IIOLOTHUKIOIDEA. 187 



"Living amid sponge branches. Colour, striped lilac on a white ground. The five 

 rays of the body are marked by five narrow white bands. The region between these 

 rays is marked with numerous delicate lilac stripes forming a pattern which is 

 variable in different individuals. The tentacles are used for progression and are 

 flattened for two-thirds of the way from the apex." 



There are 13 tentacles present, each having f 9 digits. Plate I., fig. 1, shows the 

 flattened extremity of a tentacle, as drawn from the living animal in Professor 

 Herdman's note-book. 



There are about 1 8 Polian vesicles in the specimen dissected, (J being large and 

 the rest smaller. There is one madreporic canal. The alimentary canal is looped. 



The deposits agree with Sluiter's figures. I have found, however, that some of 

 the anchor plates differ from the usual form in having smooth holes. There are also 

 present in the skin numerous miliary granules which are arranged in groups of six or 

 seven, having typically one central granule surrounded by numerous granules in a 

 circle. This species appears to be very closely allied to S. racta and & ivrfivisa. 



This species is now recorded from Ceylon for the first time. 



Distribution : Java and Ceylon. 



[Synapta beselii, Jager. 



A large Synapta, measuring G feet in length, was found by Mr. Hoexele at Galle. 

 The specimen has not reached me, but the size and description agreed so well with 

 .$'. beselii, already known from Ceylon, that there can be little doubt as to the species. 



Distribution : Indian Ocean, Philippines, South Pacific and East Indies.] 



Synapta, sp. (? n. sp.). 



This is a fragment from the south west of Palk Bay (Stn. XVIII.), 7 fathoms, in 

 mud. Only the posterior portion of the body remains. 



The fragment is 50 millims. long, and the body is evidently in a very contracted 

 condition. All the internal organs are torn away. Still the specimen clearly belongs 

 to a species of Synapta. 



Deposits : The anchor plates are in all cases imperfect. The plates are covered 

 with short spines and are perforated by a large number of small holes of various 

 sizes. The anchors are large, and the handle is serrated. So far as I am able to 

 determine, these spicules do not resemble those of any known species, but the 

 incomplete state of the specimen does not permit me to make a definite decision 

 with regard to its identity, nor to describe it more fully. 



Synapta, sp. (? n. sp.). 



One specimen from Galle. This specimen is in a poor state of preservation, so that 

 1 cannot be absolutely certain as to its identity. 

 There are 1 "J tentacles, each having 5 digits. 



2 E 2 



