The Echinoderm Fauna of South Africa. 249 



collection, but he felt that more material was necessary before it 

 could be conclusively determined whether all were the same species 

 or not. I certainly have not sufficient available material to enable 

 me to satisfy myself in the matter, so I follow Sladen's example 

 and let all remain under the name which he gave. 



P.F. 2330. Lions Head, Cape Town, N. 67 E., 25 miles. 131-136 

 fins. Black specks. 1 specimen; adult? 



P.F. 14976. Lions Head, Cape Town, S.E. V, E., 47 miles. 175 fins. 

 Green sand. 4 specimens ; adult ? 



ASTROPECTEN POLYACANTHUS. 



Midler and Troscliel, 1842. Syst. Ast., p. 69. 



The occurrence of this species south of Zanzibar is noteworthy and 

 its presence on the coast of Natal is really remarkable. The present 

 specimen (R = 70 mm.) though the rays are somewhat broken, is 

 in admirable condition for study. The superomarginal spines are 

 unusually small and slender, the largest (those on the interradial 

 pair of plates) being less than 3 mm. high and about two-thirds of 

 a millimeter in diameter at base. The paxillae bear many spinelets ; 

 those on the convex surface are very low and papilliform while those 

 on the margin are relatively long and slender. The oral surface is 

 much less spiny than in typical examples of poly acanthus, this ap- 

 pearance being due to the somewhat squamiform spinelets and the 

 absence of large spines on the adambulacral end of the inferomarginal 

 plates. The species is so widespread and so diversified that local 

 races will probably be recognized ultimately, and when that is done 

 the South African form will probably be given a subspecific name. 

 The more typical form is well figured by Savigny, 1803. PI. d'Ech. 



Egypte, P 1 - &, % i- 



P.F. 12516. Off Umhlanga River, Natal, 2V 2 miles. 22-26 fms. 

 Fine sand. 1 specimen; adult. 

 Delagoa Bay. K. H. Barnard. 



ASTROPECTEN PONTOPOR^EUS. 



Sladen, 1883. Jour. Linn. Soc. Zool., vol. 17, p. 259. 1889, 



CHALLENGER, Ast., pi. 35, figs. 1, 2. 

 Astropecten capensis Studer, 1884. GAZELLE Ast., p. 44. 



The present specimens (R = about 35 mm.) are a trifle smaller 

 than Studer's but they leave no doubt in my mind as to the identity 

 of capensis and pontoporceus. The differences mentioned by Studer 

 are trivial. The relatively longer arms in Sladen's specimens are 



