OCR Text |
Show 1882.] CORALS F R O M M A D E I R A . 217 the other half the higher orders are not developed. The pali follow the ordinary rule, and are before the tertiary septa in all systems where the higher orders are fully developed ; and consequently there are eleven long, narrow, wavy, very distinct, and well-developed pali. There is a decided endotheca just within the margin, whose edge is somewhat inverted; and it covers some of the pali and occludes several interseptal loculi. In other parts dissepiments may be seen stretching between the septa. The costae are numerous at the base, and are in lines of granules or in faint ridges. Near the calice the costae of the larger septa are the most projecting; and all are marked with granules, which, in some instances, assume a serpentine arrangement. There are faint traces of a pellicular epitheca. Height of coral T 5^ iuch, length of calice T 3^ inch. From Madeira. Subfamily Trochocyathacea. Genus P A R A C Y A T H U S , Milne-Edwards & Haime, 1848. P A R A C Y A T H U S STRIATUS, Philippi, sp. Several specimens of this widely-distributed form, with unlobed pali and well-developed costae, are from Madeira. The species is common in the Mediterranean and in the Caribbean Sea. Subfamily Turbinolince. There are four specimens of a simple coral in the collection from Madeira, which were dredged at a depth of 30 fathoms in Funchal Bay; and they represent three stages of the growth of the species. Genus CERATOTROCHUS, Milne-Edwards & Jules Haime, 1848. C E R A T O T R O C H U S J O H N S O N I , sp. nov. (Plate VIII. figs. 5-8.) The coral' is horn-shaped, bent, and has several growth-rings on it; it was attached by a narrow circular, base, which has broken from its support. The calice is wider than the rest of the body, is almost circular in outline, and its marginal wall is thin. The axial space is wide and deep ; the septa are thin, wide apart, and rather bent; they are unequal, very slightly exsert, and do not reach far into the calice except in the instance of the larger ones. There are several quite rudimentary septa in some parts of the calice; but they correspond to costae which are much larger in every respect. Omitting these, the septa are twenty-seven in number, and counting them, are forty-four in all. The arrangement in cycles is irregular ; and there appear to be five primaries only. The margin between the septa has a festooned edge ; and the interseptal spaces are wide. It is at the lowest point of the concavity of the festoon that the minute septa arise. The tertiary septa are smaller than the secondaries, and they project well from the wall and reach down into the depths of the calice. The septa are rounded above; their edge is rather straight within ; and they are sometimes bent; and |