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11. Ophiocoma scolopendrina.
Lyman, p. 26.
Port Molle.
12. Ophiarthrum elegans.
Peters, IViegmann's Arch. 1852, p. 82.
Though the British Museum possesses several specimens of this
species, the present is especially useful, as it is the first which has
come to hand in which even one of the “ sehr zerbrechlich ” arms
has been preserved eutire. As the disk measures 18 millim., and
this complete arm rather more than 120 millim., we find that the
object now in hand presents very much the same proportions as the
specimen described by Dr. Peters. In an example from Torres
Straits, which has been some years in the possession of the Trustees,
there is an arm Avhich is in a sense complete, bnt it was obviously
broken during life ; and though the disk is of very much the same diameter
as th at just added to the collection, this arm only measures
60 millim.
Dr. Coppinger’s specimen was collected at Levuka, Fiji.
OPHIOTHRIX.
In addition to the series hereafter mentioned and described, there
were indicatious cf other species, not sufiiciently good to justify description,
bnt quite well enough marked to point to the great wealth
of Ophiothrix-iorvas in the seas where these dredgings were made.
13. Ophiothrix fumaria.
Lyman, p. 34.
As this is a very rare species, the following notes may be of
in te re s t:—
Radial shields naked, large, with a curve along their basal edge,
each separated from its fellow by a low ridge on which grannies are
generally developed. Each pair of radial shields is separated by some
seven rows of prominent grannies ; these granules occupy all hut the
very central portion of the disk, and form a spinous patch on the
lower surface. Mouth-shields irregularly oval, p retty sharply angu-
lated proximally and very narrow dis tally, so th at the bridge between
the genital slits is very narrow. Only the median portion of
the interhrachial space is spinous.
Upper arm-plates a good deal encroached upon by the side arm-
plates, so that, for the greater part of the arm, they are wider along
their distal than their proximal edge ; spine-ridge of side arm-plates
not specially weU developed ; lower arm-plates rectangular, a little
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broader than long. Six arm-spines, the uppermost the longest, as
long as two or three arm-plates, swollen at their tip, only faintly
thorny. One tentacle-scale.
Disk with a large number of blue patches aud dots ; arm-plates
above faint reddish pink, with dots of blue at the sides, and broad
transverse bands of blue at regular intervals. Colour-markihgs
below less pronounced.
Port Jackson, 0 -5 fms.
14. Ophiothrix caespitosa.
Jjyman, Chall. Rep. p. 218.
Though the ‘ Challenger ’ found hut few representatives of this
species, it is apparently one of the most common in the neighbourhood
of Sydney.
Port Jackson, March 1881.
15. Ophiothrix martensi.
Lyman, p. 36.
If I am right in ascribing to this species examples from Thursday
Island and Port Darwin, it is one which must be regarded as exhibiting
very remarkable variations in coloration. The original specimens,
collected by Prof. Semper in the Philippines, were described
by Mr. Lyman as being in colour, “ above, bright indigo, with a
darker line along the arm, bounded by a lighter one on either side ;
below, paler indigo, with a white line along the arm.” In a smaller
specimen, “ the blue lines along the arms were continued to the
centre of the disk, hut were not margined by lighter lines.” In the
two specimens collected on “ Aug. 7, 1 8 7 4 ” (in tho neighbourhood
of the Fiji Islands), by the ‘ Challenger,’ and determined by Mr.
Lyman, I observe th a t there is a faint indication of a white line on
either side of the blue lines on the disk, and th at the white line
on the ventral surface is, at places, broken across by a patch of
indigo.
On either side of these “ typical specimens ” there would appear
to he a light and a dark variety. In the latter the whole creature
may he deep purple, the two white lines on the arms being at regular
distances invaded by purple patches of such a size as to leave only
spaces of white equal to themselves ; and as these patches are symmetrical
on either side of the middle line, the original white lines
come to be represented by nothing more than paired patches of white ;
similarly the white line below disappears, or rather is forced out to
the sides, and appears ouly as a thin marginal line. The light
variety is no less in terestin g ; with the exception of the radiating
lines, the disk above is altogether white, and even these lines may
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