14 " ENDEAVOUR ' SCIENTIFIC RESULTS. 



Genus Comanthus, A. H. Clark. 



COMANTHUS PERPLEXUM,^ Sf. nOV. 



(Plate III., fig. 2.) 



Centrodorsal well developed, nearly 5 mm. in diameter, 

 slightly concave ; around its margin is a series of about 15 

 eirrus-sockets, 7 or 8 of which bear more or less developed 

 cirri ; the largest of these are about 13 mm. long and consist 

 of 16-19 segments, of which the terminal 3 or 4, aside from 

 the claw, carry very insignificant elevations or ridges on the 

 proximal dorsal margin. IBr series, 3, all visible, the 

 axillaries broadly triangular, not in contact interradially. 

 IIBr 4 (3+4), low, broad, smooth and practically without 

 articular tubercles; distal margins distinct, shghtly flaring, 

 especially on IIBr.2 ; the whole series is only 5 mm. long 

 and is nearly 4 mm. wide. IIIBr series 2, except on one 

 IIBr series, where one arm has a IIIBr series 4 (3+4) and 

 the other arm is undivided. There are 4 IVBr series present, 

 all 4 (3+4) and there are thus 44 arms ; these are about 

 100 mm. long and have approximately 100 segments beyond 

 the last division ; there is a syzygy between 3 and 4, and a 

 second ten to fifteen segments beyond ; after that the syzygial 

 interval is 5, with remarkable uniformity. Brachials quadri- 

 lateral but except near tip of arm, the pinnular side is much 

 wider than the one opposite ; distal margins flaring, thickened 

 and minutely rough but not spinulose. Pinnules rather 

 slender; Pj about 17 mm. long, with 45 segments, of which 

 only the terminal 10 form the comb ; P2 shorter with about 35 

 segments, 10 in the comb ; P3 remarkably short and weak, 

 scarcely 5 mm. long and consisting of only 18-20 segments, 

 the terminal comb of 7 segments is well-marked ; none of the 

 subsequent pinnules have a comb, but they gradually increase 

 in length to 10 mm. or more, still consisting, however, of about 

 20 segments ; none of the segments are conspicuously spinu- 

 lose, though the terminal ones are more or less so, but the 

 basal segments are notably triangular. Disk wanting. 

 Colour (dry), uniformly pale fawn ; oral surface of arms and 

 pinnules brownish-black. 



There is no doubt that this species is very near C. briareus 

 (Bell), but after comparison with numerous specimens, I am 

 unwilling to refer it to that species. The colour is naturally 

 the most striking difference, but, of course, is the least 



1. Per pZea;ws= puzzling, in reference to the doubt whether it is really a 

 distinct species. 



