250 BULLETIN 82, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Comissia liilkeni A. H. CLARK, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 36, 1909, p. 502 (description; Albatross 

 station 5153); vol. 39, 1911, p. 531 (Albatross station 5483; compared with C. dumdum [pere- 

 grina}); p. 532 (compared with C. hispida); Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 8, vol. 7, 1911, 

 p. 645 (arms compared with those of C. pectinifer; listed, with habitat) ; Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash- 

 ington, vol. 25, 1912, p. 19 (arms compared with those of C. liUoralis); Crinoids of the Indian 

 Ocean, 1912, p. 77 (synonymy; range); Unstalked Crinoids of the Siboga Exped., 1918, p. 19 

 (in key; range); p. 20 (description; stations 260, 305); pp. 275, 276 (listed). 



fComanthus spanoschistum (part) H. L. CLARK, Biol. Results Fishing Exper. F. I. S. Endeavour, 

 1909-1914, vol. 4, pt. 1, 1916, p. 17 (off Noosa Head, Queensland, 16 fathoms). 



Diagnostic features. The cirri arc XV-XXV, 16-24 (usually 18-21), from 7 

 to 17 mm. long; the fourth and following cirrus segments have the dorsal and dorso- 

 lateral portion of the distal edge everted and finely spinous, this eversion on the last 

 2 or 3 becoming a single blunt spine or tubercle; the fourth (or occasionally the 

 fifth) cirrus segment is a strongly marked transition segment. P 4 bears a comb. 

 The arms are from 70 to 75 mm. in length. 



In spite of the wholly different character of the cirri, this species is rather easily 

 confused with Comatula pectinata. 



Description. The centrodorsal is discoidal, with the bare polar area broad and 

 flat, 4 or 5mm. in diameter. The cirrus sockets are arranged in two closely crowded 

 alternating rows. 



The cirri are XV-XXV, 16-24 (usually 18-21), from 7 to 17 mm. long, relatively 

 small and rather stout. The first segment is over twice as broad as long, the second 

 and third are nearly or quite as broad as long, the fourth is from half again to nearly 

 twice as long as broad, and is a transition segment, usually rather darker than the 

 preceding proximally, but light colored and with a polished surface in the distal 

 fourth. The following segments decrease in length, after the eighth being about 

 twice as broad as long. Occasionally the fifth is a transition segment instead of the 

 fourth, in which event the two are of about the same size. The fourth and following 

 segments have the distal dorsal and dorsolateral edge everted and finely spinous ; this 

 eversion of the distal edge of the segments gradually narrows anteriorly, on the last two 

 or three segments becoming merely a single blunt spine or tubercle ; concurrently with 

 its narrowing it gradually attains a crescentic form, so that in lateral view the segments 

 from the fourth onward appear to be furnished with low dorsal spines which arise 

 gradually from the entire dorsal surface, with the apex at first terminal, gradually 

 becoming subterminal in position, and on the antepenultimate segment almost 

 median. The opposing spine is median, arising from the entire dorsal surface of the 

 penultimate segment, short, and blunt, reaching not more than one-third the distal 

 diameter of that segment in height. The terminal claw is about as long as the penulti- 

 mate segment, stout, and moderately curved. 



The ends of the basal rays are visible as prominent tubercles in the angles of the 

 calyx. 



The radials are quite concealed, or a small portion is visible over the ends of 

 the basal rays. The IBri are short and broad, closely united laterally, more or less 

 concealed by the centrodorsal. The IBr 2 (axillaries) are triangular, about twice as 

 broad as long, free laterally. The synarthrial tubercles are prominent. 



Arms 10, from 70 to 75 mm. long. The first brachial is short, slightly wedge- 

 shaped, between three and four times as broad as long exteriorly, interiorly united. 



