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Show 1900.] MARINE FAUNA OF CHRISTMAS ISLAND. 125 In its explanate growth this is not unlike G. planulata of Milne-Edwards & Haime, from some unknown locality, but the calicles in that species are 7-8 m m . across, sometimes lengthening to 15 m m . before dividing, This is the second explanate species of Goniastrcea which has been recorded, although it may be remarked by the way that the diagnosis of the genus is not so clear as might be, and it is not always easy to distinguish between Goniastrcea and Prionastrcea (cf. Klunzinger, op. cit. vol. iii. 1879). In pools and channels in reef-flat, Flying Fish Cove. Genus (?) CAULASTRCEA. A few very varying fragments in spirit which appear to come between Mussa and Caulastrcea. There is a single flabellate corallite (4*5 cm. long by 3-5 broad) which has died down, and from its fossa 3 new ones of different lengths and sizes have budded out. In addition there are two long (6 cm.) tapering corallites, with points free but fused near their rims, below which a bunch of (9) small buds project, curving upwards; below the bunch there are places where single buds have been broken off. There are two of these detached young corallites, which are very like single corallites of Galaxea, smooth below, ribbed above, and slightly curved. The variations among these small fragments are thus so great, that more material is necessary before any accurate account of the coral can be given, or its position in the system determined. Genus GALAXEA Oken. G A L A X E A ASPERA Quelch. Galaxea aspera Quelch, Chall. Eep. xvi. (1886) p. 72, pi. 4. figs. 5-5 d. There is a dried specimen with a single loose corallite and a much finer specimen in good preservation in spirit. The latter shows the budding of the corallites above the level of the perithecal tissue. The specimens seem to agree in all ascertainable particulars with Mr. Quelch's species, viz., in their long projecting corallites, the septal formula, the pronounced costae, and the dense perithecal tissue. As far as I have been able to ascertain, the locality nearest to the Keeling-Cocos group from which Galaxea , has been recorded is the Straits of Sunda; but the specimen from that locality was referred by Milne-Edwards and Haime (see Galaxea ellisi, Les Cor. ii. p. 228) to the coral figured by Ellis (Phil. Trans, liii. 1764, pi. 20), which is quite different to this. Pools in reef-flat, Flying-Fish Cove. Genus MUSSA Oken. M U S S A (?) R E G A L I S Dana. Mussa (?) regalis Dana, Zoophytes, 1848, p. 182, pi. 8. fig. 5. T w o fragments of a meandrine 3Iussa. The fragments are chips from the ridges between adjoining calicles. In the smaller |
