﻿PRE FAC E 



THIS is a descriptive Catalogue of such Genera and Species of 

 Ophiuridae and Astrophytidaj, from the shores of North and South 

 America and of Greenland, as are now reijresented in the Smithsonian 

 Institution (1861) and in the Museum of Comparative Zoology at 

 Harvard University (1864). To these are added notices of the other 

 species in our Museum. 



There are twenty-six genera in all, and one hundred and five species. 

 Of these, five genera and twenty-six species are new ; also, one generic 

 name, which could not stand, has been replaced by a new one. 



The Catalogue consists of a Preface, an Introduction, a List of the 

 most important books, a Table of the known Species of Ophiuridaj 

 and of Astrophytidge, and descriptions of Genera and Species of the 

 families Ophiurid^ and Astrophytida?. 



I take this opportunity to thank the following gentlemen for their 

 kind assistance in giving me specimens, and a great variety of valuable 

 information : Professor Henry, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution ; 

 Professor S. F. Baird ; Professor F. S. Holmes ; Professor J. Leidy ; Dr. 

 J. L. LeConte ; Dr. Wm. Stimpson ; Professor Steenstrup and Dr. C. F. 

 Liitken, of Copenhagen ; Dr. D. F. Weinland ; James M. Barnard, Esq. ; 

 Eev. J. E. Mihs ; Mr. T. N. Gill ; Mr. Higginson ; Mr. A. S. Packard, Jr.; 

 Mr. N. S. Shaler ; Professor A. E. Verrill ; Mr. A. Garrett ; Mr. G. A. Che- 

 ney, of Zanzibar ; Mr. C. Curtis, of Key West ; Dr. Whitehurst, Surgeon 

 of the post, and Mr. PhilHps, Superintendent at Fort JeflTerson, Tortugas ; 

 General Geo. G. Meade, U. S. A. ; General D. P. Woodbury, U. S. A. ; 

 Lieutenant Craighill, U. S. A. ; Mr. A. H. Riise, of St. Thomas ; Profes- 

 sor Valenciennes and M. Rousseau, of the Jardin des Plantes ; Professor 

 Schmarda, of Vienna ; Professor Schlegel and Professor Herklots, of 



