366 FUNAFUTI ATOLL. 



FAMILY PORITID^E. 



PORITES LICHEN, Dana. 



Porites lichen, Dana, Zoophytes, U.S. Explor. Exped., p. 566, pi. 

 Ivi., fig. 2. 



One small example, 3 cm. long, 2 cm. broad, and 5 mm. thick, 

 with a reflexed margin. The calicles are very variable in size, 

 ranging from 1*5 to 2'5 mm. in diameter; in some cases the 

 separating walls are indistinct, and several calicles are included 

 in a somewhat meandering valley as in Nanopora irregularis, 

 Quelch. 



PORITES LUTE A, Edwards & Haime. 



Porites lutea, Edwards & Haime, Hist. Nat. Corall., iii., p. 180 ; 

 Klunzinger, Die Korall. Rothen. Meeres, p. 40, pi. v., fig. 

 16. 



A single specimen of this species is in the collection. 



The corallum is 8 cm. high, and about 10 cm. in diameter. 

 The calicles are shallow, polygonal, with thin acute walls ; they 

 are about 1 mm. in diameter. The septa are thin and in two 

 cycles ; pali distinct, usually six ; columella reduced to a single 

 spiniform granule. In a few large corallites there are as many 

 as twelve pali, and an incomplete third cycle of septa. 



PORITES LOBATA, Dana. 



Porites lobata, Dana, Zoophytes, U.S. Explor. Exped., p. 502, pi. 

 lv., fig. 1. 



A fine example of this species was obtained. 



The corallum forms a broad semi-circular band around a dead 

 block of coral, and measures 22 cm. in diameter, 8 cm. in width, 

 and 12 cm. in height. 



The surface is studded with numerous round or elongate gibbo- 

 sites, the smaller are about 1'5 cm. in diameter, the larger about 

 4 cm. ; they vary in height from 1 to 3 '5 cm. The depressions 

 between are well defined angular grooves, generally running 

 transversely across the band-like corallum. The calicles are poly- 

 gonal, shallow, almost flat, and about l - 5 mm. in diameter. The 

 walls are distinct, a little raised, but thin and acute. Septa 

 twelve, very thin ; pali six, very prominent, as high as the walls 

 and frequently joined at the base, forming a conspicuous ring 

 round the columella, which is usually represented by a solitary 

 spiniform granule. 



