:\tONOGiîAPH OF JAPANESE OPHIUROIDEA. 53 



specimens of the present species, and I am quite satisfied as to 

 their specific identity. The three forms just mentioned are, in my 

 opinion, merely younger stages of the present species before the 

 disappearance of the dermal granules and the occlusion of the oral 

 papillœ ; A. monacanthum, being the youngest, is only 4 mm. across 

 the disk and has only the adradial arm spine. In slightly larger 

 specimens, the abradial spine begins to appear as a very small 

 rudiment. 



The specimens are light pinkish brown or flesh-coloured in 

 alcohol, or dark brownish purple, if they have not lain in alcohol 

 for a long time, or sometimes yellowish brown, when badly pre- 

 served in weak alcohol. 



Asteroschenia (Ophiocreas) abyssicola (Lyman). 



Opldocreas ahyssicola : Lyman, Bull. Mus. Comp. ZooL, "VI, Ft. 2, 

 1879, p. 64, PI. XVn, figs. 470-473; Lyman, Eep. Challenger, V, 1882, p. 

 282, PI. XXXn, figs. 1-4. 



Asteroschema {Ophiocreas) ahyssicola: Dodeklein, Abh. Math.-Pliys. 

 Kl. K. Bayer. Akad. Wiss., Suppl.-Bd. I, 1911, p. 113. 



Eastwards from Honshu ; 2,300 fathoms (Lyman). 



Asteroschenia (Ophioci^eas) glutinosum Doderlein. 



Asteroschema ( Ophiocreas) (jlutinosimi : Doderlein, Abh. Math.-Phys. 

 Kl. K. Bayer. Akad. Wiss., Suppl.-Bd., I, 1911, p. 59, PI. VI, figs. 5 & 5 a, 

 PI. VII, fig. 9. 



One specimen (belonging to the First High School) ; Sagami 

 Sea. Numerous specimens, clinging to a gorgonacean, together 

 with some specimens of A. caudatum and A. japonicum ; outside 

 Okinosé, Sagami Sea ; 330 fathoms. 



The ratio of the arm length to the disk diameter is much 



