STARFISHES OF THE PHILIPPINE SEAS. 435 



O. eridanella is recorded by Miiller and Troschel from New Ireland 

 (1842, p. 24) ; by Perrier (1875, p. 105) from New Caledonia; by de 

 Loriol (1893, p. 391) from Amboina (alsoby Doderlein,1896,p.322) ; 

 by Koehler (1910a, p. 174), who compared his specimens with the 

 types, from Ganjam, India. O 'purpurea is recorded by Miiller and 

 Troschel (as E. fallax) from " India and the Red Sea " (1842, p. 24) ; 

 by Perrier from the Philippines and the Red Sea (1875, p. 106) ; by 

 de Loriol from Mauritius (1885, p. 10) ; by Koehler from the Aru 

 Islands (1910Z>, p. 288). 



I suspect that the two names refer to one variable species. Even 

 if the specimens in the eastern part of the range differ sufficiently 

 from those of Mauritius and westward, the former are not likely to be 

 separable from Gray's previously described Othilia luzonica (1840, 

 p. 282). De Loriol, an astute systematist, compared specimens of 

 purpurea from Mauritius with six-rayed examples from the Philip- 

 pines without finding any important differences. What differences 

 do exist between eridanella and purpwrea% 



0. purpurea has been listed by Farquhar ^ (1898, p. 315) from New 

 Zealand, and by R. N. Rudmose Brown (1910, p. 35) from the Mergui 

 Archipelago. 



Through the kindness of Dr. H. L. Clark, I hav& seen several 

 specimens, both five- and six-rayed, collected by him in Torres Strait, 

 at Thursday Island, and Emb (Murray Islands) . 



Genus HENRICIA Gray. 



Henricia Gkay, 1840, p. 184. Type H. oculata Gray [Asterias sanguino- 

 lenta O. F. Miiller]. 



With few exceptions the species of this genus are very variable and 

 consequently difficult to identify accurately, even with specimens for 

 comparison. Identifications based upon descriptions and figures are 

 less reliable. 



Although the three forms listed below have been given full specific 

 rank, and are apparently very different, experience with Henricia in 

 the North Pacific has taught me to go carefully, because wide dif- 

 ference in appearance is not a barrier to intergradation. However, 

 in this case there is no alternative, because material is scanty. It will 

 not be surprising if Henricia arcystata is a Philippine race of the 

 Andaman H. mutans. As for H. densispina, the identification can 

 only be made certain by a comparison with specimens from the type- 

 locality. The type is certainly an immature form. I have no sug- 

 gestions to offer as to the relationship of H. microplax. Its resem- 

 blance aborally to H. sanguinoleuta is very superficial. I do not 

 think its relations lie in that direction. 



* On the Echinoderm Fauna of NfiW Zealand. Proc. Linn. Soc. New South Wales, 1898, 

 pt. 3, Aug. 31. 



