24 THE ECHINODERMS OF TORRES STRAIT. 
they are adeone. He has, however, kindly loaned me specimens of that species from the 
Aru Islands and I have compared them carefully with the Murray Island material. There 
is no doubt in my mind that the two species are quite distinct; the cirrus joints have con- 
spicuous transverse ridges in adeone which are wanting (or at most very faint) in anisa, 
while the difference in the lower pinnules is even more marked. In adeona, P; is the largest, 
P, slightly smaller, P3 still smaller, and P, still smaller, but similar. In anisa, P, is smaller 
than P, which is much larger and with more segments than in adeona@; P; is about as large 
as P, or a little smaller; Ps is abruptly smaller than P3; and quite different in form. In 
adeone, the lower pinnules tend to be prismatic while in anisa they are more terete. In 
some of the specimens of anisa certain of the lower pinnules have been broken off and are 
regenerating, a condition which is quite deceptive at first sight. There is also some diversity 
in the size and proportions of the lower pinnules, which is probably due in large part to 
differences in age. The characteristic features of the species are, however, quite constant. 
It seems to be most nearly related to O. japonica Hartlaub, but differences in the cirri, 
the number and arrangement of the syzygies, and in the lower pinnules make me think 
it is probably distinct, and until specimens can be compared it is better to keep the two 
forms separate. 
The first specimen taken at Mer is described in my field notes as ‘‘A lovely bright- 
yellow, 10-armed species. On 4 arms the basal segments and 2 or 3 near middle of arm 
have purple spots on dorsal side, but these are not conspicuous. South Reef on stag-horn 
coral at edge of reef, Mer, September 29, 1913.’ The next one found was also a small one 
and was drawn by Mr. Grosse (pl. 4, fig. 3); although there was much purple in the colora- 
tion I suspected this was the same species as the bright-yellow one. On October 10 I found 
what I felt sure was a new form; it was rather deep maroon with white markings on arms 
and pale purplish cirri. On October 14, a fine specimen, 120 mm. across, was found on 
the southwestern reef and Mr. Grosse made a colored drawing (pl. 4, fig. 1) as I supposed 
it was certainly something we had not found previously. On October 22, a fine orange- 
brown and white individual again deceived me and Mr. Grosse sketched one arm (pl. 1, 
fig. 10). This specimen was notable for its very conspicuous lower pinnules and the stout 
cirri, features well shown in a side-view photograph of the preserved specimen (pl. 21, fig. 1). 
In spite of these individual diversities the species is really not very variable in its essential 
specific characters. It was the commonest comatulid, not a comasterid, at Mer, but was 
not really common since we found only 12 specimens in five weeks of diligent search. 
Oligometra carpenteri. 
Antedon carpenter Bell. 1884. Alert Rep., p. 157, pl. x, figs. A, a toc. 
Oligometra carpentert A. H. Clark. 1908. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., 21, p. 126. 
This species ranges from Port Curtis, Queensland, to Baudin Island, northwestern 
Australia, and northward to the Aru Islands. Merton took 5 specimens in June 1908, on 
the northern coast of Little Kei Island. The Alert took one specimen in Prince of Wales 
Channel, Torres Strait, in 7 to 9 fathoms. We did not meet with it. It can not be confused 
with the preceding species from Mer. 
Oligometrides adeone. 
Comatula adeone Lamarck. 1816. Anim. s. Vert., 2, p. 535. 
Oligometrides adeone A. H. Clark. 1913. Smithson. Misc. Coll., 61, No. 15, p. 37.—1918. Siboga Comat., pl. 
xxviii, figs. 107-109.—Bell. 1884. Alert Rep., pl. xi, figs. A to Ac (as A. bidens). 
With a range very similar to that of the preceding species, adeone also escaped our 
search at Mer and elsewhere in Torres Strait. Merton found it fairly common at the Aru 
Islands in 1908, as he took 8 specimens at four different stations, in water 3 to 9 fathoms 
deep. Through the kindness of Mr. A. H. Clark I have been able to examine some Aru 
Island specimens taken by the Siboga. 
