HOLOTHUEIOIDEA OF THE INDIAN OCEAN. 91 



same in both species, but the large lateral papillae of H. 

 oceUala are larger than those of H. spinifera. The spicules of 

 both species belong to the same general type. There is 

 evidently much variation in the tables of the two species, 

 and the tables of the Ceylon specimens of H. spinifera agree 

 almost as well with Theel's drawings of ocellata as with those 

 of spinifera. The latter, however, differs from the former in 

 having tables bearing large spine-like towers in the joapillse. 

 Also the buttons of ocellata are larger than those of spinifera. 

 Internally there does not appear to be much difference. The 

 calcareous ring presents some small points of difference, but 

 both specie^ agree in having an extremely large stone canal. 



There are two small Holothurians from the Seychelles sent 

 by Professor Stanley Gardiner, the largest being only 40 mm. 

 in length. These two specimens agree very closely with H, 

 ocellata in external appearance, in the form of the calcareous 

 ring, and in the curious large stone canal. The tentacles and 

 the greater part of the alimentary canal are absent from both 

 specimens. Nevertheless they differ considerably in the 

 nature of the spicules, and I have had some difficulty in 

 deciding upon the identity of the two specimens. The 

 spicules consist of tables and buttons. The tables are of two 

 sizes, smaller tables not unlike those of a typical H. ocellata, 

 forming a superficial larger, and longer tables, apparently 

 situated at a lower level. These larger tables generally hav^ 

 a complete circular disc, but often it is incomplete, and forms 

 a cross-shaped base to the table as in H. kurti (see Pearson, 33). 



The discs of the smaller tables have a diameter of 100 [i-, and 

 are pierced by twentj^ or more holes and have an undulating- 

 margin. The larger tables are not very common. The disc 

 has a diameter of about 250 [t' and contains a very large 

 number of holes. Both kinds of tables have towers similar 

 to those found in the typical deposits of H. ocellata. The 

 buttons are delicate and have about seven pairs of holes. 

 Many of the buttons are apparently knobbed. Although the 

 spicules are somewhat similar to those of H. kurti, I am 

 confident that: this form does not belong to that species. The 

 discs and towers of the tables of H. kurti are much more 

 robust than those of the specimens under examination. 



