﻿FOVEOLATE MONTIPOE^. - 53 



There is only one specimen of this coral. It appears to have started by encrusting some 

 small free object. Examination of the corroded parts of the under surface only shows 

 successive layers of the same coral. On all these dead and corroded surfaces the foveolation 

 comes out very strikingly. The small groups of foreign objects, worm-tubes, gastropod shells, 

 orbitolites (some of the last being 1 cm. m diameter) make the mass irregular, but do not quite 

 destroy the tendency to form smooth rounded nodules, except when the coral grows up round 

 a small worm-tube. A well developed epitheca creeps along the closely encrusting edges, 

 which grow round for some distance under the apparently detached mass. 



The specimen is so markedly foveolate that there is no doubt as to its position. The 

 appearance of double walls and the exsert directives, together with the method of growth, 

 make it necessary to classify it as a new species. 



a. Torres Straits. Prof. A. C. Haddon. (Type.) 



38. Montipora turgesoens. (PI. VI. fig. 2 ; PI. XXXII. fig, 11.) 



Description. — Corallum explanate or encrusting, with free edges 3 mm. thick, supported 

 by epitheca. 



Calicles crowded, 1 'diameter apart, sunk, 0*5 mm. across. Two cycles of nearly equal, 

 short septa, irregularly developed round the aperture; the primaries are slightly larger than the 

 secondaries ; a large open fossa which makes the calicles, though small, very conspicuous. 



Coenenchyma shows a solid layer of varying thickness resting upon the epitheca, a coarse 

 outwardly streaming layer which bends upwards to form a very compact layer ; this appears as 

 if composed of nodulated and somewhat irregular trabeculse. The interstitial spaces are all 

 evenly convexly swollen up ; while on the level portions of the coral, median ridges appear 

 half-way between the calicles. The edges of the ridges are sometimes marked by thin 

 straight coenenchymatous threads. On eminences, the interstitial spaces are swollen up so as 

 almost to close the apertures of the calicles, which may then rise to the surface, the echinulae 

 of the ccenenchymatous reticulum forming the septal spines. 



The six specimens arranged under this tj^e illustrate very well the regular and even rise 

 of the interstitial spaces, above the level of the polyp cavities. They might almost be classed 

 as varieties of M. fovcolata, in which the character reaches its extreme development. The 

 specimens differ greatly in details not always easy to specify. The first four, which obviously 

 belong to one another, vary much among themselves. They are deeply suffused with a rose- 

 pink colour, and the calicles vary greatly in size ; the height and development of the ramparts 

 also vary greatly. 



a. Green Island, Great Barrier Eeef. Coll. Saville-Kent. 92. 12. 1. 2. , ^^ 



92.12.1.272.f(TyP'^^> 



6. Capricorn Island, Great Barrier Eeef. 



c. Great Barrier Eeef. 



d. Eocky Island, Great Barrier Eeef. 



e. Capricorn Island. 



/. Eocky Island, Great Barrier Eeef. 



92. 12. 1. 548. 

 92. 12. 1. 262. 

 92. 12. 1. 273. 

 92. 12. 1. 264. 



