1880.] MR. H. N. MOSELEY ON A NEW CORAL. 41 



because it therefore belongs to the restricted genus Myoxus, charac- 

 terized by a simple stomach and a bushy distichous tail. Its nearest 

 ally is M. dryas, Schreb., found in South-eastern Europe, Asia 

 Minor, and Persia. 



Myoxus lasiotis is, according to Temminck, very rare in Japan : 

 his original specimens were obtained from the province of Awa, in 

 the island of Sikok ; and I can find no others recorded until the 

 arrival of this one from Yokohama. 



Note. — Since writing the above I have discovered that this species 

 has been renamed M.javanicus by Schinz, in the appendix to his 

 ' Synopsis Mammalium.' As this name is incorrect and misleading, 

 the species still requires a new name, in accordance with rule xi. of 

 the Stricklandian code. 



3. Description of a new Species of Simple Coral. 

 By H. N. MosELEY, F.R.S. 



[Eeceived January 22, 1880.] 



Desmophyllum lamprotichum, sp. nov. 



Corallum straight, conical, the upper third expanding much more 

 rapidly than the lower two thirds, moderately compressed. Wall 

 both externally and internally tinged with a madder-red colour, ex- 

 cepting at the base and close to the margin of the calicle. Probably 

 fixed by a narrow base (specim.en broken at the base). External 

 surface of the wall covered entirely with a very glistening and trans- 

 parent epitheca, which is seen where broken towards the base to be 

 present in several successive layers investing one another. Costse 

 marked as fine striae over the entire outer surface ; the primaries, 

 secondaries, and tertiaries equally developed and more marked than 

 those of lower order. Undulating accretion-lines present on the 

 upper part of the wall. 



Calicle oval in outline, ratio of the axes about 86 to 100. Summits 

 of the longer axis slightly higher than those of the shorter. Margin 

 of the calicle nearly even, very slightly excavated opposite the 

 intervals between the septa of the first three orders, and minutely 

 denticulate in correspondence with those of lower order. Septa 

 regular, in six systems and five complete cycles. Primary and 

 secondary septa equal, far exsert, with evenly rounded upper margins ; 

 tertiaries much less exsert, with straighter free margins ; quaternaries 

 and quinaries proportionally very small, the quinaries not extending 

 to the margin of the calicle, the quaternaries reaching thus far only 

 occasionally. Septa white, thin and delicate, slightly sinuous at the 

 inner margins, with lines of granules on their faces. Fossa deep, 

 gradually narrowing inferiorly, bounded by the margins of the pri- 

 mary and secondary septa. 



