A MONOGRAPH OF THE EXISTING CRINOIDS 587 



In 1916 Dr. H. L. Clark had described a species from Bass Strait under the 

 name Comanthus spanoschistum, of which most of the individuals examined by him 

 had 10 arms, but three had 13, 14, and 19, respectively. 



From his published account I assumed that the 10-armed individuals represented 

 a species of Comissia and those with more than 10 arms a species of Comanthus. So 

 in the original description of Comanthus tasmaniae I said that my new form probably 

 included the multibrachiate examples of C. spanoschistum listed by Dr. H. L. Clark 

 from Bass Strait and Tasmania. Doctor Clark's 10-armed specimens I listed as 

 Comissia, spanoschistum. 



Had my supposition that the 10-armed and multibrachiate specimens of Com- 

 anthus spanoschistum represent different species been correct, the name spanoschistum 

 should have been retained for the form represented by the multibrachiate specimens, 

 since Doctor Clark's figure of the holotype is a photograph of an individual with 13 

 or more arms from east of Flinders Island, Bass Strait, in 100-300 fathoms (183-548 

 meters). 



Kecently I received from Dr. Th. Mortensen a fine series of 24 specimens collected 

 by the Endeavour which are undoubtedly Doctor Clark's Comanthus spanoschistum. 

 Though quite different in appearance, there can be no doubt that the individuals 

 with 10 and with more than 10 arms really represent the same species, which is quite 

 different from any species of Comanthus and from any species of Comissia. 



COMANTHUS BENHAMI A. H. Clark 



Plate 74, figure 202 



Comanlhus Irichoptera benhami A. H. CLARK, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, vol. 29, 1916, p. 48 



(characters; Preservation Inlet). 

 Comanthus benhami A. H. CLARK, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, vol. 31, 1918, p. 41 (listed from 



New Zealand) ; p. 43 (compared with C. novaezealandiac) ; Unstalked Crinoids of the Siboga 



Exped., 1918, p. 49 (in key; range). 



Diagnostic features. The cirri are relatively long, with numerous segments, 

 XL-L, 24-27 (usually 26-27), from 22 to 25 mm. in length, and the centrodorsal is 

 large and thick discoidal. 



Description. The centrodorsal is large, thick discoidal, the dorsal pole broad 

 and flat with the center depressed. 



The cirri are XL-L, 24-27 (usually 26-27), from 22 to 25 mm. long. 



The 28 arms of the type specimen are 115 mm. in length. 



Locality. Preservation Inlet, on the west coast of South (or Middle) Island, 

 New Zealand; 4.6-6 meters; Percy Seymour [A. H. Clark, 1916, 1918] (3, U.S.N.M., 

 38684; University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand). PI. 74, fig. 202. 



Occurrence. Regarding the associates of this interesting crinoid, which was the 

 first ever to be found in New Zealand waters, Professor Benham wrote me that 

 from the same locality some hydrocorallines and antipatharians were obtained, and 

 a pennatulid, all of which are "Australian" in their affinities. 



The fauna of the west coast of New Zealand is little known, but it differs con- 

 siderably from that of the east, south, or north coasts of the island. The west coast 

 is difficult to get at and is only sparsely inhabited. Few naturalists have been able 

 to collect there, except very superficially and sporadically, as boats only visit Pres- 



