GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF CORALS. 113 



cies in deep water, and none of the Pavoniae among the com- 

 pound species ; but the massive Siderina? (Siderastraeas) are 

 common, and the foliaceous Agariciac and Myeedia. Of the 

 Oculina tribe, species of Oculina, Cladocora and Astrangia are 

 relatively more numerous than in the central Pacific ; but 

 there are none of the Pocilliporids, which are common both in 

 the torrid and subtorrid regions of the Pacific. Millepores are 

 very common. Gorgoniae, are of many species. 



Prof. Verrill observes that not a single West Indian coral 

 occurs on the Panama coast, although, on the opposite coast, at 

 Aspinwall, there are found nearly all the reef-building species 

 of Florida, viz. : Porites astrwoides Lmk., P. clavaria Lmk., 

 Madrepora palmata- L., M. cervicornis L., M. prolifera L., 

 Mceandrina clivosa V., M. labyrintliica, M. sinuosa Les., with 

 other species of Ma3andrina, Manicina areolata Ehr., Sider- 

 astrcea (Siderina) radiata V., S. galaxea Bl., Agaricia agari- 

 cites, Orhicella cavernosa V., 0. annularis D. Moreover no 

 West Indian species is known to be identical with any from 

 the Pacific or Indian ocean. 



The reefs of the Brazilian coast south of Cape Poque lie in 

 the subtorrid region of oceanic temperature, or between the is- 

 ocrymes of 74° and 68°. The reef corals extend as far south 

 as Cape Frio, according to Prof. 0. F. Hartt. The species, as 

 determined by Prof. Verrill, from Prof. Hartt's collections, re- 

 semble the West Indian. All species of Madrepora, Mgean- 

 drina, Diploria, Manicina, Oculina, genera eminently charac- 

 teristic of the West Indies, appear to be wanting, while the 

 most important reef-making genera are Favia, Acanihastrwa, 

 Orhicella, Siderastrcea, Porites, and Millepora, and also, of 

 less importance, Mussa and some others. A few species, viz. : 

 Siclemstrwa stellata V., Orbicella aperta V., Astrwa gravida 

 V., and Porites solida V., are very close to West Indian spe- 



