138 CEYLON PEARL OYSTER REPORT. 



ECHINODEMA. 



In the year 1882, we are told by Bell, only 4 species ot Echinoderms were 

 known from Ceylon. Haeckel's collection, described by Walter, added 1G species, 

 but most of our knowledge is due to the successive collections made for the British 

 Museum by Dr. Ondaatje, which enabled Bell to add about 20 species in 1882 and 

 to raise the number to over 50 in 1887. The collection of P. and F. Sarasin, 

 made at Trincomalee in 1884-86, yielded to Dodkrlein 16 species of Asteroids, 

 10 Ophiuroids, and 18 Echinoids. Adding these, along with 16 Holothurians 

 (Ludwio) and 5 Crinoids (Bell), to the forms previously known raised the total in 

 1888 to about 90 species. A few species have since been added by Thurston and 

 others. 



There seem to be about 109 species of Ceylon Echinoderms in all in the present 

 collection. Mr. Pearson recorded 30 species of Holothurioidea, and Mr. Chadwick 

 gives 13 species of Crinoidea in the Report that follows this. In the present lists we 

 have 28 species of Echinoidea, 24 species of Asteroidea, and about 14 species of 

 Ophiuroidea. There were no forms unknown to science in the three last-named 

 groups, but some of the species are of interest from the point of view of distribution, 

 habitat and variation. 



ECHINOIDEA. 



DESMOSTICHA. 



CIDAIIID.K. 



Cidaris rnetularia (Lamk.). 

 Station XL., 10 miles off Galle, 34 fathoms, 2 specimens, about 1 centim. diameter; 

 Station L.V., south-west of Periya Paar, 11 to 24 fathoms, 2 specimens, 1 centim. 

 and 1 - 5 centim. diameter; Station LXIIL, west of Periya Paar, 36 fathoms, 1 speci- 

 men, about 1 centim. diameter. 



Stephanocidaris bispinosa (Lamk.). 

 Pearl banks, Gulf of Manaar ; 4 specimens. Also another " very young Cidaris." 



Phyllacanthus baculosa (Lamk.). 

 Many specimens were dredged from 10 to 12 miles off Galle, at Stations XL. and 

 XLL, depths 34 to 100 fathoms. Also further on up the west coast of Ceylon, 

 towards Colombo, and off Kaltura and Mount Lavinia, at Station XL VI., depth 25 to 

 30 fathoms. Also in the Gulf of Manaar, at Station LIV., south of Adam's Bridge, 

 4 to 40 fathoms; at Station LV., south-west of Periya Paar, 11 to 24 fathoms; at 



