﻿106 MADREPOEARIA. 



much more distinct as six stout, well defined rods reaching to the half radius circle, one or 

 two directives being visible to the naked eye (secondaries liardly traceable). On the edge 

 Avhich creeps under the mass (for about 1 to 2 cm. from tlie growing edge, and until the 

 papillas appear), tlie calicles may liave all the typical characteristics of those wliich usually 

 develop on the under surfaces of Montipores, each being surrounded by a solid ring of 

 coenenchyma flush with the surface. 



The coenenchyma is a rather coarse, flaky reticulum which swells up convexly between 

 the calicles, and here and there rises into the typical nipple-shaped papillaj. These papillse 

 occur in patches, and here and there isolated examples rise as high as those on the type, but 

 as a rule they are much smaller, about 1 mm. high and 1 thick. 



The single specimen appears to have led a free life, but to have incorporated other corals 

 which it must have encrusted and then broken off (e.g. a stock of Mussa). It agrees with the 

 type in essentials, but differs in the characters of its calicles and in the smaller size of its 

 papillffi. 



a. Palm Island, Great Barrier Reef. Coll. Saville-Kent. 92. 12. 1. 259. 



Montipora verrucosa, variety /9. 



Description. — Corallum explanate, thick, 6 to 10 mm. at edge, 10 to 12 mm. 7 cm. from 

 the edge. Under surface for 6 to 7 cm. from the edge free of epitheca, wrinkled, the 

 wrinkles developing from the edge inwards, into deep valleys, the elevations between which 

 become pendent and almost club-shaped knobs thickly covered with calicles. 



Calicles on upper surface densely crowded, of all sizes from 1 mm. to minute specks, 

 conspicuous, open. Two cycles of septa distinct and well developed ; of the primaries one 

 directive is very prominent and slightly exsert ; fossa deep. On the under surface calicles 

 slightly smaller, each surrounded by a complete ring often sharply protuberant and echinulate. 

 The rings get thicker and more massive as they recede from the growing edge. Two cycles 

 -of septa more feebly and irregularly developed than on the upper surface, with only occasional 

 indications of a directive septum. 



Coenenchyma in section shows a thick lamellate streaming layer, the leaf-like ends of 

 which expand to form both upper and lower surfaces of the growing edge. The upper 

 thickening layer is not much thicker than the lower. The upper reticulum appears almost 

 trabecular, but near the edges both the upper and lower surfaces consist of a beautiful, open 

 and delicate filamentous reticulum. Further off this becomes more dense and echinulate. 

 In patches of the upper surface the interstitial spaces rise up into small nipple-hke papiUse, 

 1 mm. high by 1 mm. thick at base, the sides of which slope straight down into the polyp 

 cavities as in the type. The nipples are fragile and echinulate, and occur only iu parts where 

 the ccenenchymatous reticulum is somewhat more dense and flaky. 



