1899.] astRjEid corals from the south pacific. 753 



edges of all are rough without any distinct teeth. The columella 

 is formed by very fine trabeculae from the edges of the primary 

 septa, and in the largest calices is usually about 1 mm, across. 

 The endotheca forms transverse partitions — distant about "o mm. 

 from one another — across the interseptal loculi. 

 Funafuti. 



3. Obbicella wakatana, n. sp. (Plate XLIX. fig. 2.) 



There are three specimens, which agree very closely with 

 0. annuligera in its described characters, but have their calices 

 seldom less than 3-5 mm. deep. They may possibly be identical 

 with that species ; but as my specimens have uniformly deep 

 calices, with other corresponding differences, I have no option but 

 to describe them as a new species. 



The colonies form spreading and incrusting masses covered 

 uniformly underneath by a distinct epitheca. The calices are 

 round, and commonly 5-6 mm. in diameter by 3-4-5 mm. deep. 

 They usually have a quite distinct rim, often as much as 2 mm. 

 high, and are commonly about 2*5 mm. distant one from another. 



The septa are 30-40 in number and cannot be divided into 

 cycles. They are generally equally exsert, but usually about half 

 reach the columella, while half are very narrow. A certain 

 number of septa (6-10) are often somewhat broader at their upper 

 ends and so may simulate a primary cycle. The costas are sub- 

 equal, and are not, except where budding has recently taken place, 

 continuous between the calices, Avhich are joined solely by 

 exothecal trabeculse. The septal edges are very finely spined, 

 and the larger septa in some calices merge directly into the 

 columella, but in others may have each a distinct, fine, paliform 

 tooth, with its summit even 2 mm. above the columella. The 

 latter is generally almost round, 1-2 mm. in diameter, and is 

 formed by very fine, closely anastomosing trabeculse from the 

 septal edges. 



In section, the thecse of neighbouring calices are seen to be 

 quite distinct one from another, the exotheca forming fine tra- 

 beculae, never filling up the interthecal spaces. The interseptal 

 locuK are deep — 7-8 mm. — and closed in below by thin, nearly 

 horizontal endotheeal dissepiments, distant about 1 mm. one from 

 another. 



"Wakaya, Piji ; three small specimens, all obtained close to the 

 edge of the reef. 



4. Okbicella verslpoea Lamarck. 



Astrea verstpora, Lamarck, Hist, des Anim. s. Vert. ii. p. 264 

 (1816). 



Plesiastrcea versipora, Milne-Edwards & Haime, Cor. ii. p. 490 

 pi. D 7. fig. 5 (1857). 



A single specimen, closely resembling the above descriptions and 

 a specimen so named in the British Museum. The species possesses 

 well-marked crateriform calices, with free edges, joined only by 



