S0LENASTR2EA. 77 



Orbicella annularis Dana. « 



Madrepora annularis and faueolala Ellis & Sol. 



Astrea annularis Lamk.. Lamx., M.-Edw. & II. 



Tubastrea annularis Rlainv. 



Explanaria annularis Ehr. 



Helinstraa annularis M.-Edw. & H. 



Heliastrcea stellulata ? M.-Edw. 6c II. (and sjnon.). 



The same remarks about variation, given under the head of 0. caver- 

 nosa, can be applied to this species ; there are very fine examples in 

 the Museum of the great variation of form of the calicles in the same 

 specimen. 



It is very common in Florida on the reef and in the channels, and 

 forms large hemispherical masses nearly up to low-water mark. The 

 central and highest part often dies out from being left uncovered at 

 very low tide, and the mass then assumes an annular form through the 

 decay of the dead part. I cannot find, however, if the specific name 

 was derived from this fact. 



SOLENASTK^EA M.-Edw. & H. 



Astrea (pars) Michelin. Icon. Zooph. 



Solenastrsea excelsa Poukt. 



Orbicella er.celsa Dana. Z ioph. Page 212, PI. 10, fig. 1G. 



tastrcea Bournoni M.-Edw. & II. 

 Madrepora pit iadi s .' Ell. 6c Sol. PI. 53, figs. 7 and 8. 

 Madrepora stellulata ? Ell. & Sol. PI. 53, figs. 3 and 4. 

 Non Orbicella pleiades Dana. 

 Solenastrcea EUisti Duch. 6c Mien. 

 Orbicella hyadesl Dana. 

 Orbicella stellulata ? Dana. 



The earliest name ought to be Ellis's; but as there is a doubt, on 

 account of the imperfect description and figure, it is better to adopt 

 Dana's, the original of whose description I have compared in the 

 Museum of the Boston Society of Natural History : although some- 

 what worn, it can be identified without doubt. 



Orbicella hyades Dana I suspect to be identical with this, but I was 

 unable to find the original specimen said to lie in the same collection. 



To Milne-Edwards and Ilaime's description ought to be added that 

 the columella is solid, with slightly concave papillose surface, but may 

 be quite absent in young calicles; there is a considerable range of 

 variation in the same corallum. It is not common in Florida. 



Solenastrcea micans Duch. & Mich., with vesicular columella, probably 

 belongs to some other genus. 



