1898.] TURBrNOLrD and octjlinoid coeals. 997 



but little projecting and very thin, while the tertiary septa are 

 indicated by long flattened spines at the edges of the calices. The 

 calices of the sides of the branches have the primary septa very 

 thick and rough at the edges and sides, while the secondary septa 

 are much broader than in the terminal calices, and the tertiaries 

 are generally distinct ; the columella is situated low down in these 

 calices, but can usually be distinguished as a broad, rough, slightly 

 projecting mass, in the lowest calices much more prominent. 



fiotuma ; outer reef. 



This species is evidently very closely allied to S. digitata, having 

 almost precisely the same mode of growth, and may perhaps be 

 only a variety of it due to a very slow growth owing to its position 

 on the reef or some other cause. However, the presence of twelve 

 distinct septa in nearly all the calices and a very obtuse lip are 

 constant features of difference. 



5. Sttlophoea compeessa, n. sp. (Plate LXII. fig. 4.) 



Corallum consisting of much compressed, dichotomously branch- 

 ing stems, which broaden out towards their extremities, where they 

 bear a number of small lobes. The latter are generally from 1-2 

 cm. long, and are usually flattened at right angles to the com- 

 pression of the branches which bear them ; they further, too, arise 

 almost invariably in the same plane. Some of the branches 

 immediately below these lobes are 5 cm. in breadth by about 1 cm. 

 in thickness, and the lobes are generally 1-2 cm. broad by about 

 6 mm. thick. 



The upper edges of the side calices of the branches are generally 

 well developed, 1 mm. long, and rather acute in shape; on the ends of 

 the branches and near the attached base there is, however, no such 

 development. The ccenenchyma is everywhere well developed 

 except between the end calices of the branches ; its surface is 

 covered with low blunt granular spines, which may form striations 

 on the lips of the corallites. The calices are about 1 mm. in 

 diameter, and there are on the sides of the branches usually 7 in 

 1 cm. 



The terminal calices of the branches have the primary septa 

 projecting considerably, rough-edged and prolonged below to meet 

 the small, style-like, very prominent columella ; the secondary septa 

 are also present as thin, narrow, but distinct lamellse. In the side 

 calices of the branches both primary and secondary septa are 

 thicker and slightly exsert ; the tertiaries, too, can be distinguished 

 by their spinulous upper ends, but within the calices are indistinct. 

 The columella, however, is thicker and less prominent. Towards the 

 base of the colony the septa become less exsert ; the primaries are 

 especially broadened and thickened, and the columella is a very 

 well-marked style. 



Funafuti ; outer reef and 5 fathoms. Two specimens. 



The reef specimen has its septa rougher and with more granular 

 sides than the dredged one ; the columella, too, is larger and less 

 style-like. Some of the branches approach in form to those of 



