1869.] 391 [VerrUl. 



Hemipholis gracilis VerrlU. 



Trans. Conn. Acad., I, p. 262 (read Jan., 1867, published March, 

 186f). 



Hemipholis affinis Ljung., op. cit., p. 322 (read Nov. 1866, pub- 

 lished 1867, note on fly-leaf dated May 18, 1867). 



Ljungman's species, from Guayaquil, appears to be identical with 

 H. gracilis. Judging from the date of Prof. Ldven's note, our name 

 has priority of actual publication. 



Ophiothela Danae Verrill, sp. nov. 



A small, slender species, with six long arms, strongly granulous 

 above, and twelve large, prominent radial shields, which occupy the 

 whole of the disk, except a small central area. 



Disk somewhat star-shaped, with six rounded, emarginate angles, 

 formed by the radial shields; and concave sides, in the interbrachial 

 regions; the small central area depressed, the radial shields elevated; 

 both the central area and radial shields bearing small, rounded, 

 scattered granules, which are often wanting in the dry specimens. 

 Radial shields very convex, in contact along the whole length, except 

 at the outer end, where they are very slightly separated, leaving a 

 notch between ; each pair usually have a broad oval, or slightly cor- 

 date, form ; in the largest specimens more elongated, the outer end 

 more acute, with an angle at the point where they meet the adjacent 

 shields in the interradial region ; their surface, seen under a lens, is 

 minutely roughened with rounded elevations, and usually bears some 

 rounded, scattered granules. The arms are covered above with scat- 

 tered, unequal, prominent granules, the central series largest ; the 

 plates are concealed by a continuous thin skin. Beneath, the plates 

 around the mouth are united so as to form a continuous ring around 

 it, and are entirely covered with a thin skin. The mouth-shields 

 are small, the visible part squarish. The jaws are naked and con- 

 spicuous, without mouth-papillaj, but with numerous small teeth. 

 Side arm-plates jjrominent, bearing about five small, rough spines, the 

 lower ones shortest, bent downward, and bearing sharp spinules on 

 the lower side, which serve as hooks for adhesion. 



Color yellowish white with blotches of dark greenish, centre often 

 dark; arms yellowish white crossed by bands of dark green at irregu- 

 lar distances. Diameter of disk of largest specimens .18 to .20 inch ; 

 length of arms about 1 inch. 



Feejee Islands, in large numbers on Melitodes virgata Verrill (^Mel- 

 ilcea ochracea Dana) ; J. D. Daaa. 



