Corals from the China Sea, 363 



Genus Seeiatopoea, Lam. 



Seriatopora gracilis^ Dana. 



1848. Seriatopora caliendrum, var. gracilis, Daua, U. S. Explor. Expe- 

 dition, Zoophytes, p. 522, pi. xlix. fig. 4. 

 1875. Seriatopora gracilis, Daua, Corals and Coral Islands, p. 334. 



There are three fragmentary specimens which do not fully 

 agree with Dana's description ; but the differences do not 

 appear sufficient to justify placing them in a new species. 

 They form bushy masses of very slender branches from 2*5 to 

 3 millim. in thickness in the lower part, the terminal branch- 

 lets acutely pointed, slightly winged at their apices, from 2 to 

 5 millim. long and about 1 millim. thick at the base. 

 Branches round to subangular, divergently bifurcating in 

 lower portions of the colony and giving off antler-like spikes. 

 Calices in five series, circular to oval, from '4 to '5 millim. in 

 width, sometimes without prominent lips, at others the upper 

 lip projecting ; distance from each other in rows variable, 

 from "3 to '6 millim. ; there are from five to six calices in a 

 length of 5 millim. Septa not recognizable, columella visible 

 but not prominent. Spaces between the rows abundantly 

 covered with acute spines. 



From Dana^s figured type these specimens differ in the less 

 upright and more divergent mode of growth and the slightly 

 winged apices of the brauchlets. They differ materially from 

 the form referred by Quelch to this species ('Challenger' 

 Report, vol. xvi. p. 58), which has calices of about twice the 

 size mentioned by Dana. 



Macclesfield Bank, 20|- fath. 



Seriatopora imhricata^ sp. n. 



Corallum forming fairly large bushy masses ; branches 

 dichotomizing at intervals, occasionally a distance of 15 

 millim. between the furcations, branches sometimes coalescing. 

 The summit-branches furcating and giving off short, pointed, 

 divergent apical spikes, not winged, about 2 millim. thick at 

 their bases. Branches in lower portion about 4 millim. in 

 thickness, distinctly subangular, the calices in five series on 

 the angles. Calices transversely suboval, with their upper 

 lips very prominent and strongly arching over the aperture, 

 very spinous ; in the lower branches the upper lip hardly at 

 all developed. The calices about "6 millim. in diameter, very 

 closely arranged in the rows, so that there are seven in the 

 space of 5 millim. The interspaces between the calices flat- 

 tened, sometimes 1 millim. in width, closely covered with 



