The Comatulids of Torres Strait. 105 



longer than wide, remainder wider than long; distal segments with low and 

 minute longitudinal dorsal ridges; opposing claw well-marked. Arms 18, 

 about 65 mm. long by 10 broad; division series all 2 without syzygies; there 

 are four II Br series and four III Br; II Br series not appressed, but with 

 slight lateral expansions; brachials smooth, not overlapping, wedge-shape, be- 

 coming quadrate after the 30th, and at tip of arm longer than wide; syzygies 

 between 3-4, 9-10, 14-15, 18-19, 23-24, and then at intervals of 7 to 10 seg- 

 ments. All pinnules cylindrical; lower ones stiff and little flagellate. PI about 

 6 mm. long, of 19 joints; P a much smaller, little longer than P 3 , of 11 joints. 

 P 2 the largest pinnule, 7 or 8 mm. long, of 18 joints; P 6 longer than P , of 11 

 joints; P 3 the smallest pinnule, of 10 joints; P c very similar. Succeeding 

 pinnules gradually increasing in length until at middle of arm they are 6 or 7 

 mm. long, with about 20 joints. Color, rich purple, with base of arms and 

 a broad distal band white; pinnules often with yellowish or rusty tips; cirri, 

 cream-color dorsally, deep brown on ventral side. Colors almost perfectly 

 preserved in alcohol. 



A single specimen of this very handsome comatulid was found on the 

 southwestern reef at Mae'r on the last day of our stay, October 27, 1913. It 

 is well characterized by the small number of arms, the number and appearance 

 of the cirri, the proportions of the lower pinnules, and the notable coloration. 



19. Oligometra anisa sp. nov. (&VHTO. = unequal; hence, variable). 



Centro-dorsal moderately large, but notably thick, about 5 mm. in diameter, 

 the bare dorsal area about 2 mm. across and minutely tuberculated. Cirri 

 xxi-xxui, 15-17, relatively long (9 or 10 mm.) and stout; transverse ridges on 

 distal joints minute or wanting but opposing claw marked; none of the 

 segments obviously longer than wide. Arms 10, the I Br series and first 

 2 brachials with well-marked ventro-lateral processes. First half dozen 

 brachials more or less quadrate; succeeding, wedge-shaped, with flaring and 

 slightly overlapping distal ends, becoming quadrate and longer than wide 

 at tip of arm; syzygies between 3-4, 9-10, and then at intervals of 5 to 7 seg- 

 ments. All pinnules more or less cylindrical. P! about 7 or 8 mm. long, of 

 10 or 11 joints, moderately stiff; P a similar but often distinctly larger. P 2 and 

 P B about equal, distinctly the largest and most spike-like of the pinnules, of 

 13 to 15 joints, with rough and spiny distal ends. P 3 much shorter than PC, but 

 rather stout, of 10 or 11 joints; P e smaller, of only 8 joints. P4 the smallest 

 pinnule, much shorter than P 3 ; P,, nearly equal to P c . Succeeding pinnules 

 gradually longer, until at middle of arm they are 6 mm. long and have about 

 20 segments. Color, very variable, ranging from clear lemon or canary- 

 yellow, with hardly a purple mark, through variegated purple and yellow, or 

 variegated brown and white, to finely variegated shades of gray and white. 

 Colors are well preserved in alcohol. 



Excepting the comasterids, this was the commonest crinoid at Mae'r and 

 was not infrequently met with near the outer margin of the southwestern 

 reef-flat. Unfortunately it was not common enough to permit of any extended 

 observations on its habits and reactions. It was not ordinarily at all active, 

 but clung very tenaciously to the fragment of rock or coral to which its cirri 

 attached it. The cirri are notably strong and it was frequently no easy task 

 to detach them. Although no doubt related to 0. carpenteri, this species is 

 readily distinguished by the more numerous cirri, with fewer joints; the 

 shorter arms with about half as many joints (80 in anisa) ; and the utterly 

 different lower pinnules. 



20. Heterometra delicata sp. nov. (delicatus = soft, tender). 



Centro-dorsal relatively large, 2 mm. in diameter, low subconical, only the 

 dorsal pole bare. Cirri xv, 18-19, little compressed distally, about 5 or 6 mm. 



