82 THE APODOUS HOLOTHURIANS 



the remarks of Heroiaard ('93) concerning a specimen, also from the Bed Sea, 

 which he identifies with reciprocans Forskal. My reasons for believing that 

 these latter specimens are really nigra are: (1) Ludwig's description agrees 

 perfectly with Semper 's, save for the color, the miliary grannies, and the 

 anchors and plates. (2) Heronard's account does not indicate a single differ- 

 ence between his specimen and nigra, save the numerous abnormal anchors. 

 (3) The difference in color between Ludwig's specimen and the others is ob- 

 viously not of great importance. (4) The anchors and plates of Ludwig's 

 specimen are exactly like those of Heronard's. (5) The miliary granules in 

 Heronard's specimen are exactly like those of Semper 's. (6) The appearance 

 of the miliary granules in Ludwig's specimen and their scarcity would indicate 

 the possibility at least of partial dissolution. It is practically impossible, 

 therefore, to draw even an arbitrary line of division between the specimens 

 of the three writers, and I am satisfied that they all refer to the same animal. 

 I do not believe, however, that it is possible to determine from the data at hand 

 whether this is one of Forskal 's Fistularias or not, but I am exceedingly 

 doubtful. 



Synaptula hydriformis. 

 Plate VI. 



Tlolothuria hydriformis Lesueiir, ISS-i, p. 162. 

 Holothuria viridis Lesueur, 1824, p. 163. 

 Synaptula vivipara Oersted, 1849, p. vii. 

 - Synapta viridis Pourtales, 1851, p. 14. 

 Synapia pourtalesii Selenka, 1867, p. 365. 

 Leptosynapta hydriformis Verrill, 1867. 

 Leptosynapta pourtalesii Terrill, 1867. 

 Heterosynapta viridis Yerrill, 1867. 

 Synapta vivipara Ludwig, 18S6&. 

 Synapta picta Theel, 1886a. p. 10. 

 Chondrodcea vivipara r)stergren, 189Sfc. 



Length. — 100-150 mm., with diameter from 4 to 9 mm. 



Color. — Pale reddish brown to dark greenish brown or even green, more 

 or less mottled and spotted with white; these white specks are really aggrega- 

 tions of the abundant miliary granules. The ground color of the animal cor- 

 responds very well with the environment, the reddish tints predominating in 

 case the surroundings are mainly red and brown algir, while the green tints 

 prevail where the Syuaptids live among green alga?. 



Distribution. — Reported from West Indies (Oersted) ; Bermuda (Theel, 

 Clark); Biscayne Bay, Florida (Pourtales); Watling's Island, Bahamas 

 (Clark, autea) ; Jamaica (Clark); St. Thomas (Lesueur): Guadeloupe 

 (Lesueur) ; and Abrolhos Eeef, Brazil (Ludwig) ; doubtless occurs in suitable 

 situations throughout the Caribbean Sea, the Ciulf of Mexico, and the warm 

 portion of the western Atlantic Ocean, from 32° N. to 18° S. latitude. 



