552 Mr. H. N. Moseley on the true 



diameter of the calicle *. In sounding off Bermuda, on April 17, 1873, 

 in about 200 fathoms, a finely preserved specimen of this variety was 

 obtained, in which the horn-like appendages are developed to a remark- 

 able degree. The diameter of the calicle is 9 millims. ; the length of the 

 horns or spines is 3*5 millims., or more than one third the diameter of 

 the calicle. The horns have no accessory prong as in Pourtales's speci- 

 men ; they are slender, rounded, and taper to a fine point. A some- 

 what smaller horn is developed in relation with one of the secondary 

 costse, although the remaining secondary costee show no tendency to 

 elongation. The horned or stellate variety of D. Agassizii appeared to 

 Pourtales, at first, to present good specific characters ; but the examina- 

 tion of intermediate forms showed that it was not specifically distinct. 

 None of these intermediate forms have been obtained by us, the single 

 specimen of the extreme condition of the variety standing quite isolated. 

 The specimen, which is in most excellent preservation, shows further 

 points of interest. Thus the pali, as a whole, project more prominently 

 above the general elevation of the septa than is the case in the normal 

 specimens ; and the V or delta formed by the junction of the secondary 

 with the tertiary pali is prominent and conspicuous ; so that in this 

 respect the coral approaches the fossil species D. italicus, as figured by 

 Bronnt, more closely than do the normal species ; and there are, further, 

 present around the columella, or, rather, to be considered as forming part 

 of it, six small rounded projections covered with minute spines placed 

 regularly, one opposite each of the secondary septa, as appears to be the 

 case in the fossil form. In other respects, however, the specimen shows 

 the same differences from D. italicus as are presented by the normal 

 specimens and as are described by Pourtales, viz. the costae are covered 

 with fine sharp granulations, not formed of large grains, and the colu- 

 mella, or rather its central portion, shows no traces of a threefold 

 arrangement. The corallum is an almost flat disk, much flatter than any 

 other specimens of D. Agassizii obtained by us. 



During a visit which I paid to Boston in the spring of 1873, Count 

 Pourtales informed me that he had obtained a series of specimens of the 

 stellate variety of B. Agassizii from Barbadoes, where all the specimens 

 of this coral seemed to assume this remarkable form. 



Deltocyathus magnificus, sp. n. 



This name has been given to a gigantic example of this genus, of 

 which two living specimens were obtained from 126 fathoms between 

 the Ke Islands and the Banda group. 



The corallum is quite flattened and discoid. The inferior surface is 

 slightly concave, the margin of the calicle being somewhat tumid. The 

 tissue composing the corallum is dense, and of a slight reddish-yellow 



* Pourtales, I c. pi. 5. figs. 9 & 10. 



t Broun, Kl. unci Ordn. cles Tliierreichs, 2te Bd. t. iv. fig. 10. 



