11. PREFACE. 



The Echmoidea, which unfortunately is the smallest part of 

 our collection of Echinodermata, is but poorly represented in 

 Australia ; nevertheless, the Australian Region is the stronghold 

 of some of the genera, as Salmacis, Amblypneustes, Goniocidaris, 

 and Phi/llacanlhus, of which last all the known species are found 

 within the Australian waters. Of the family G-oniocidandse, 

 out of fifteen species recorded by PROFESSOR A. AGASSIZ, ten 

 are found in the Australian Region. The Echinometridae of 

 GRAY are also strongly represented by the occurrence of seven 

 out of the eight genera known ; of the family Temnopleuridce 

 (DBS.), the genera Temnopleurus ( AGASS.), Salmacis (AGASS.), 

 Mespilia (Des.), Amblypneustes (AciASS.), and Holopneustes 

 (AGASS.), are Australian. 



The ClypeastridcB ( AGASS.) are not well represented, for out 

 of about eighteen genera only eight are to be found, represented 

 by fourteen out of about fifty species known. One genus, 

 Anomalantlius, the locality of which is yet uncertain, is the only 

 genus peculiar to the Australian Region, i.e, taking the 

 Peronella of G-RAY to be not distinct from Larjanum. 



Of the Petalosticha, probably only three genera, Eupatagus, 

 Loi'enia, and Breynia may be considered as being peculiar to 

 the Australian Seas. 



The Asteroidea, Ophiuroidea, Crinoidea, and Holotliuroidea will 

 form the subject of other parts of this Catalogue, to be published 

 as determined hereafter. 



Appended will be found a few notes and remarks on the 

 Australian species, which may not prove uninteresting to the 

 general reader. 



I have only to add that the abbreviation " Pres." signifies 

 Presented ; '' B-ht.," Purchased ; " Coll.," Collected by the 

 Museum Collectors or Employees ; " Exch ," received in 

 Exchange ; while " O.C." is used to indicate that the specimen 

 is from the Old Collection in the Museum prior to 1870. 



Throughout the Catalogue will be found mentioned some of 

 the genera and species which we are most desirous of obtaining, 

 these and any others not enumerated will be welcome additions 

 to the Collection, and in return for which we shall be very happy 

 to send duplicates of Australian species. 



E. P. RAMSAY. 



