170 K. MITSUKURI : STUDIES ON 



organs and intestinal walls have simple cnrved rods (c, d). No 

 calcareous bodies are found in the peritoneum or in the tentacular 

 ampullae. 



Habitat : They are most abmidant along the coast, among 

 rocks which are full of nooks, crevices, and dark holes, or in 

 sheltered localities such as harbors, inlets, etc. They seem never 

 to be found on an open sandy shore with surf. As a general 

 thing, they do not descend very deep, being found at the most 

 at only a few fathoms' depth. Somewhat exceptional, therefore, 

 are the two specimens (No. 1398) obtained off Jögashima, Misaki, 

 at 60 fathoms' depth by a fisherman's long-line. 



This is par excellence the Japanese species of the Holo- 

 thurians. Its name " Namako " has been made in the Japanese 

 language synonymous with the name of the order. As the 

 accompanying list shows, it is found in every part of Japan. The 

 most northern points from which I have specimens are Eêbun I., 

 Eijiri L, and Kunajiri I. How much further north the species 

 extends, whether it is found in the more northerly islands of the 

 Kuriles and in Saghalien, I have unfortunately no means of as- 

 certaining at present. The most southern point in Japan from 

 which I have specimens is Kagoshima. It may extend a little 

 further south into Tanegashima and other small islands, but I am 

 certain that it does not occur in Öshima or in the Liu-Kiu Islands ; 

 for although I have collected there myself, and have seen many 

 collections fi'om there made by competent naturalists and have 

 often examined cured trepangs from the islands, I have never 

 yet come across a single specimen of this species. There are in 

 the Science College collection two lots of dried specimens of this 

 species from Taipeh in Formosa, which were exhibited at the 

 Second National Fisheries Exhibit at Kobe, but the labels accom- 



