The Echinoderm Fauna of South Africa. 401 



occurring in the region covered by this report are easily distinguished 

 from each other as follows. 



Keij to the South African Species of Spat<tnyidae. 



No internal fascicle present. 



Peripetalous fascicle well developed. 



Ambulacrum III dorsally sunken and more or less petaloid 



Brissopsis lyrifera. 

 Ambulacrum III not at all sunken or petaloid. 



A distinct anal fascicle rises from subanal on each side of periproct 



Metalia spatagus. 



No anal fascicle . Spatagobrissus mirabilis. 



Peripetalous fascicle wanting . Spatangus capensis. 



Internal fascicle present. 



Large, deeply sunken primary tubercles present in interambulacra; labrum 

 very long and narrow ; sternum witb tubercles confined to posterior part 



Lovenia elongata. 



No large, deeply sunken, primary tubercles; labrum short and wide; sternum 

 well covered with tubercles. 



Ambulacrum III not at all sunken, even at ambitus 



Echinocardium capense. 

 Ambulacrum III distinctly sunken, especially at ambitus 



Echinocardium cordatum. 



BRISSOPSIS LYRIFERA. 



Brissus lyrifer Forbes, 1841. British Starfishes, p. 187. 

 Brissopsis lyrifera Agassiz and Desor, 1847. Ann. Sci. Nat. Zool., 

 (3) vol. 8, p. 14. Mortensen, 1907. INGOLF Ech., pt. 2, pi. Ill, 

 figs. 2, 3, 7, 11, 12, 18, 20, 21, 22, 2:5. 



The occurrence of this European species at the Cape of Good Hope 

 has long been known. Mortensen thinks the Cape specimens are 

 recognizable as a distinct variety and that more material may prove 

 them to be entitled to specific recognition. I am unable to agree 

 with him in this, and the small amount of material in the present 

 collection provides no further reason for adopting his view. The 

 specimens range from 6 mm. to 54 mm. in length. It is worthy of 

 note that they were all taken on the west coast of Cape Colony and 

 no Brissopsis was met with on the southern or eastern coasts. 



P.F. Dassen Island, E. '/a S., 9 miles, 76 fms. Gn. s. 3 speci- 

 mens; adult. 



P.F. Table Mountain, E. by S. Va S., 25 miles, 190 fms. Gn. s., 

 blk. spks. 13 specimens; young. 



