﻿34 MADEEPOEAEIA, 



types, his identification in this case is so far from correct that it looks as if some slip must 

 have been made in the editing of his work (see the notes on M. verrucosa, p. 104). 



On the other hand, there is no difficulty in identifying the ' Challenger ' specimen described 

 by Quelch as M. oUitsata, with de Blainville's figure. This figure represents a younger ." rowth 

 with fewer and shorter processes, probably at about the same stage as the dead earlier growth 

 seen under the specimen in the National Collection. Further, the enlarged figure of a calicle 

 shows the reticular character of the ccenenchyma and the presence of two cycles of septa. 



There is unfortunately only one specimen. 



a. Fiji Eeefs. H.M.S. ' Challenger.' (Type.) 



17. Montipora bolsii. (PI. II. fig. 6 ; PL XXXI, fig. 15.) 



Description. — Corallum closely encrusting, 2 to 3 mm. thick, one growth spreading over 

 another and over other corals, leaving great spaces, thus building up thick crusts of rock 

 which are full of cavities. The living coral occui's in patches, the edges of which may grow 

 out freely as lateral expansions ; or, again, the surface of a patch may rise up and grow out 

 freely into sloping fiame-Uke masses which are solid and covered rather with small irregular 

 points than with branches. A weU developed epitheca follows the growing edge of all the 

 creeping and freely explanate growths. 



The calicles are minute, variable in size, • 5 mm. and less, evenly distributed about 1 mm. 

 apart, with deep conspicuous fossa surrounded by a ring of six pronounced and slightly exsert 

 granulated septa ; a second cycle present in the larger calicles, but very irregularly developed ; 

 the directives in the larger calicles often laminate. 



The ccenenchyma shows in section a dense reticular layer, which appears to form a 

 soliij layer on the epitheca. The upper thickening layer is also dense; on the explanate 

 portions of the stock it is thin and insignificant, but is well developed in the free branching 

 portions. The surface of the thinner and younger portions of the coral is smooth, solid, but 

 finely granular. In the older and thicker portion it is covered with minute flame-like points 

 or granules which together give the whole sm-f ace a smooth, soft appearance. The appearance 

 of the interstices is in marked contrast with the coarseness of the exsert septa. 



The type specimen is an irregular mass of coral, mostly dead and corroded and full of 

 hollows between the layers and the imbedded branches of former growths of this and of other 

 corals. Minute saucer-shaped growths, many of which no doubt belong to this coral, are 

 found on the under side. One, the smallest and youngest of these stocks, has been separately 

 described in the Introduction as an early stage of M. exigua, which is found in large patches 

 on specimen h. Small patches of a third type of Montipora (M. inco'tispicua) also occur on 

 specimen a. In the thick flaming portion of the coral, the stars are very distinct and regular 

 upon a smooth yellowish creamy ground; they are much less conspicuous on the duller looking 

 younger patches. The whole mass of specimen a is 12 cm. long, and from one side of it (the 

 left in the fig. 6, PL II.) the solid flaming portion streams out freely another 5 to 6 cm. 



