is composed of exceptionally large rounded teeth 
which usually much exceed in height the lateral dia- 
meter of the segments which bear them ; the fourth- 
seventh brachials bear prominent spinous median 
knobs or keels; usually one or more of the earlier 
segments of Pj twice as long as broad or longer 
(southeastern United States) Comatonia ') 
c- cirri excessively slender and thread-like, the enormously elon- 
gated segments with greatly swollen articulations-, the penulti- 
mate segment, which is much shorter than those preceding, is 
twice as long as broad; arms not more than 15 mm. in length 
(Lesser A ntilles) Microcomatula 
b- the second, third and fourth pairs of pinnules are absent, so that 
there are no pinnules between Pj and Pa, and P^ and Pe (south- 
eastern United States) Comatilia 
Comatella A. H. Clark. 
Key to the Species of the Genus Comatella. 
a^ Usually 26 — 30 cirrus segments; usually more than 40 arms; all the IIIBr series 
present, usually numerous IVBr, VBr and VIBr series, and sometimes VIIBr 
series also ; the inner branch from each IIBr series and its division resembles 
the outer (north Australia to the Philippine Islands) nigra 
a" Not more than 25 cirrus segments; not more than 35 arms 
b' usually 20 — 25 cirrus segments; usually 30 — 35 arms; IIIBr series usually 
present on outside of rays only ; the inner branch from each IIBr series 
usually remains undivided (Ceylon eastward to Australia and 
Oceania, reaching New South Wales, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, 
t h e P h i 1 i p p i n e I s 1 a n d s a n d C h i n a) stelligera 
b- cirri with not more than 20 segments; usually 20 arms; IIBr series usu- 
ally all, or nearly all, present, but rarely any further division 
c' 15 — 20 cirrus segments (from the islands in the southwest- 
ern Indian Ocean eastward to northern Australia, New 
Caledonia, Rotuma, the Caroline Islands and Maccles- 
field B a n k) maculata 
c" not more than 13 cirrus segments (so ut h west ern Jap an) . . . decora 
l) The type of this genus is Actinometra crhtata (P. H. Carpenter MS.) Hartlaub (.Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 27, 1912, 
N"- 4, P- 473, pl- 10, figs. 1—5; pi. 15, figs. 10, II). 
HAKTLAUli's specimen was without locality: the United States National Museum possesses specimens from off Cape I,ool;out, 
North Carolina, in 7V2 fathoms fCat. N°. 34634), and from near Key West Florida, in 120 fathoms (Cat. N^. 3462S), and in 132 fathoms 
(Cat. N^ 34632). 
