THE STONY CORALS OF THE PORTO RICAN WATERS. 
313 
what pi. cvm, fig. 6, represents, but pi. cxiv, fig. 1, is the common cervicornis. Knorr’s (Delicise 
Naturae) pi. aii, fig. 1, also referred to by Pallas, is the same. Knorr’s says, “ Het is namentlyk dit eige 
zelve Koraal ’t we'lk by Sloane Jamaica, Tali, xvm, fig. 3, onder den Naam van Corallium album porosum 
muricatum maximum gevonden wercl, etc.” (Op. cit., p. 6.) (/S) Varietas corymbosa. Under this, 
reference is made to Browne’s Jamaica, p. 391, No. 6, Madrepora maxima compressa, palmata and 
muricata. Browne’s states, “ This grows the largest of all the coralline substances found about Jamaica; 
it is met with in large single masses of an irregular compressed form, which spread into broad, flat 
lobes toward the top.” (Op. etloc. cit.) Browne refers to pi. 18 of Sloane’s Nat. Hist, of Jamaica, 
but he seems to me to mean pi. 17, fig. 3. (y) Reference is made to Sloane’s Natural History of Jamaica, 
vol. i, p. 58, n. 5, tab. 17, fig. 3, which is what is usually denominated Madrepora palmata. Pallas 
states “Locus: Mare Americanum & Indicum.” 
Linnaeus in Syst. Nat., ed. xn, pp. 1279, 1280, again gives references showing that the West Indian 
forms were included in Millepora muricata now transferred to Madrepora, following Pallas. Ellis & 
Solander included the West Indian species in muricata. Their var. « is cervicornis Lam.; S has for a 
synonym var. /3 of Pallas; e is the y of Pallas, or palmata Lamarck. Esper’s Madrepora muricata 1 was 
composed of several species, but included the West Indian forms. In the Museum Calonnianum 1797, 
p. 68, usually credited to Humphreys, the name muricata, so far as I know, is for the first time attached 
definitely to the West Indian species. Dana, Milne-Edwards & Haime, and subsequent writers on 
coi’als until Brook have not used the name. Brook was entirely correct in his use of the name. The 
form hitherto usually called cervicornis should be the typical form of the species. * 2 
Isopora muricata s. s. ( =cervicornis Lamk. ). PI. xxi, and PI. xxn, fig. 2. 
Specimens of this forma are abundant. It is characterized by being loosely and diffusely 
branched. The branches are often very long. Pourtales has published excellent figures in Agassiz’s 
Florida Coral reefs. 3 
Collected off Gallardo Bank, tang, of Morillos de Cabo Rojo, ESE. | E. 9J miles, in 10 to 101 
fathoms of water. 
Isopora muricata forma prolifera Lamarck. PI. xxii, fig. 1; and Pis. xxm, xxiv, xxv. 
There are numerous specimens of this form. It differs from cervicornis by having more crowded 
branches, which often show indications of fusing into flabellate fronds. Culebra is one of the locali- 
ties where this was found. The specimens represented by plates xxm, xxiv and xxv, are from Dry 
Tortugas, Florida (Dr. Edw. Palmer, collector), 
Isopora muricata forma palmata Lamarck. Pis. xxvi and xxvii. 
Fine specimens of this forma were found at both Mayaguez and Culebra. The largest measures 
91 by 55.5 cm. across. It is composed of several large fan-shaped masses. 
It seems well to give here a somewhat full account of the variations of Madrepora muricata ,, 
and this can not be better introduced than by a quotation from Brook’s 4 discussion of forma palmata. 
“The majority of the specimens which have come under my notice do not suggest a very close 
affinity to the arborescent forms prolifera and cervicornis, and for some time I was inclined to regard 
them as distinct. Nevertheless a number of intermediate forms occur, chiefly in the collection of the 
British Museum, which appear to render it necessary to regard all as varieties of one species; and 
there appears little reason to doubt that the ultimate form of the corallum, whether flabellate or 
arborescent, is to a great extent dependent on the environment. Tracing the frondose and vasiform 
specimens, without branchlets, back to M. prolifera, the first step is seen in those specimens already 
referred to, in which the course of the branches composing the fronds is indicated by grooves in the 
surface. In other specimens the branches, though confluent, are well marked at the apex of the 
fronds, and an increase in the size of the axial corallites is generally observable in such specimens. 
iPSanzenth. Fortsetz., pp. 45-59. 
2 J. E. Duerden has some interesting observations on the polyps of this species in Jour. Inst. Jam., vol. n. No. 6, 1899, 
pp. 621-622. 
3 Mem. Mus. Oomp. Zool., vol. vn, No. 1, pi. xvnr, flgs. 1-9 (all figs.), fig. 1 represents a typical branch. 
4 The genus Madrepora, 1893, pp. 25, 26. 
