OPHIOMASTIX JANUALIS. 17 



mdhnriti) of the autJior irho projwscs ihem as expressing the actual conditi'Hi of 

 our hmvledge of the affinities of the species Ah of Linnanis." 



At any rate, let the decision be what it may, Dr. Liitken need liave 

 no fear that his own reputation rests on any such unstable basis. To 

 sum up, Astropliijton costoswu Seba, and Opliioglypha nodosa Lyman, mean 

 just what they should mean, and nothing more ; to wit, that in the 

 writings of these two persons will be found these names definitely, 

 used for the first time. They do not distinguish these persons as good 

 or as poor zoologists, nor do they show that such names are the correct 

 ones ; but they are simply the '■ trade-marks " of workmen. 



As to the " Synopsis " of Ophiuridm presented by Dr. Liitken (1. c. p. 

 87), I have no objection to it, provided it be understood as a movement 

 towards a true classification, or as a really convenient tabulation of 

 genera. But inasmuch as it rests on the structure of the mouth parts 

 it cannot be expected to be an exposition of nature, any more than can 

 a classification of fishes based on their scales ; of mammalia, on their 

 nervous centres ; or of molluska, on the character of their shells. 

 Any one who will examine the single original genus Amplmira will be 

 convinced how impossible it is to arrange it only on the niimhcr of the 

 mouth-papillte. In fact, the species of Ophiiiridw are now so numerous, 

 that some one man must examine them all with his own eyes, before 

 we can hope for a good arrangement. And especially do the genera 

 Ophiocoma and Ophiothrix need severely to be weeded. 



NO. VI. 



