MADEEPORAKIAIf FAMILY — THE FTJNGIDJE. 157 



orders. These dentations are high, with, a narrow base and ex- 

 panded top, and are exceedingly rugged. Ordinarily the higher 

 orders of septa nearer the calicular axial space have a smaller 

 dentation than those on either side*. The slender base aadmore 

 or less expanded and spinulose or knobbed extremity of" the orna- 

 mentation are seen in all the dentations of the septa. 



Lateral granules are seen, and they cover the flanks of the septa, 

 especially near the free edges ; some are on the sides of the den- 

 tations, and others, few in number, are on the septa below and 

 between them. They never reach across the interseptal loculi as 

 synapticula. 



The septa and synapticula present a very remarkable appear- 

 ance when viewed from the side, after the removal of a neighbour- 

 ing septum and separation of the adherent synapticula. These 

 last are large, long vertically, and very solid-looking ; but the 

 septa may either be solid and massive, or made up of trabecular 

 processes and perforated. The curved processes forming the 

 trabeculae are stout, solid, and rounded, and the perforations 

 are spaces between them. There is nothing like a thinning-off 

 of tissue indicative of approaching deposition and filling up of a 

 fenestration. Finally, the dentations on the upper free edge of the 

 septa are onlines of vertical trabecular processes unitedatthe sides ; 

 and yet the trabeculse may join below the base of the dentation 

 and leave a vacuity just beneath it. These vacuities are large 

 and are commonest near the margins or free edges of the septa 

 below the base of the dentations ; but larger ones exist deeper 

 down. The trabecular nature of parts of septa interferes with 

 the vertical continuity of the massive synapticula ; but where the 

 septa are solid, these cross structures are high, more or less ver- 

 tical or slightly curved, broad (from septum to septum) , and well 

 developed in length from within outwards. They are frequently 

 stouter than the septal trabeculse, and at other times are slen- 

 derer. "When perfect, they have long spaces or canals between 

 them similar to those noticed in Fungia, and, as in that genus, 

 one canal may communicate with another of the next interseptal 

 space by means of the want of solidity of the septa. When the 

 nature of the septum is trabeculate, the synapticula are either 

 short and restricted to the solid parts where the trabeculse meet, 



* Owing to the refractive qualities of the coral-structure these details are 

 sometimes diiRcult to see. I find that soaking in a weak solution of carmine 

 tints the white structures and gives excellent results. 



LINN. JOUHN. — ZOOLOGY, VOL. XVII. 12 



