2i6 Sotithern Cross. 



recognise its great variability, and his establishment of seven species 

 after the apj)earance of Mr. Sladen's ' Challenger ' report can only be 

 regarded as a piece of Gallic gaiety. 



(Jycdhra dmph'X, Bell, P. Z. S. 1881, p. 90; Stiulcr, Abli. Ak. IJerl. (Aiiliano), 



(1884) [5], p. 41; rerrior, Miss. Cap. Horn. (18')l), 

 p. K. 122. 



electilis, Sladeii, ' Chdh)i(jer ' liep., Ast. (1889), p. 377. 



„ tiitida „ ,, ,, „ p. 879. 



,, ])inguis ,, ,, ,, „ p. 3^0. 



;, elongata, Pcnier, Misss. Cap. Horn. (Ib91), p. K. 172. 



,, media „ „ „ p. K. 174. 



„ asterina „ „ ,, p. K. 176. 



„ suhehcUJis „ „ „ p. K. 181. 



,, calva „ ,, „ ]). K. 183. 



,, regularis „ „ „ p. K. 184. 



„ asteriscus ,, „ „ ,, 



Professor Perrier's observations on the variability of this singular 

 form, which it fell to my lot to describe, from a single specimen, 

 twenty years ago, are fully borne out by the very interesting series 

 before me. 



Distribution. — Apparently circumpolar. 



Stations.— Gai^e Adare : 5-7 fathoms : Nov. 22nd, 1899 (28-9° F.). 



Cape Adare: 24 fathoms : Jan. 2nd, 1900 (29'" R). 



Cape Adare: 26-28 fathoms: Jan. 9th, 1900 (29 ■ 2" F.). 



Cape Adare: April 6th, 1899. 



Franklin Island : 10 fathoms : Feb. 9th, 1900 (29-8" F.). 



Franklin Island: 10-24 fathoms : Feb. 9th, 1900 (29-8" F.). 



Robertson Bay : 2 fathoms : Sept. 27th to Oct. 2nd, 1899. 



Odontaster mekidionalis. 



Astrogonium meridionale, E. A. Sinitli, Ami. and Mas;. Nat. Hist. XVII. 

 (187G), p. 109. 



Odontaster meridionalis, Bell, P. Z. S., It 93, ]>. 261, ibi<fue citatu ; Leipoldt, 

 Zeit. f. Wiss. Zool., lix. (1895), p. 020. 



A young specimen of this variable species was found washed up 

 on shore at Cape Adare after a gale. I cannot think that Prof. Verrill 

 (Trans. Connect. Acad. x. (1899), p. 202) has sufficiently weighed the 

 vaiiability of this starfish and its allies. 



Its distribution would appear to be circumpolar. 



