122 



BULLf;TIX 82, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



tisiti'd. Nor can he adopt as characters of specific value siicli variations in the number 

 of the cirri, the number of their segments, the proportion of the length of these segments 

 to their breadth, and the form of the terminal claw as he occasionally meets with 

 among the cu-ri of specimens from the same locality resembling each other in all other 

 respects, the shedding and renewal of these cirri continuing, in his opinion, through the 

 whole life of the animal, and the several cirri of the same individual often presenting 

 very marked differences in size and in proportions. Even a character which in the 

 first instance appeared so definite as the presence of interradial plates in one form (as 

 in J. S. ^HUct's fimbriata) and their entire absence in another (rosacea of Fleming and 

 Forbes, decamcros of Gray, and rosaceiis of Norman and Wyville Thomson and as 

 understood by himself) he finds has proved unreliable. 



Thus he is led to suspect that the range of variation m this genus is very wide, and 

 that the more extended the comparison of specimens from different localities and from 

 different depths, the more reason there will appear for assigning only a varietal rank to 

 several of what are at present accounted different species. 



His disposition of the described species is as follows : 



The rosacea of Linck (the Decempeda cornubiensium of Llhuj'd) : There can be no 

 reasonable doubt that this is identical with the form from Arran. 



The barbata of Linck {{he Jimbriata of Barrelicr) : This he is disposed to consider, 

 \vith Edward Forbes, as specifically identical with rosacea, although Fleming, Lamarck 

 (in the second edition) and de Blainville rank it as distinct. 



The crocea of Linck (the Crocea za^arana Neapolitanorum of Colunma) : He says 

 that it is impossible to say with certainty whether this is anything more than a larger 

 form of rosacea, and it may not improbably be the Antedon milleri of Norman and 

 Wyville Thomson. 



The bifida and decacnemos of Pennant, and Adams' Asterias pectinaia, he considers, 

 with Forbes, as belonging to the same specific type as Linck's crocea, though Lamarck 

 identified Pennant's decacnemos and Adams' Asterias pectinata with barbaia {Comatida 

 barbata as given by him). 



The europaea of Leach he says is undoubtedly the same as rosacea. 



The mediterranea of Lamarck is unquestionably the same as rosacea. 



The milleri of J. Miiller {ihefimbriala of J. S. Miller renamed) is scarcely anything 

 else than the variety of rosacea which is characterized by the presence of interradial 

 plates; it is probably identical with the milleri of Norman and Wyville Thomson. 



The adeonae of Delle Chiaje (not of Lamarck) he is disposed to identify with 

 rosacea. 



The petasm of Diibcn and Koren is probably identical with rosacea. 



Summing up, he gives as undoubted synonyms the following: 



rosacea Linck 

 bifida Pennant 

 decacnemos Pennant 

 pectinaia Adams 

 europaea Leach 



and lists with a mark of interrogation : 



mediterranea Lamarck 

 rosacea Fleming 

 decacnemos J. X. Thompson 

 petasus Diiben and Koren 

 decameros Gray 



barbata Linck 

 barbata Lamarck 



milleri J. Miiller 



fimhriala 3. S. Miller 

 adeonae Delle Chiaje 



