PREFACE.
The Echinodermata which form the subject of this memoir were collected during the
voyage of H.M.SS. ‘Alert’ and ‘Discovery,’ under the command of Sir George S.Nares,
E.N., K.C.B., F.B.S., to the Polar Sea, by the Naturalists attached to the Expedition,.
Capt. (now Major) H. W. Feilden and Mr. Hart. The greater number were obtained
from 79° 20' N. lat. to 82° 27' N. lat. inclusive—that is, from Franklin-Pierce Bay to
Floeberg Beach. Some forms were captured on the outward voyage, in 65 N. lat.;
and others were dredged in the Expedition of H.M.S. ‘ Valorous, between 66 56
and 70° 30' N. lat., by Dr. J. Gwyn Jeffreys, F.E.S. One specimen was taken by
Mr. A. C. Homer (who accompanied Sir Allen Young in the ‘ J: andoralpj in Smith s
Sound, 78° 19' N. lat. The Arctic Circle has been regarded as our southern limit.
The collections were made under great difficulties, and especially those from the
highest latitudes: dredging, when the tangles froze on coming out of the sea, could not
be attempted frequently. Nevertheless the specimens collected were numerous. They
were carefully cleaned; and some were preserved in spirit, and others were permitted
to dry.
After being deposited at the Eoyal Society in 1877, the .collection was forwarded
to the British Museum. Dr. Günther, F.E.S., confided the specimens to the authors
of this,Memoir; and we wrote1 a brief description of them in the ‘ Annals & Magazine
of Natural History,’ 1877, vol. xx. pp. 449-470. Subsequently we contributed a
short notice of these interesting objects to the admirable book written by Sir George