55 151 



Koh Chuen, 30 fathoms (on Pinna lujstrix, Hani.). Koh Mak, .sandy coast (■'/2). 

 North end of Koh Chang, 1 fathom, old coral blocks; a very large specimen (long. 

 79 mm., alt. 76 mm., crass. 42 mm.). Besides agreeing well with Reeve's figure of 

 ocellatus it closely resembles his figure and description of Sp. spectrum, Reeve. 



Long. 23 mm., alt. 28 mm. 

 — 13 — — 13 mm. 



Distribution: — Singapore (2 — 3 fathoms, attached to coral reefs; Danish 

 Exp. to Siam), Mauritius and Cargados (coccinens. Lam.). — Amboina and Flores 

 (coccinens, Reeve), Philippines {ocellatus, Reeve, and coccineus, Reeve), Torres Strait 

 (ocellatus, Reeve), Lifu (ocellatus. Reeve). 



The specimen taken at Singapore (long. 18 mm., alt. 23 mm.) entirely agrees 

 with Sp. plnrispinosus. Reeve (v. Martens records this species from the Mergui 

 Archipelago); in this specimen, and also in the young specimen from Koh Chuen, 

 the somewhat flattened spines are furnished with a row of small teeth along each 

 of the two sides; these teeth are visible, however, only under the lens, and is 

 found, undoubtedly, only in quite young specimens. 



Spondglus maculatus, Chemn., is very closely allied to the present species (I 

 have had Chemnitz's original specimen for examination), but as the original 

 specimen is rather worn, no definite conclusion can be drawn at present. It is 

 doubtful whether Reeve's coccineus is identical with Lamarck's species of the same 

 name. v. Martens ' states that coccineus. Reeve, is identical with Spondylus zonalis, 

 Lam. (For further details see S. spectrum, Reeve). 



Spondylus spectrum, Reeve. 



Spondylus spectrum. Reeve, Conchol. icon., IX, 1856, Spondylus, Sp. 49. 

 — fragum, Reeve, Conchol. icon., IX, 1856, Spondylus, Sp. 61. 



East of Koh Chuen, 9—10 fathoms, shells ('/a). 



Long. 38 mm., alt. 43 mm. 



Distribution: — Poulo Condor, Philippines. 



After having examined Reeve's original specimens in the British Museum, I 

 have put S. spectrum = S. fragum. Without doubt several others are synonymous 

 with these species, for instance, camurus, Reeve, castas, Reeve, and others ; and per- 

 haps it will be proved, when these highly variable forms have been more closely 

 examined, that the numerous species from the Philippines and the surrounding 

 waters (for instance, S. mus. Reeve, S. tenuispinosus, Sow., S. ducalis, Ch., S. zonalis, 

 Lam., S. virgineus, Reeve, S. ocellatus, Reeve, S. coccineus, Lam., S. fragilis, Sow., 

 S. Nicobaricns, Ch., S. auranfias. Lam., S. uariegatus, Ch., and others), in which the 

 young valves are ornamented with dark dots and spots, but later on have a very 

 di lièrent sculpture and colour-ornamentation, are only varieties of the same form. 

 I have at my disposal, a very considerable quantity of material of the West Indian 



' Ruinphius Gedenliboek, 1902, Die Mollusken, |). 128 (2(1). 



