﻿96 MADEEPOKARIA. 



There are eight specimens of this coral, the most important being a fine large semicircular 

 stock (PI. XVII. iig. 3) consisting of foui- large leaves, the lowest of which is over 20 cm. deep. 

 In addition to this there are two single detached folia and five fragments, especially beautiful 

 because they have preserved what appears to be the original rich coloration of the coral in 

 nature. 



The large stock appears to have grown outwards (and slightly upwards) from the side of 

 some object. The leaves die down at the centre, and the zone of life is not more than 

 6 to 9 cm. deep along the edges, this zone covering both surfaces. The dead portions of the 

 coral are covered by an enormous number of large worm-tubes and molluscs of such a size as 

 to suggest that the coral gi'ows very slowly. This impression is also increased by the number 

 of large Balanids buried in the ccenenchyma of the living zone. The general aspect of the 

 upper surface is rough, owing to the innumerable angular papUlte and papillate processes. 



The tendency of the coenenchymatous elevations to rise up in finger-shaped processes, in 

 the sides of which calicles are sunk, combined with the fact that some of the leaves are more 

 thickly covered with such processes than others, suggests that under the accidents of grovrth 

 this coral might have quite a different shape. The form which is possibly nearest to it is one 

 from the same locality, viz. M. striata, the striated border of this latter type occurring here 

 also. No epitheca is developed in either: in texture the under surfaces are very much 

 alike. The two, however, differ too greatly, especially in the fact that M. striata is purely 

 tuberculate, to be classed together without a longer series of connecting specimens. 



A further interesting feature is the similarity of the ccenenchymatous specialisation of 

 this t)"pe with that of M. prolifera. Though the result is almost the same, the principle of 

 formation differs entirely. This species raises the calicles on pointed papillte. In M. prolifera 

 the processes rise from a fusion of the radial ridges. 



The two detached leaves (6 and c) are interesting as showing how the roughness and 

 irregularity of the surface is acquired with the growth of the stock. One, which is the 

 fragment of a large leaf, shows marked concentric wrinkles with the risings of the ccenen- 

 chyma along the ridges of these wrinkles ; the other, which is a young complete folium, is 

 almost smooth, tliin and translucent, the concentric wrinkling being only faintly indicated. 



The edges and under surfaces of these specimens are suffused with orange-yellow, which 

 is very bright round the calicular apertures. The under surface of the oldest leaf, however, 

 is a pale olive-green, but from the fragments d to h, which are richly coloured, we learn that 

 these larger specimens have been partly bleached. The original (?) .colours are in every shade 

 from a deep olive-green to a yellowish olive-green, passing into a rich orange, which again 

 passes into a rose-pink. 



a. (Old stock) Houtman's Abrolhos, West CoU. Saville-Kent. 95. 10. 9. 58. (Type.) 



Australia. 

 h. (Fragment of old leaf) Houtman's „ „ 95. 10. 9. 54. 



Abrolhos, West Australia, 

 c. (Young leaf) Houtman's Abrolhos, West „ „ 95.10.9.53. 



Australia. 

 d-h. Houtman's Abrolhos, West Australia. „ „ 95. 10. 9. 45. 



