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Show 1880.] MR. F. MOORE ON THE INDIAN OPHIDERIN.E. 27 outer layer of the body-wall persists as a covering all over the surface of the fully grown coral. I have decalcified many such, and never found any trace of mesenteries or intermesenterial canals on the inner surface of this layer. " The question is to a certain extent one of nomenclature. At all events Dr. Koch's results are very interesting ; and further research by use of his method in the case of other corals must lead to valuable results. "With regard to the development of the coral-wall from outgrowths of the ends of the septa, it must be noted that Prof. Lacaze- Duthiers found, in the case of the Mediterranean coral Astroides cali-cularis, that the wall is developed in the young coral from calcareous spicules quite distinct from those composing the septa. Dr. Koch, however, considers that the mode of development may be quite different in the case of the Perforate Corals, to which group Astroides belongs, from that occurring in Imperforata. Further, however, many very young corals of the genus Flabellum were dredged by H.M.S. ' Challenger.' In these the wall appears as very distinct from the septa, and there can be little doubt that both the horizontal wall at the base and the lateral wall are structures developed apart from the comparatively insignificant septa. In Flabellum the sutures in transverse sections of the coral appear to correspond with the centres of the septa themselves, and not with the intervals between them as in Caryophyllia ; and in the young corallum the wall is seen to be doubled in as it were opposite the lines of attachment of the septa to it. " Corals are so difficult as subjects of investigation that our knowledge of them is as yet very imperfect indeed, and it becomes more and more evident that the careful investigation of a few forms will not suffice to elucidate the others ; they must all become the objects of much patient research." The Secretary exhibited an egg of the Mooruk (Casuarius bennetti) from the island of New Britain, sent to him for examination bj Capt. F. J. Evans. The egg was obtained by Admiral Hoskins, late Commodore on the Australian Station. A communication was read from Mr. F. Moore, F.Z.S., containing an account of the Indian genera and species of the Lepidopteroua subfamily Ophiderinae. This paper will be published in the Society's ' Transactions.' The following papers were read :- |