78 Xatukai, History Bulli-:tin. 



least numerous, although one striking species was secured, 

 which seems to belong to the family Asterinida?. but cannot 

 be accommodated in any genus, the description of which is 

 accessible to the writer. The abactinal surface is covered 

 with small rectangular plates arranged in regular rows. 

 These plates bear spines closelv resembling paxilla? in their 

 arrangement. The papuke. or dermal branchia:', are found 

 on the dorsal surface onh". The most striking feature of this 

 species is the peculiar ornamentation effected by conspicuous, 

 irregularly disposed rounded prominences scattered over the 

 dorsal surface, and resembling huge warts. I have seen no 

 similar arrangement of tubercles elsewhere among the 

 Asteroidea. 



Among the thirtv-odd species of serpent-stars and basket- 

 tish dredged on the pentacrinus grounds, were manv forms of 

 unusual interest to the zoologist, a considerable proportion 

 being probablv new species. This portion of the collection 

 is particularly worthy of careful study in the hands of a compe- 

 tent specialist. The writer can do nothing more than indi- 

 cate the general nature of the collection, mentioning a few of 

 the more notable and striking forms, such as catch the atten- 

 tion in a hurried examination of the material. 



The Ophurida? are represented by species of Ophiiinu 

 Ophiomiisiiim, Ophiozona. Ophiolepis. Ophiomiira. Ophio- 

 piPpale. Ophiothyreiis. Ophwcanlha. Ophioglxpha. and Ophio- 

 caiiia.x. 



A very striking form allied to Ophioiiuisiuui has the entire 

 dorsal surface covered with rounded, greatly projecting nod- 

 ules like cobble-stones of several colors in striking contrast. 

 Similar nodules cover the dorsal surface of the arms, from which 

 they pass on to the disk, forming five large bulging ridges 

 which meet at the centre of the back. Alternating with these 

 ridges are the broad, granulated and widely separated radial 

 shields. Below are seen the roughly pentagonal mouth- 

 shields, with conspicuous side mouth-shields, both being set 

 back a considerable distance from the angles of the jaws. 

 Each upper arm-plate alternates with a series of three promi- 



