1899.] ASTK^lD CORALS FROM THE SOUTH PACIFIC. ?63 



growth of Millepora — generally not more than 1 mm. thick — has 

 taken place, which over the dead calices very closely follows their 

 septa. On the surface, too, a young colony of the same species of 

 Galaxea is situated ; it has 16 coralUtes, the largest being 3 mm. 

 in diameter. 



In the young corallites at the edges of the colonies all stages, 

 from a cycle of six septa to the full three cycles, can be found. 

 In the older calices the typical number of septa for thi-ee cycles, 

 ?. e. 24, is by no means constant, as many as 30 often being found, 

 and it would appear that these are true variations in the number 

 of septa and are not due to the presence of a few septa of a 

 fourth cycle. In all cases thick and thin alternate, the latter 

 situated always more externally ou the theca. 



2. Galaxea fascigularis Linnaeus. 



Madrepora fascicularis, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. edit. xii. p. 1278 

 (1763). 



Madre^jora fascicularis, Ellis & Solander, Zooph. p. 151, pi. xxx. 

 (1786). 



Galaxea fascicularis, Milne-Edwards & Haime, Cor. ii. p. 227 

 (1857). 



After some hesitation I have referred two small specimens to this 

 species. They agree in most respects with tiie above descriptions, 

 but the calices are rather smaller, the largest being less than 1 cm. 

 in greatest diameter and the majority only about 7 mm. The 

 corallites and peritheca are comparatively light, and some of the 

 former project for 2*3 cm. above the latter, the general height 

 being little more than half this. The lower part of the peritheca 

 has been destroyed, generally to within 6 mm. of its free surface, 

 by boring organisms. The lower parts of the corallites remain, 

 being formed of dense corallum, and the wlule appears to have 

 been growing very rapidly, perhaps owin;;; to the boring organisms 

 acting as a stimulus. 



Wakaya, Fiji ; reef. 



I also obtained a single corallite of a colony of the same species 

 from the ciiam ot a buoy in Levuka Harboui', Fiji, which had been 

 cleaned 22 months before. The corallite measures 2'3 cm. m 

 height and 7"5 mm. by 5 mm. in diameter, so that the colony of 

 which it formed a part must have been of considerable size. 



EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. 

 Plate XL VI. 

 Fig. i. Cmloria deedalea, Ellis & Solander. Specimen b, X 1 ; p. 741. 



■^' ,) JJ IJ M ^J X I. 



3. „ sinensis, Milne-Edwards & Haime, X 1 ; p. 742. 



4. „ astrceiformis, Milne-Edwards & Haime, X 1 ; p. 743. 



5. „ esperi, Milne-Edwards & Haime, p. 743. 



6. „ edwardsi, n. sp,, X 1 ; p. 744. 



