NOTES ON SOME OF THE FOREGOING SPECIES 



OF 



PHYLLACANTHUS ANULIFERA. 



This species, in its numerous varieties, is found to be very 

 plentiful a little north of Brisbane, especially at Port Denison, 

 where one of our Assistants, MR. ALEX. MORTON, dredged it in 

 quantity, in G-locester Passage and other parts adjacent to 

 Eo\ven, in from 5 to 15 fathoms. It is a gregarious species, and 

 exhibits much variation in the form and coloration of its spines. 

 Many specimens in various stages of growth are exhibited. 



PHYLLACANTHUS DUBIA. 



It is very doubtful if this species is found on the South-East 

 Coast, the specimens reported by MR. TENISOJT- WOODS from 

 Tasmania and Bass' Straits, probably belong to the next species, 

 P. parvispina. The specimens exhibited agree very well with 

 the figures of P. dubia in A. AGASSIZ, Eevision of the Echini, 

 but not with those from Port Jackson (P. parvispina, T.-W.,) 

 I believe P. dubia is only found on the northern parts of 

 Australia, where, like the Port Jackson species, it frequents the 

 rocky parts of the coasts and may be taken at low tides ; it 

 appears to be rare, i.e., if the variety found in Port Jackson 

 is to be considered to be a good species. 



PHYLL ACANTHUS PARVISPINA, T.-W. 

 P. fenuispina, TENTSON-"WOODS, MSS. 



This is the representative of P. dubia of the North Coast. 

 MR. TENISON-WOODS has (Proc. Linn. Soc. of N.S.W., iv., p. 2SG) 

 already pointed out the differences in those from Port Jackson, 

 on which he has founded this new species. In P. parvispina the 

 test is frequently wider than high, the distance between the poles 

 being less than the diameter, this may be seen both in young and 

 adult specimens, the spines are also proportionately shorter. 

 It is strictly a literal species, but can scarcely be called 

 gregarious, frequenting during the summer months the rocks 

 and reefs just below low-tide mark, retiring into deeper water 



