1900.] MAB.PNE FAUNA OP CHRISTMAS ISLAND. 123 



Genus Porites Lamarck. 



There is one small, thin, triangular chip from a stock of Porites. 

 The method of growth is unknown. The lower sectional surface 

 shows a regular, rather dense reticulum in which the radiate 

 skeletons of the calicles can still be faintly traced. The calicles 

 are small (1 mm.), polygonal, shallow, but sharply sunk. The 

 walls are either thin, straight, or zig-zag threads, septa appearing 

 irregularly along the margin, or else below it as distinct plates. 

 The pali are stout frosted rods. 



This fragment is too small to classify. It comes nearest in the 

 character of its calicles to a group of Porites in the National 

 Collection from Eamesvaram, Gulf of Manaar, which I have 

 already described in the MS. of vol. iv. of the ' Catalogue of 

 Madreporaria ' as Porites indica. Until more is known of its 

 growth and variations it may therefore be provisionally placed 

 with that group. 



On the reef-flat, Flying Fish Cove. 



Genus (?) Goniopora Quoy & Gaimard. 



In the same bottle with the spirit-specimen, provisionally 

 identified with Goniastrcea retiformis (see below), is a small crumpled 

 incrusting coral with edges slightly free, which has all the 

 appearance of a Goniopore. The specimen is complete and almost 

 too small to allow (without spoiling) of the detachment of portions 

 for close examination of the skeleton, which is now hidden under 

 the retracted soft parts. The budding round the edge is quite 

 different from that of Goniastrcea, and the top edges of the walls 

 which show in rough outline through the skin are not at all like 

 those of that genus, whereas in both these respects the specimen 

 shows more resemblance to Goniopora than to any other stony coral 

 with which I am acquainted. 



Explanate Goniopores are by no means common, so that even 

 without closer identification the specimen is of interest. 



In pools and channels on the reef-flat, Flying Fish Cove. 



Genus Pocillopora Lamarck. 



There are three specimens which seem to belong to two species ; 

 both form low tufts — in one case of crisp irregular branches, aud 

 in the other of thick flattened lobes. The species in this genus 

 are mainly founded on differences of growth-form, and longer 

 series would probably unite many of them. In the present case 

 there appears also to be some difference in the calicles which 

 justify their separation. 



Pocillopora (?) brevicornis Dana. 



Pocillopora (?) brevicornis Dana, Zoophytes, p. 526, pi. 49. fig. S. 

 A small tuft, the branchlets below are rounded off, above are 

 ngular; the round calicles have n distinct ring of septal striie. 



