Vol. XXII, pp. 87-90 April 17, 1909 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



GENERAL NOTES. 



THE TYPE OF THE GENUS COM ASTER. 



The genus Comaster was establislied by Professor Agassiz in 1836 to 

 contain the comatnhds in which the rays divide more than once. He 

 cites as the type Comatula multiradiata Lamarck. The specific name 

 multiradiata was first used by Linnaeus in 1758, the type specimen being 

 still extant at Lund. Lamarck includes under his Comatula multiradiata 

 as a questiona1)le synonym the Asterias multiradiata of Linnipus. I have 

 previously considered the multiradiata of Lamarck to be a synonym of 

 the multiradiata of Linnaeus because of this, and because one of Lamarck's 

 specimens is identical with the Linnaean type. But the case can not be 

 disposed of so easily. In 1832 Goldfuss described and figured another 

 multiradiata based upon a specimen at Bonn. Miiller, in revising the 

 group, decided that the name multiradiata must hold for the species which 

 had been adequately described— that of Goldfuss— and he redescribed the 

 Lamarckian Comatula multiradiata under the name Alecto multifida from 

 observations made by Troschel on Lamarck's specimens. This action 

 fixes the identity of the Comattda multiradiata of Lamarck, and, there- 

 fore, of the type of Comaster. Alecto multifida is a somewhat anomalous 

 species, congeneric with, though not closely related to, Plianogenia typica 

 of Loven. Comaster must, therefore, supplant Phanogenia. This leaves 

 the genus which I have previously called Comaster without a name. It 

 may be called Capillaster, the type to be Actinometra sentosa P. H. Car- 

 penter, 1888. 



The type of Comaster is Comatula multiradiata Lamarck (not Asterias 

 mtdtiradiata Linnaeus) = Alecto multifida 3. Miiller. 



— Austin H. Clark. 



PHOTOTAXIS AMONG CRINOIDS. 



While on board the Albatross among the Philippine Islands, Dr. Paul 

 Bartsch captured a small specimen of Iridometra nana which liad been 

 attracted to, and was swimming about, a submerged electric light. So far 

 as I know this is the first record of positive phototaxis among the crinoids. 

 It should be remembered that the specimen is only about half the adult 

 size, as it is possible, and even probable, that the reactions of the adult 

 of this species are quite difierent. — Austin H. Clark. 



12— Pruc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXII, 1909. (87) 



