﻿68 JVLADEEPOEAEIA. 



49. Montipora rig-ida. 



Montipwa rigida, Verrill, Proc. Essex Inst., v. (1866) p. 26. 

 Non Montipora rigida, (^viGlch (see Montipora compressa,.-^: i2)i 



Description. — Corallum branched, the branches strongly compressed, thin at the summits, 

 forming flattened clusters of branchlets coalescent below. 



Calicles small, • 75 mm., septa imperfectly developed, six in number, " trabecular " and 

 " spinose." 



Crenenchyma unusually dense, uneven, strongly echinulated, with numerous rounded 

 pores. The interstitial spaces rise up to form cell-like ramparts which are " thin and angular " 

 round the calicles, " giving the surface the appearance of some Madrepores with short open 

 corallites." 



The above is a recasting of Verrill's description of a branched Montipore from Benin 

 Island. The broadened ends of the branches measured 12 mm. across by less than 6 mm. 

 in thickness. The fragments were about 7 "5 cm. high, and the colour dull yellowish brown. 



The most important character here described is certainly the swelling up of the inter- 

 stices to form ramparts, giving the stock the appearance of a ^Madrepore. Tliis character is 

 not visible in the specimens from Mactan Island, brought by the ' Challenger,' and identified 

 by Quelch with this type, but here identified with the M. coriijrressa of Esper. 



In describing a branched foveolate Montipore from Ponape, Briiggemann suggested that 

 Verrill's type might be the same as Madrcpora limitata, Ellis and Solander. The description 

 given by these authors certainly appears to refer to a branched foveolate Montipore, but there 

 is no locality given nor any further details. On the other hand, a very great number of the 

 branched Montipores tend to develope the foveolate specialisation of the ccenenchyma. I do 

 not, therefore, feel justified in following Briiggemann in this synonymy. 



There are, unfortunately, no specimens in the- National Museum wJiich I can identify 

 with this type. 



50. Montipora limitata. 



Madrepora limitata, Ellis and Solander, Zoophytes (1786) p. 172. 

 Montipora limitata, Briiggemann, Jouru..Mus. Godef., v. (1879) p. 208.. 



Description. — Corallum. branched ; branches slightly compressed! 



Calicles scattered, with rough, interstices forming boundaries (" limites ") between the 

 calicles. 



This description appears to refer to. a foveolate Montipore,- but it is impossible, without 

 locality, even to suggest its affinity. See above for Briiggemann's- proposed identification of it 

 with Verrill's M. rigida. 



