POLYPS AND CORALS. 49 



less distinct, very irregular in form and mode of union. A 

 young specimen about a quarter of an inch broad shows indi- 

 cations of having been attached at the center below by a pe- 

 duncle originating from the inner angle of the larger of its two 

 lobes. Lower surface slightly concave, evenly costate with 

 delicate, elevated, nearly equal costae, which are sharply 

 granulated near the center and finely dentate towards the 

 margin. The latest cycles of septa reach only part way to 

 the center. The outer edges of the septa are thin and even- 

 ly rounded and the upper surface of the coral is convex; 

 central fosette deep, slightly oval, rather large. Septa appar- 

 ently in five cycles, with some members of a sixth in some 

 specimens, closely crowded, very unequal. Those of the 

 two first cycles subequal, more prominent than the rest, es- 

 pecially towards the center, where they become also con- 

 siderably thickened; inner edges perpendicular; summits 

 rounded ; edges like those of all the septa, deeply incised, 

 and lacerate-toothed, the teeth mostly branched; surfaces 

 strongly granulated. The septa of the third cycle termi- 

 nate inwardly before those of the fourth, which unite in pairs 

 and extend to the fossette, those of the fifth cycle usually 

 joining them near the middle. The inner portion of the 

 third and fourth cycles are thickened and in life surmounted 

 by conical tentacles, which are more removed from the cen- 

 ter as they are younger ; latest septa very thin. Columella 

 little developed, papillose; a vertical section shows the 

 wall to be very thin and imperfectly developed ; the septa 

 deeply lacerate at the edges and perforated by many irreg- 

 ular openings, the teeth originating from their inner bases 

 simulating pali ; their sides granulated with points arranged 

 in rows which curve outward and upward from the lower side. 



Diameter of largest specimen 1 inch ; height of a speci- 

 men .5 of an inch in diameter, .12. 



Color of living polyp "mottled greenish gray above, ten- 

 tacles, one to each ray, bright green." 



Foukow Bay, Island of Ousima, in 20 fathoms on a hard 

 sandy bottom ; several specimens. Dr. Wm. Stimpson. 



COMMUNICATIONS ESSEX INST. YOL. V. 7. JULY 25, 1866. 



