756 MR. J. STAKLET GARDINEE OK [June 6, 



9. Oebicella heliopora Lamarck. (Plate XLIX. fig. 4.) 



Astrea heliopora, Lamarck, Hist, des Anim. s. Yert. ii. p. 263 

 (1816). 



Heliastrcea heliopora, Milne-Edwards & Hainie, Cor. ii. p. 459 

 (1857). 



Milne-Edwards and Haime have alreadj' given a fall description 

 of this species, with which two specimens in my collection very 

 closely agree. There is a considerable amount of variation in my 

 larger specimen, the thecse of neighbouring calices being in some 

 parts closely apposed, and in others 2-^^ mm. apart with a very 

 distinct valley between. The septa show a condition approaching 

 that found in 0. coronata, 0. cihrta, and 0. rotumana, the primaries 

 being markedly broader at their upper edges than the secondaries. 

 All the primaries and most of the secondaries meet the columella 

 and are provided with paliform lobes. 



In the smaller specimen, a young colony, the crateriform 

 character of the calices is more marked and the calices are rather 

 deeper, being often 4-5 mm. 



Funafuti ; leeward reef. 



10. Orbicblla solidior Milne-Edwards & Haime. 



Astrcea solidior, Milne-Edwards & Haime, Ann. des Sc. Nat. 

 ser. 3, xii. p. 102 (1850). 



Hdiastrcea solidior, Milne-Edwards & Haime, Cor. ii. p. 460 

 (1857). 



Three specimens, which closely correspond to the descriptions. 

 The calices in all the specimens have distinct low rims, separated 

 by shallow valleys. The columella is always very dense and well 

 marlced, being formed by trabeculas from all the septa of the first 

 two cycles and some also of the third cycle. While the costse are 

 of equal size, the septa of the different cycles are quite distinct, 

 those of lower cycles being more exsert, thicker, and broader than 

 those of higher cycles. Paliform lobes are ouly found on the 

 primaries and secondaries. 



Eunafuti ; lagoon reefs. 



11. Oebicella tttnaeutensis, n. sp. (Plate XLIX. fig. 5.) 



The coraUum is a large incrusting mass covered underneath by 

 a dense epitheca. The corallites are free afc their edges — the 

 thecae being often 2-3 mm. distant — but there is no distinct 

 valley between. The costse are nearly of equal size and thin ; 

 they are joined on neighbouring corallites by exotheca and are 

 never continuous. 



The calices are generally round, but sometimes more or less 

 oval, never polygonal. The septa form three complete cycles, and 

 commonly in one half of each system two septa of a fourth cycle 

 are found. The primary septa are recognizable in all the calices, 

 being slightly thicker and broader at their upper edges than the 

 rest, and having low, broad, blunt paliform teeth before they join 



