356 FUNAFUTI ATOLL. 



MADREPORARIA PERFORATA. 



FAMILY MADREPORTD^E. 

 MADREPORA SYRINGODES, Brook. 



Madrepora syringodes, Brook, Cat. Madr. Corals, Brit. Mus., i., 

 p. 177, pi. xxxiii., fig. E. 



Two small examples are somewhat doubtfully referred to this 

 species. 



MADREPORA SPICIPERA, Dana. 



Madrepora spicifera, Dana, Zoophytes, U.S. Explor. Exped., p. 

 442, pi. xxxiii., fig. 4. 



A single specimen, consisting of a stout pedicel and two plate- 

 like lobes, one of which is much larger than the other ; the irregular 

 shape appears to have been due to the corallum growing in a 

 narrow passage subject to strong inrushing currents of water. 

 The lower surface near the pedicel is destitute of corallites except 

 near the margins and angles of the branches on which there exist 

 a few scattered immersed corallites. Towards the extremities of 

 the branches the surface bears distinct immersed and subimmersed 

 corallites. 



The echinulse on the upper and lower surface consist of com- 

 pressed processes, usually wider at the summit than at the base, 

 and on an average are about 0'15 mm. apart. 



The striae on the radial and axial corallites are about 0-1 mm. 

 apart. 



Collected on the outer reef, south-east of the main islet. 



MADREPORA BOTRYODES, var. PUNAPUTIENSIS, var. nov. 

 Madrepora botryodes, Brook, Cat. Madr. Corals, Brit. Mus., i., p. 

 153, pi. xxxiv., fig. c. 



A single example, referable to this species, but differing suffi- 

 ciently to merit a varietal name. 



The corallum is 12 cm. high, 28 cm. long, and from 9 to 12 cm. 

 broad. The main branches are about 7 cm. high and 1-5 cm. in 

 diameter ; they are angular below, and give off from two to six 

 branchlets, which reach the same level. The apices of the branch- 

 lets are irregularly thickened by aggregations of proliferous coral- 

 lites. The branchlets are about 1*2 cm. in diameter at the base, 

 and from 1 to 2 -5 at the summit; at the apex they are 2 cm. apart 

 and are separated below the clustered corallites by spaces 5 mm. 

 wide. 



Axial corallites from 2 to 3'5 mm. in diameter and 2 mm. 

 exsert, aperture about 0'8 mm., septa twelve, the primaries meeting 

 at the base ; the secondaries are very narrow at the margin. 



