SEA LILIES, STARFISHES, ETC. CLARK. 1 I 



second ; fourth (that on IIBr 4) about 25 mm. long, with 

 22-23 segments ; fifth about as long ; sixth a Httle shorter ; 

 succeeding pinnules decrease in length very gradually, 

 becoming about 10 mm. long, with 15 or 16 joints,; this size 

 continues to the terminal part of the arm, where, about fifty 

 segments from the tip, it drops quickly to 2 mm. and less, 

 with only three segments or even fewer ; there are half a dozen 

 or more intermediate pinnules with 12, 10, 8 and 6 joints, but 

 the transition is quite abrupt as is usual in the genus. 



Colour (in alcohol or dried from alcohol) either uniformly 

 light bluish-grey, or crown pale yellow or whitish, and stalk 

 deep greenish-blue in marked contrast. The holotype (in 

 alcohol) is uniformly whitish with a distinct orange tinge, but 

 only a small part of the stalk is attached to the magnificent 

 crown. The stalk of this specimen, preserved dry, is deep 

 greenish-blue. Unfortunately there are no notes on the colour 

 in life, of any of the specimens, but it is not likely that the 

 bluish shade in the stalk is the result of preservation. It is 

 possible that the yellowish crowns are the result of preserva- 

 tion in alcohol. There are seven specimens. 



This superb crinoid is well distinguished from all the pre- 

 viously described members of the genus by the large number 

 of segments in all the various numerical series ; thus the 

 number of internodals (usually more than 9 and often 14) is 

 the maximum for the genus, the number of cirrus-joints is 

 nearly the maximum, the number of radials is often the 

 maximum, and the segments of both the IIBr and the IIIBr 

 series approach the maximum number. In certain particu- 

 lars, M. rotundus, Carpenter, seems to be the nearest relative 

 of M. cyaneus, but it has decidedly fewer cirrus-joints, and 

 the distal brachials are not at all flaring, the arms being quite 

 smooth; moreover the radials and the members of the IBr 

 series are stouter, smoother and of quite a different shape in 

 M. rotundus. As the only stalked crinoid as yet known from 

 the coasts of Austrahai, Metacrinus cyaneus is of unusual 

 interest and will certainly rank as one of the " Endeavour's" 

 most noteworthy discoveries. The geographical isolation of 

 M. cyaneus is remarkable, the Kermadec Islands, nearly 2500 

 miles to the north-east being the nearest locality where 

 Metacrinus has been taken. 



Locs. — Eastern Slope, Bass Strait, about 200 fathoms. 

 This specimen has been selected as the holotype. 



South-east of Wilson's Promontory, Victoria. 



1. Sahul Bank, south of Timor, is scarcely Australian. 



