ON A NEW SPECIES OF RHIZOCRINUS FROM BARBADOS. 



During the expedition of the U. S. steamer Hassler, several rich dredgings 

 were obtained in depths varying from 80 to 120 fathoms, on the western 

 coast of the island of Barbados, a few miles north of Bridgetown. The bot- 

 tom was chiefly limestone sand, with rocky patches, and very rich in deep- 

 sea corals, echinoderms, etc. It is a well-known locality for Pentacrinus 

 asterias and Mulleri, and the second specimen of Holopiis Eangii D'Orb. 

 known to science, in the possession of Governor Eawson of Barbados, was 

 brought up on a fisherman's hook in the same vicinity. We had not the 

 luck to find either of these, though numerous joints of the stem of Pentacri- 

 nus were contained in the sand, but, in compensation, several living speci- 

 mens of a Rhizocrinus, which were at first supposed to be large specimens 

 of Rhizocrinus lofotensis Sars. A closer examination has proved them to be 

 specifically distinct, and I take pleasure in dedicating the species to Governor 

 Rawson W. Rawson, who was present at their capture, and whose hospitality 

 rendered our short stay at Barbados so pleasant an epoch in the history of 

 our voyage. 



Rhizocrinus Rawsonii Pourt. 

 PI V. f. 1. 



Larger than R. lofotensis. The stem composed of joints proportionally 

 shorter and more cylindrical than in that species, being seldom as much as 

 two of their diameters in length, generally much less ; the articulations are 

 less elongated. The double articular excavation is larger and deeper {Fig. 3). 

 One specimen only was obtained witli the root portion ; it has the appear- 

 ance of having been partly attached to a solid body by enlarged surfaces, 

 and to have had very few radicular cirrhi {Fkj. 2). This solid attachment to 

 the bottom would explain why most of the specimens were broken off, whilst 

 R. lofotensis, being generally planted in sand and fixed by ramifying rootlets, 

 is easily brought up entire. 



