?48 kB. 3. STANLEY GAQDliiTER ON [Junfe 6, 



Milne-Edwards and Haime are almost certainly varieties of 

 previously described species, due to position of growth. 



It is noticeable that there are in the collection no two specimens 

 exactly alike in their calices, no two, indeed, which do not give as 

 good specific differences as many of the species described by 

 Milne-Edwards and Haime. Indeed without drawings (or pre- 

 ferably photo-plates) descriptions are absolutely useless. I have 

 described one specimen as new ; it differs markedly, in the 

 characters of its septa, in its distinct calicular rim (formed by the 

 theca), and in the deep sulci, from all previously described species. 



1. AsTEiEA DENTicuLATA Ellis & Solander. (Plate XL VII. fig. 1 ) 



Madrepora denticulata, Ellis & Solander, Zooph. p. 166, pi. xiv . 

 fig. 1 (1786). 



Favia denticulata, Milne-Edwards & Haime, Cor.ii. p. 428(1857). 



There are two specimens of this well-known species, which is 

 very common on the lagoon reefs and on the outer reefs to 

 leeward at Funafuti. The thecae of neighbouring calices are 

 generally completely fused, forming thin dividing walls. In 

 places, however, the thecae are distinct at the surface and about 

 1 mm. distant one from another. In the more vigorously growing 

 portions of the colonies the calices are deep, the septa slope 

 directly down to the axial fossa without any distinct paliform 

 lobes, and the columella is very small and inconspicuous. On the 

 undersides and least vigorously growing portions of the colonies 

 the calices are shallow, the septa have broad, paliform lobes, and 

 the columella is a distinct trabeculated mass. 



Funafuti ; lagoon and outer reefs. 



2. AsTE^A FKAGiiis Dana. 



Astnea fragilis,~D&i:ia, Zooph. p. 230, pi. xii. fig. 2 (1848'i 

 Two specimens, which agree closely with Dana's figures and 

 descriptioQ. The larger calices are about 9 mm. in breadth by 

 4-5 mm. in depth. Their dividing walls are 1-1*5 mm. broad and 

 compact. The septa form three complete orders, the fourth being 

 represented by about 6 septa. The primaries and secondaries are 

 subequal and slightly thicker, broader and more exsert than the 

 tertiaries. The septa are not usually continuous between the 

 calices over the walls, which accordingly show commonly a distinct 

 sulcus. In the Eotuma specimen the septa are thicker and more 

 exsert, and the wall has a more distinct sulcus than in the 

 Funafuti specimen, in which further the septa of the first three 

 orders approach one another in size. The columella is generally 

 distinct, being formed by very fine spongy trabeculse. 

 Funafuti; lagoon. Eotuma; boat-channel. 



3. AstrjEA pallida Dana. 



Astrcea pallida, Dana, Zooph. p. 224, pi. x. fig. I3(i84h;. 

 Two specimens, corresponding closely to Dana's description 

 and figures (except fig. 136, " cells in outline") and having living 



