JONKS — on NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 15 



upwards. This condition probably arises from the attacks of 

 parasites, for I invariably lind all specimens more or less coated 

 on the decayed parts with serpuke, sponges, and minute marine 

 forms. Milne Edwards gives Ceylon as a habitat for this species^ 

 so I presume it has a wide geographical range. 



Fam. Fungi DiE. 

 Gen. Mycedium. 



Mycedlmn fragile, Dana. 

 Leptoseris fragilis, Edw, 



This delicate and pretty coral is not uncommon. It generally 

 grows in thin plates, but occasionally assumes a cup form ; and 

 I have examples growing around the stems of other corals. It 

 is found under overhanging rock on the reefs and on the shore 

 about low water mark, and looks in situ like a fungus growing 

 under a log. When viewed under the microscope it presents a 

 series of frills, with polyp cells, situate along the line of frill. 

 A specimen of this coral in my collection has one of the highest 

 coloured spondjdi growing upon it that I have ever seen. Major 

 General Nelson, R.E., who was quartered at Bermuda several 

 years ago, and is the author of a very valuable paper in the 

 Transactions of the Geological Society of London, upon the 

 formation of the group, aptly terms it the " pancake coral." 



Fam. PoRiTiD.E. 

 Gen. Porites. 



Porites clavaria, Edw. 

 Madrepora porites, Pallas. 

 Porites coiiglonierata, Lam. 



This species is well known to the fishermen as " rock coral.' 

 It is very common, and forms a considerable portion of the reefs. 



