196 MR. J. Y. JOHNSON ON NEW MADEIRAN CORALS. [JunC 24, 



consist of fibres bearing a general similarity to those composing the 

 axis of Antipathes. Round the orifice of each cell project large 

 spicula, and smaller spicula strengthen the sides of the cells and the 

 bark. The spicula are intermediate in character between those of 

 A. hirsuta and A. grayi, being less slender than those of the first 

 species, and less stout than those of the second. The great spicula 

 round the mouth of the cell have their exposed portions spinulose or 

 tuberculated (not smooth as in A. hirsuta) ; their bases are branched 

 (as in A. grayi), and they are much less marked with the tubercules 

 which roughen the bases of the last-named species so remarkably. 



This species is distinguishable from the other two by the greater 

 crowding of the cells, by the cells themselves being sessile and being 

 therefore less prominent, by the paucity of the ramifications, and by 

 the dififerences in the spicula already pointed out. In habit it is 

 very distinct. 



The specimen (which is now in the British Museum) has a height 

 of 13 inches, and its branches have a spread of about 11 inches. 

 The stem, with its cells, has a diameter of Sj^ of an inch, and the 

 branches with their cells are only reduced to two-thirds of that dia- 

 meter. Near the base are the stumps of two branches which have 

 been broken ofp. Above, on one side, are two simple branches, and 

 on the other a single forking branch. These three branches are 

 placed not far apart near the middle of the main stem. 



It ought to have been mentioned, with reference to the woodcuts 

 of A. grayi and A. hirsuta (Proc. Z. S. 1861, p. 297), that the 

 figures are considerably larger than the natural size. 



Fam. SxYLASTERIDiE. 



Allopora maderensis, sp. n. 



Opake white. Much and closely branching nearly in one plane, 

 the branches becoming gradually of less diameter, and sometimes 

 anastomosing. They zigzag from cell to cell ; and the surface is 

 finely reticulato- striate, but is without any tubercles. The cells are 

 oblong, sessile, and always placed transversely to the branch, upon 

 one face of the plane. The terminating cells, with their pedicels, are 

 trumpet-shaped, but with oblong mouths, which are much wider than 

 the stalk below. The margin of each cell is elegantly notched with 

 from twelve to sixteen notches, with laminae between. 



The dimensions of the single specimen that has occurred (now in 

 the British Museum) were 3^ inches high and 2\ inches across. 

 The base had been broken away, and the thickest part of the remain- 

 ing stem was ^th of an inch in diameter. The longer axis of the 

 terminal cells measured the twentieth of an inch. 



The specimen was brought up by a long fishing-line on the coast 

 of Madeira. Two examples of that curious patelliform shell the 

 Pedicularia sicula were found seated on the branches. With re- 

 spect to this circumstance, I may mention that Mr. S. P. Woodward 

 has shown me a coral from the coast of Sicily, belonging to a totally 

 distinct genus, with Pedicularia: upon it ; and in the Coral Room 



