162 HAWAIIAN AND OTHER PACIFIC ECHINI. 



of the abactinal surface, with primary spines in the ambulacra nearly or 

 quite to the ocular plates, combined with the three distinct rows of abactinal 

 tube-feet, give it a characteristic appearance. The color of the test is dark 

 violet, sometimes with a reddish cast, the spines are dark, often almost black, 

 but the hoofs are pure white. The specimen collected by the " Valdivia " 

 and described by Doderlein differs so much in color from the usual condition 

 that one cannot avoid the suspicion that it may not be this species, and 

 a careful comparison of the photographs given with Japanese specimens 

 of JioplacantJia strengthens this feeling. Doderlein is doubtful whether de 

 Meijere's Jioplacantha is not rather cethiojricum, as he thinks the pedicellariae 

 figured are nearer the latter species. After examination of Doderlein's 

 photographs, de Meijere's drawings, and numerous pedicellariae, we find 

 ourselves driven to this conclusion, — many specimens have some very large 

 pedicellarise (A. Agassiz, 1881, "Challenger" Ech., PL XLI1I, fig. 1; 

 Doderlein, 1906, " Valdivia " Ech., PL XXXIX, fig. 3d), and these specimens 

 all writers call Jioplacantha ; other specimens, equally well preserved, do not 

 have such large pedicellariae, but do have very short, stout ones, with widely 

 expanded valves (A. Agassiz, 1. c, PL XLIV, figs. 25, 26 ; Doderlein, 1. c, 

 PL XXXIX, fig. la), and these specimens are called luculentum. Other 

 equally good specimens have neither of these characteristic forms, and these 

 specimens de Meijere calls Jioplacantha, and Doderlein, wthiopicum. For our 

 part, we consider the absence of either of these characteristic pedicellariae as 

 a matter of individual diversity and not a specific character, and we 

 therefore believe de Meijere's identification is correct. Doderlein considers 

 de Meijere's figure 159 ("Siboga" Ech., PL XIII) more like the valve of a 

 large tridentate pedicellaria of cethiopicum, than it is like one of Jioplacantha, 

 but it seems to us that de Meijere's outline sketch is quite as near 

 Doderlein's figure 3a (1. c, PL XXXIX) as it is to his figure 2c. 



This species was taken by the " Albatross " at the following stations, the 

 specimens ranging from 20 to 170 mm. in diameter : 



Station 4928. In Colnett Strait, Japan ; 29° 51' N., 131° 2' 30" E. 

 Bott. temp. 36.8°. 1008 fathoms. Gy. s. glob. 



Station 4956. Between Kagoshima and Kobe, Japan ; 32° 32' N., 132° 

 25' E. Bott. temp. 37.5°. 720 fathoms. Gn.-bn. m., fne. gy. s., for. 



Station 4957. Between Kagoshima and Kobe, Japan ; 32° 36' N., 132° 

 23' E. Bott. temp. 39.8°. 437 fathoms. Gn.-bn. m., fne. gy. s., for. 



Station 4958. Between Kagoshima and Kobe, Japan ; 32° 26' 20" N., 



