464 AUSTIN HOBART CLARK, 



Subordo Macrophreata A. H. Clark. 



Fam. Antedonidae Norman (emend. A. H. Clark). 

 Subfam. Antedonidae A. H. Clark. 



Genus Compsometra A. H. Clark. 

 Compsometra inconunoda (Bell). 



Literature: See "The recent Crinoids of Australia". 



Locality: Stat. 56, Koombana Bay, 67 miles south west of 

 Bun bury; 14 */ 2 18 meters; rocky bottom, with a few plant-like or- 

 ganisms; 28. VII. (1 specimen). 



Further Distribution. Port Jackson and Port Phillip; off the 

 mouth of the Murray River. 



Depth. Littoral and sublittoral; down to 36 meters. 



Notes. The specimen is slightly smaller than typical examples from 

 southeastern Australia, with very slightly less eversion of the pimmlars, 

 probably due to the smaller size ; it is sexually mature. 



Remarks. This species differs from C. Loveni in almost exactly the 

 same way that Antedon petasus differs from Antedon mediterranean both 

 C. Loveni and C. incommoda, however, inhabit the same localities. As all 

 the other species of the genus approach C. Loveni rather than C. incommoda 

 it seems logical to regard the latter as a cold-induced southern form 

 bearing the same relationship to the other species of the genus that Co- 

 matulella brachiolata does to the species of Comatula. But whereas the 

 species of Comatula cannot exist in southern Australia the typical strain 

 of the Compsometra stock is able to maintain itself in the form of (Compso- 

 metra Loveni which occurs side by side with C. incommoda, though it ex- 

 tends much further to the northward. 



The Association of Species. 



The question of the association of species is one of the greatest in- 

 terest to the biologist, though as yet it has received but a comparatively 

 small amount of attention. A considerable amount of data has been ac- 

 cumulated on the subject, but much more, more accurate both qualitatively 

 and quantitatively, is needed before we can draw sweeping conclusions of 

 real and lasting value. 



The association of the almost sessile crinoid species presents certain 

 aspects of species interdependence and of biochemical and biophysical laws 

 which are often but poorly emphasized in the other groups, and for this 

 reason every opportunity should be taken to accumulate data upon this 

 phase of their study. 



