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Show 1882.] PROF. DUNCAN ON CORALS FROM MADEIRA. 213 3. On some Recent Corals from Madeira. By Prof. P. MARTIN DUNCAN, M.B. (Lond.), F.R.S., Pres. Royal Micros. Soc, &c. (Communicated by the Secretary.) [Eeceived January 19, 1882.] (Plate VIII.) In the autumn of 1881, Mr. J. Y. Johnson, of Madeira, sent me a small collection of Corals which he had obtained, from a few fathoms depth, in the sea off Funchal and other places near the island. Some of the specimens were adherent by their bases to a small species of oyster, and others to the bases of Gorgonidee. As the collection has species in it representing the Mediterranean, Flori-dan, and North-Atlantic deep-sea coral-faunas, I thought that its description would be of some importance. The new species are three in number; and two of them are very interesting. One, Cerato-trochus johnsoni, belongs to a genus which has a recent species on the American side of the Atlantic and fossil forms in the Mediterranean Pliocene and Miocene and in the Australian Miocene strata. Another, Caryophyllia endothecata, reveals a decided interseptal structure like the endotheca of the family Astraeidae. Description of the Species, and Remarks. MADREPORARIA. Section APOROSA. Family TUKBINOLIIDA Subfamily Caryophyllina. Genus C A R Y O P H Y L L I A , Milne-Edwards & Haime. This genus and its divisions were noticed at some length in the description of the Madreporaria dredged up during the expedition of H.M.S. 'Porcupine,' published in the 'Transactions' of the Society, vol. viii. pt. v. 1873. It is not necessary, therefore, to recapitulate, and especially as there has been no increase of knowledge on the subject of any importance since that date. There are some fine specimens from Madeira of a species of Caryophyllia which was not obtained during the ' Porcupine' expedition, but which is a very well-known Mediterranean form. The specimens came up in deep water off Madeira, attached to a valve of Ostrea cochlea, which, in its turn, rested upon a hexactinellid sponge. One specimen was mature ; a second was smaller ; and there were two very small individuals. The larger specimen has the parts above the base perfect; but CYiorca-borings have destroyed the broad base of attachment. |