The Crinoids from Dr. S. Bock's I^Ixpepitiox to Japan I ill 4. 3 



from their proximal parts; IVoiii the oeoiUTenee of the pinnules and 

 their relative size and ornamentation. It will therefore be seen that 

 in most species 1 have given diawings of Cirri, of the proximal and 

 distal pinnules that are especially characteristic, and of Br joints and 

 Centrodorsals, where they have any characteristic sculpture or other- 

 wise show any appearance specific for the species. 



As to the systematical classification I have followed A. H. Clark's 

 system. Though in some particular cases this perhaps needs criticizing, 

 still it is certainly right in its principal traits. In his large work on 

 the Comatulids of the Siboga Expedition, Clark has brought together a 

 good many of his systematical observations previously published in 

 numerous investigations and now one can moi-e easily estimate the 

 value of the new system. In certain cases he has perhaps, however, 

 gone too far in subdividing the genera; the recent known Crinoids 

 comprising about 000 species are distributed in 1 32 genei-a. The appa- 

 rent disproportion between the number of species and genera will in 

 the future be diminished by new expeditions adding many new spe- 

 cies to the small genera. By this the division into genera will cer- 

 tainly persist in many cases, but on the other hand I do not think 

 that in course of time one will be able to keep apart genera in which 

 for instance the difference in genus A is only that P, is the longest 

 pinnula, in B : P.,, in C : P^ . 



Though I have studied about 40 of the above-mentioned genera, 

 I do not consider that I have yet sufficiently detailed knowledge to 

 put the system through a suitable criticism and apply new restrictions 

 to cei-tain genera. Besides, it seems to me as if the study of the in- 

 ner anatomy (in the Comatulid genera and families still quite a terra 

 incognita) ought to precede a discussion of the mutual relation bet- 

 ween the different groups. 1 hope in the future to be able to begin 

 this study and throw some light upon the matter. 



Dr. Bock's Japanese Kx|)edition brought home 53 different spe- 

 cies and vai'ietics of Crinoids. distriltuted in 2!> genera. I have given 

 below a list of the contents of the collection and at the same time 

 the depths at which the specimens were swept. (In the case of the 

 specimens from Kiu-Shiu there are sometimes no statements of the 



