8 T. GlSLÉN, 



fi-oni \\hi('li it differs, however, in several cliaracteristics. A small num- 

 ber of genera from (he Iiuiian ocean are ali-eady known with corres- 

 ponding types in the Caribbean sea. The above-mentioned genera 

 still show a couple of these interesting coi'i-espondenccs. 



Some (if the species found at the Ijonin islands (e. g. Tropio- 

 metra encrimis^ Vania annulata) are met with liei-e at greater depths 

 than those formerly reported in the literature. 



A tendency to abbreviation of the cirri can be traced in several 

 species from the Benin islands. Thus Gomalella hr achy c irr a, Catoptometra 

 magnifica minor, Eudiocrinus gracilis pulchellus, and Stenometra dentata 

 differ h'om closely related forms by the cirri being unusually short in 

 comparison with the arms (compare several newly described species 

 in Clark's Siboga work, where in forms from the Sunda islands an 

 opposite tendency prevailed). 



Some of the Bonin localities seem to have had a very rich cri- 

 noid fauna. From St. 50 one notes no less than 13 species. It may 

 be of some interest to note that while the ci'inoid fauna from this rich 

 locality only shows full-grown specimens, the list from e. g. St 47 only 

 includes the young of large species and mature individuals of small 

 forms. Obviously a current favourable for the one as well as for the 

 other has brought larvse of numerous forms. In the latter case quoted 

 this has occurred rather recently and it is therefore only the small spe- 

 cies that have reached maturity. 



The collectio-n as a wliole gives a good idea of the abundance 

 of crinoids that prevails in Japanese waters. 



The family Comasteridœ is represented by 16 species, one of 

 which is a new species, and 5 can be considered as new varieties. 

 In the systematical investigation of this family I have discussed in 

 special detail the forms of ComantJms (Vania) parvicirra and the value 

 the characters may have in this sub-genus. The collection is rich in 

 young forms and an especially great number of young Comasterids have 

 been placed at my disposal. All these young forms, like all young forms 

 of Comasterids, are exceedingly difficult to identify and one may usu- 

 ally think oneself very fortunate if the young Crinoid is determinable 

 as to genus. Hitherto descriptions are chiefly published only for grown- 

 up forms and therefore the characteristics that might possibly be used 

 to distinguish young ones are unnoticed or unknown. If the fauna 



