SS LOED HOWE ISLAND. 



the absence of suckers around the actinosome, which, according to the Rev. 

 J. E. T. Woods, are wanting in this species.* As it is the commonest, so it 

 is the most variable Urchin in the colour of its spines. "VYe observed 

 examples with light drab spines ; others with those organs of a greenish- 

 yellow, tipped with a lighter shade ; and lastly, a less common variety, iu 

 which the whole of the spine is dark-brown, and the lips a yellowish-grey, 

 forming a very strong contrast, but there are even gradations to be traced in 

 these varieties. Another remarkable feature, and one not referred to by 

 Alexander Agassiz in his " Revision " and ttie generality of writers, is the 

 want of symmetry in the test of a larger number of examples. Some 

 certainly appear to be more or less circular, but in by far the larger number, 

 the test is laterally compressed, assuming a more or less oblong outline. 

 This is even very apparent in non-denuded examples. 



Another member of the Echinometridas found at Lord Howe Island, 

 where it is common, is StrongyJocentrotus tuberculatus, Lamk. It is a large 

 olive-spined form, not then known from the mainland according to Dr. 

 Eamsay,t but almost peculiar to the island. J We obtained a few moderately 

 large examples, and many young individuals. With the exception of the 

 succeeding species it is the largest Urchin found at Lord Howe. The 

 Eev. J. E. T. Woods quotes§ this species as found generally in " N. E. 

 tropical Australia," and he mentions also one example from Port Stephens 

 and another from New Zealand. 



The edible Urchin Tripneusfes angulosus, Leske, grows to large propor- 

 tions in the genial waters of the Lagoon at the island, the sandy beach 

 within the harbour being an excellent locality for obtaining examples cast 

 up alive from deeper water. We obtained several large specimens. 



Sreynia nustralasicp, Leach, occurs in great abundance in the sandy bottom 

 of the Lagoon, at some little distance below low-watermark, and of large size, 

 some of our own examples measuring four and a half inches by four, and some 

 nearly five from before backwards. It varies from a deep cholocate to a dark 

 fuscous-brown and burrows in the sand, sometimes to a depth of six inches. 

 Although authorities differ as to its geographical distribution little doubt 

 can exist that Lord Howe Island is its i^rincipal habitat. Dr. Ramsay says 

 " it has been seldom found iu Port Jackson or on the adjacent coast," 

 whilst Mr. Tenison Woods remarks " found from Cape York to Port 

 Jackson." Very fresh specimens must be obtained if it is desired to 

 examine the soft parts, for they decompose with great rapidity, leaving the 

 shells more or less filled with foraminifera on which they appear in a great 

 measure to live. 



Lastly Messrs. Whitelegge and Thorpe obtained five examples of a very 

 j^retty little ^chinoneits on the flat reef running out from the south side of 

 Ned's Beach. The specimens are of a dark chocolate-brown colour, com- 

 pletely covered with a fur of delicate, short spines, and were found under 

 stones. The smallest was somewhat over half an inch in its longest 

 diameter, whilst the largest w^as quite one and a half inches. The species 

 has been determined by Dr. Ramsav to be £. cyclosfonius, Leske. 



The Asteroidea collected are not numerous, four genera and species com- 

 prising the series. Asterias calamaria, Gray, is exceedingly common on the 



* Proc. Linn. Soc, N. S. Wales, v, pt. 2, p. 197. 



t Cat. Eehinodermata, Australian Museum. Part I. Echini. 1885, p. 46. 

 X It has lately been found at Shark Point, Port Jackson, by a Mr. Hunt. 

 § The Echini of Australia, Proc. Linn. Soc, N. S. Wales, ir, pt. 2, p. 158. 



