490 BULLETIN 82, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



This band is particularly marked on the oral surface. Between this band and the disk 

 are three or four narrow bands of green. The pinnules, at least distally, have yellow 

 tips. The colors slowly undergo some change in alcohol, but the pattern is well 

 preserved. 



Dr. Clark said that there is no doubt this species is near laevicirra, but the small 

 size, short arms, fewer segmented cirri, and the color are all distinctive. He added 

 that there is a faded specimen in the Museum of Comparative Zoology collection from 

 Fiji that seems to be brachypecha. 



In 1918 I placed brachypecha under protectus (=palmata) as a synonym. In 

 1921 Dr. Clark said that I regard brachypecha as a synonym of Lamprometra palmata, 

 which, according to my interpretation, is a protean species indeed. He said that 

 there are specimens of palmata ("protecta") in the Museum of Comparative Zoology 

 from Ceylon and from the Philippines, and he saw no ground for considering brachy- 

 pecha identical with them. He remarked that the differences are obvious. He added 

 that there is no evidence that palmata occurs in the Torres Strait region or elsewhere 

 on the coast of Australia. On the other hand, he said, a dry comatulid in the Museum 

 of Comparative Zoology collection from Fiji seems to be brachypecha, and I list 

 palmata from Fiji. Perhaps intensive reef work at Fiji would settle the question as to 

 the relationship of the two forms. 



The holotype of Lamprometra brachypecha (M. C. Z., 551) is a form of palmata 

 with the lower pinnules rather more slender than usual. 



The seven specimens from the northern coast of Australia recorded by Dr. H. L. 

 Clark are described as uniformly dark brown, lightest on the centrodorsal and nearly 

 black at the tips of the pinnules and on the disk ; when dry the color is much lighter, 

 almost pale fawn color dorsally. The smaller specimens have the arms about 60 

 mm. long, while the larger ones have them more than 90 mm. long. The cirri are 

 XXXV-XL, about 25. P 2 is very long, especially on the outer sides of the arms, with 

 as many as 35 segments hi some cases. There are about 40 arms in the smaller 

 specimens, but in the larger there are 47 and 48. 



The 17 specimens from New Guinea are medium sized or small. The largest has 

 51 arms about 80 mm. long. Most of the specimens have about 40 arms. 



One of the specimens from Salawatti has 34 arms about 100 mm. long. The 

 cirri are XL, 24-27, 16 mm. long. The bare polar area of the centrodorsal is flat, 

 3-4 mm. in diameter. Another specimen from Salawatti has 30 arms about 100 mm. 

 long. The cirri are XXVIII, 27-28, 20 mm. long. The bare dorsal pole of the 

 centrodorsal is flat and measures 3-4 mm. in diameter. The color of both specimens 

 is dull pinkish blotched with bluish gray. 



The specimen from Siboga station 164 is small and badly broken. 



Carpenter thus described Antedon laevicirra from the Aru Islands: The centro- 

 dorsal is discoidal with a flat cirrus free dorsal surface, bearing the cirri in a single or 

 partially double marginal row. The cirri are about XXX, 25-30. The cirrus seg- 

 ments are smooth and tolerably uniform, few or none being longer than broad. The 

 penultimate has a faint opposing spine. The radials are not visible. The IBr t are 

 short and nearly united laterally. The IBr 2 (axillanes) are more than twice their 

 length, and are pentagonal with wide distal angles. The postradial scries divide 

 three times, all the division series being 2. The ossicles immediately following each 



