 3*5 millim., diameter about 2 millim., 

 but shorter below and with a round aperture. The branchlets 

 on the under surface are practically identical with tliose 

 above. Star well developed. 



Java. 



