228 F. JEFFREY BELL. 



XIII. Genus Astropecten. 



Immature forms from 40/., Suvadiva, broken corals and nullipores, and Halimeda, and 

 34/., Felidu, sand covered with weed. 



21. Astropecten polyacanthus. 



Astropecten polyacanthus, M. Tr. Syst. Aster. (1842), p. 69. 



Dredged five times in four atolls, 19 — 38 /, hard bottom with corals, or mud with weed 

 and sponges (Mulaku). 



22. Astropecten iiidicus. 



Astropecten indicm, Doderlein, Zool. JB. Syst. iii. (1888), p. 828. 

 Suvadiva, 40/, fine mud. 



XIV. Genus Luidia. 



23. Luidia macidata. 



Luidia maculata, M. Tr. Syst. Ast. (1842), p. 77. 

 S. Nilandu, 19/, seaward end of a passage. 



OPHIUROIDEA. 

 XV. Genus Ophiocoma. 



Large numbers of immature specimens are obtained on breaking up decaying corals and 

 under beach sandstone masses between tide marks. They are sometimes also found in sponges. 



24. Ophiocoma erinaceus. 



25. Ophiocoma scolopendrina. 



In 1887,1 wi-ote (Scient. Trans. Roy. Dublin Soc. III. (1887), p. 648), "It is almost certain 

 that in a short time systematists will be agreed as to the necessity of uniting these two 

 species of Ophiocoma." In 1888 the late Dr Brock (Zeitschr. f. wiss. Zool. XLvn. (1888), 

 p. 495), said, " Es ist wohl jetzt kein Zweifel mehr, dass beide Arten vereinigt werden miissen." 

 Fifteen years' further experience only confirms me in this view. 



The form called 0. erinaceus is characteristic of the reefs of Minikoi and all parts of 

 the Maldives wherever there is decaying coral rock. It was dredged also with dead coral 

 rubble off a shoal in Suvadiva, 25/ The second form, 0. scolopendrina, was only found at 

 Minikoi, where it is numerous under stones on the reef to the east of the island. 



26. Ophiocoma valenciae. 



Ophiocoma valenciae, M. Tr. Syst. Ast. (1842), p. 102. 



A regular species of the boulder zone in Minikoi and all parts of the Maldives. 



27. Ophiocoma brevipes. 



Ophiocoma brevipes, Peters, A7xh. f. Nat. 1852, p. 85. 



On every p.art of the reefs of Minikoi and the Maldives, but especially numerous under 

 beach sandstone masses. 



