| OCR Text |
Show 126 MR. C. W. ANDREWS AND OTHERS ON THE [Feb. 20, dry specimen the adjoining calicles, or rather troughs, are closely adherent; the exsert septa almost overlap in the larger spirit-specimen (6 cm. long), in which the skeleton is obscured by the soft parts ; the ridge between the calicles appears to widen here and there into an ambulacrum from 1-2 m m . wide. The calicular trough must have been 3 cm. deep and as much across, while the primary septa are very stout and exsert, and with their inner edges rather more vertical than in Mussa regalis, at least near the top of the ridge. The soft parts are bright green. Small cup-shaped galls are found on the septa here and there, somewhat like those occurring on the specimen of Coeloria (see below). Occurs on the sides of the deep channels at the rim of the reef. Genus LEPTORIA M.-E. & H. L E P T O R I A P H R Y G I A Ellis. Leptoria phrggia Ellis, Zooph. p. 162, 1786, pi. 48. One fragment from a massive growth. It shows both straight and gyrating calicular troughs. A good section shows the thick plate-like columella with its lobed and also finely serrated edge. The species is said to extend over the Indo-Pacific area. Dana records it from Ceylon. Pools on reef-flat, Flying Fish Cove. Genus COELORIA M.-E. & H. CffiLORIA SINENSIS M.-E. & H. Coeloria sinensis M.-E & H . Les Cor. ii. 1857, p. 416. One large specimen which agrees in all important points with this species. The Chinese type had calicular troughs not exceeding 2 cm. The specimen from Christmas Island has the same tendency to short troughs, some being round and only a few m m . in diameter, but a few reach to 3 and 4 cm. in length. What appear to be galls occur on the septa here and there. Pools on reef-flat, Flying Fish Cove. Genus PRIONASTR.EA M.-E. & H. PRIONASTRTEA AUSTRALENSIS M.-E. & H. Prionastrcea australensis M.-E. & H . Les Cor. ii. 1857, p. 520. There is a narrow convex strip with the angular surface characteristic of this genus. It may provisionally be placed near P. australensis, with which it agrees in size of calicle, thin walls, and rudimentary columella; while round the columella a ring, often incomplete, of larger septal teeth rises up, either 2-3 on each septum, or else one large paliform tooth. There is further a very similar specimen in spirit of the same bright green which seems common to these Christmas Island Madreporaria. It appears to have much thicker walls than the dried specimen, but the presence of the soft parts would at least partly account for this. Slightly thicker skeletal walls it may |
