PART I. 



THE COMATULIDS OF TORRES STRAIT. 



The following list makes no pretensions to being complete, for it 

 includes only the species collected by me in September and October 

 1913. All but three specimens were collected at Maer. The three 

 exceptions, each representing a species, were taken on the sandy reef- 

 flat on the southern side of Friday Island, September 13, 1913. The 

 nomenclature and systematic arrangement here used (except in two or 

 three insignificant details) are those of A. H. Clark's "Recent Crinoids 

 of Australia" (Mem. Aust. Mus., iv, pt. 15, 1911) and later papers 

 by the same author. 



1. Capillaster multiradiata (L.). 



A single specimen of this species was collected at Maer, just outside the reef, 

 in about 5 or 6 fathoms of water. It was one of the very few specimens 

 secured by means of a ''tangle." The color in life was as follows : oral surface, 

 black; dorsal surface, brown, the joints between the arm-segments much 

 darker; whole dorsal surface, including the cirri, heavily silvered or frosted 

 with white. The preserved specimen, dry, is light gray, the joints noticeably 

 darker. There are 19 arms and the cirri are xxi, 20-24. 



2. Comatella nigra (P. H. C.). 



Two specimens of this species, well known from the East Indian region but 

 not previously recorded from Australia, were taken on the outer portion of 

 the southwestern reef-flat at Maer. 



3. Comatella stelligera (P. H. C.). 



This species is very common at Maer, especially on the southwestern reef- 

 flat. 



4. Comatella maculata (P. H. C.). 



Common on both the southeastern and southwestern reef-flats at Maer, on 

 the under surface of rock-fragments. 



5. Comatula pectinata (L.). 



Decidedly uncommon at Maer, but several specimens were taken with the 

 following species. A single specimen was also taken on the sandy flat south 

 of Friday Island. 



6. Comatula purpurea (J. Miiller). 



Exceedingly common everywhere on the reefs about Maer. Very variable 

 in color and size. 



7. Comanthus alternans (P. H. C.). 



A single specimen was collected by the diver, in 18 fathoms, outside the 

 western reef-flat at Maer. 



8. Comanthus schlegelii (P. H. C.). 



Two specimens were taken by the diver, in 18 fathoms, outside the western 

 reef-flat at Maer, and one specimen was found on the Great Barrier Reef itself 

 on October 15. 



9. Comanthus annulatum (Bell). 



Exceedingly common at Maer; also taken on the flat south of Friday Island. 

 Extraordinarily variable in coloration, ranging from lemon-yellow and brown 



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