1882.]. CORALS FROM MADEIRA. 215 
Both these specimens came from off the same shell. 
A smaller individual of this species presents the peculiar ornamen- 
tation of the coste near the calice and the shining epitheca. It is 
cylindrical in shape, and is just beginning to curve at the top; and 
it is fixed, by a base with two small offshoots, within the hollow of 
the valve of a shell. The calice is widely open, but has sharp 
margins and very slender and somewhat exsert and tolerably bent 
primary and secondary septa. 
The primaries and secondaries are nearly equal; the tertiaries are 
much smaller; and the fourth and fifth orders of the fourth cycle of 
septa are very small. The larger septa are wavy within, very slender, 
and well separated. 
The columella occupies considerable space, and is composed of 
about eight twisted band-like lamellee, which are separate. 
The pali are very small, and closely resemble the trabecule of the 
collumella ; but their union low down with the septa can sometimes 
be seen. They are before the second and third orders of septa. 
The corallum is excessively slender and transparent. 
Height of the coral ;5 inch. 
At the base of the specimen just described, and within the same 
valve of a shell, is a very minute coral, which appears to be a still 
smaller form of Caryophyllia cyathus. It has a circular calice, six 
primary and six smaller or secondary septa; and there are twelve 
very small rudiments of the tertiary cycle. The larger septa are 
slightly enlarged at their inner ends; and there are no pali, the 
columellary trabeculz being very small and apparently in one little 
bundle. 
It is evident from the study of these specimens that the peculiar 
shining costal covering which has been termed a pellicular epitheca, 
but which does not appear to be a true outer thecal covering, is 
always present. The thickness of the septa and their crowded 
state seen in the adults is a matter of growth; and it is clear that 
the first stage of the coral shows three cycles of septa, the tertiary 
being rudimentary, and that in a more advanced stage there are four 
perfect cycles. The full number of septa is obtained during adult 
age ; and the whole of the calcareous tissues increase then in thick- 
ness. 
In examining some pieces of worn coral, probably originally form- 
ing part of a large Dendrophylia, I found a small Caryophyllia cya- 
thus. It has the peculiar epitheca, and is just in advance of the 
smallest specimen just noticed, so far as its growth is concerned. 
There are four cycles of septa in some of the systems, and in the 
others only three. The columella is a twisted piece of tissue ; and 
the pali are small but distinct and are before the secondaries. 
Hence the coral with three cycles of septa in its early stage has 
no pali; they appear before the secondaries a little later, and subse- 
quently before the tertiary ; and this takes place when the fourth 
and fifth orders of septa are complete in a system. Then pali are 
developed before a higher order and eighteen result. The pali are 
deep in the calice, but project upwards; and they send processes 
