﻿28 MADREPORAEIA. 



surrounding coenenchyma. The six primaries are generally well developed and between them 

 the open interseptal loculi are often well marked, owing to the contrast presented by the 

 closeness of the texture of the surroimding coenenchyma. At a lower level, secondaries also 

 appear, slighter than the primaries, but stretching well into the polyp cavity. The septa 

 together nearly fill up the fossa, which is thus inconspicuous to the naked eye. Calicles 

 appear on the part of the under surface which projects freely beyond the epitheca. 



The ccenenchyma is dense. The horizontal streaming layer tends to solidify at a short 

 distance from the growing edge. A solid basal layer rests on the epitheca. The upper 

 thickening layer is also dense, its elements are often not distinguishable, and the whole 

 surface, except where the streaming layer, round the growing edges, is still uncovered by 

 any thickening layer, is almost stony in appearance,, yet scurfy owing to the presence of fine 

 flakes and hairy pointsi 



There is only one specimen, which is a mere firagment. The calicle shown on 

 PI. XXXI. is quite exceptionally regular, the ring is more often interrupted and of uneven 

 thickness. The fine hair-like processes on the apparently solid surface no doubt correspond 

 with the surface granules on the types akeady described. These processes give the coral a 

 pale whitish look which suggested the name ; the black stains on tlie upper surface of the 

 specimen may be natural or accidental. 



a. Bassett-Smith Shoal, Holothuria Bank, 9 fathoms. Admiralty. (Type.) 



11. Montipora punctata. (PI. II. fig. o; PL XXXI. fig. 11.) 



Descriptimi. — Corallum explanate (complete form unknown), with free edge, about 3 mm. ; 

 from 5 to 6 mm. in thickness in the older parts. Edge not closely supported by the epitheca. 

 The edge of the epitheca may be rolled back by the coenenchyma. 



Calicles numerous, like minute punctures in the smooth surface, ca. 1 mm. or less apart. 

 Aperture • 75 mm. in diameter, irregular ; primaries often well developed, with one or two 

 conspicuous directives, one of which is often exsert and laminate ; the secondaries only feebly 

 indicated. On the imder surface the calicles are still more minute, but not so crowded as on 

 the upper surface, and the solid ring round each aperture is thick and the septa short, coarse, 

 and irregular. The calicles- both above and below are rendered specially conspicuous by 

 being stained a deep orange in contrast with the paler yellow of the coenenchyma. 



The ccenenchyma shows a very well developed laminate streaming layer, which expands 

 upwards and downwards. In the former case, it gives rise to a thickening layer in which the 

 vertical elements are very thin, thinner, indeed, than are the cross jimctions which appear to 

 rim in more or less continuous lines parallel with the upper surface. The imder surface is 

 formed of a smooth, solid, flaky reticulum, the calicles opening in solid riags of the same. The 

 upper surface is formed of a close granular network looking smooth to the naked eye ;, here 



