JONES— ON NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 11 



south shore within the barrier reef. In some instances the 

 brainstone forms around the horny trunk of a Gorgonia, and I 

 have a specimen in my collection thus attached to the palmate 

 G. flabelliim. 



Gen. Siderastrsea. 



SiderastrcBa radians, VerrilL 



This species exists in great abundance, and may be found in 

 all positions, coating the reefs or shore rock, either in large 

 masses, or just commencing a colony, with only a few polyp cells 

 collected together, not larger on the surface than an inch 

 diameter. It is an extremely beautiful coral when the calcare- 

 ous mass, having been thoroughly cleaned, is viewed under a 

 microscope of ordinary power, presenting a kind of tessellated 

 star work. The mass is not thick, and in the case of small 

 specimens I have collected, the coat does not exceed two-tenths 

 of an inch. The polyp cells are irregular in form, some being 

 circular, others oval, and in places prolonged cuts occur. It 

 grows well in shallow water, and may be seen in the tidal pools 

 within six inches of the surface. 



Fam. OcULiNiDJE. 

 Gen. Oculina. 



Oculina diffusa, Lam. 



This elegant species is very common and may be found 

 growing in large bushy masses on the reefs ; but fine cabinet 

 specimens may be obtained by searching about the small cavern- 

 ous recesses about low water mark. It is known to the 

 fishermen under the name of " star coral." It varies in form 

 according to the position in which it grows; some specimens 

 having the branches wider apart, while others present quite a 



