318 Annals of the South African Museum. 



disk, on both surfaces, and in the tentacle-pores and arm-spines are 

 quite evident. Matsumoto gives the absence of oral papillae as a 

 characteristic of the genus Astrothamnus but Koehler's ligure of 

 bellator (1904, SiBOGA-exp. Oph. Mer Prof., pi. XXVIII, fig. 8) shows 

 them distinctly and they are certainly well marked in the present 

 spi-cit's. All the papillae of the jaws are so similar that their exten- 

 sion distally along the sides of the mouth slits is hardly of sufficient 

 importance to affect the position in the genus Astrothamnus, of the 

 species so characterized. 



GORGONOCEPHALUS CHILENSIS. 



Astrophyton chilense Philippi, 1858. Arch. f. Naturg., vol. 24, p. 268. 



Gorgonocephalus chilensis Lyrnan, 1882. CHALLENGER Oph., p. 261. 



Doderlein, 1911. Japan. Euryalae, pi. 5, fig. 5; pi. 8, figs. 1 and \a. 



This widespread and variable species is represented in the present 

 collection only by small specimens. Those from 2798 resemble the 

 Patagonian form in that the disk granules are widely scattered, low 

 and rounded, only a few at center of disk and on the radial ribs 

 rising into conical tubercles. The other specimens have the center 

 of the disk and especially the ribs crowded with relatively big coni- 

 cal tubercles, more as in Kerguelen specimens. I have sought in 

 vain for some character or group of characters by which the South 

 American and Falkland Island Gorgonocephalus might be constantly 

 distinguished from the South African and Kerguelen specimens. 

 Perhaps in the future, more abundant material will make such a 

 separation possible and desirable, which is not the case at present. 



The larger individuals in the PIETER FAURE collection are carrying 

 on tlic-ir backs much younger ones. This at least suggests that the 

 species is viviparous and the young remain with the mother until 

 well grown. In one case before me, an individual with a disk 25 

 mm. across carries, well-litted into the very middle of its abactinal 

 surface, a young one only 10 rnm. in disk-diameter. In another 

 case, the larger specimen carries two small ones, one near the 

 center, the other near the margin of the disk. The young ones are 

 clinging very tightly, some of the ultimate arm divisions entering 

 into the genital slits of the carrier. 



P.F. 2798. Vasco de Gama Peak, N. 71 E., 15 miles, 230 fms. 

 Stns. 2 specimens; rather young. 



P.F. 18154. Cape Point, N. E. by E. 3 / 4 E., 28 miles, 300 fms. 

 Fn. s. 7 specimens; small adults and young. 



