130 Naturai. History Bulletin. 



when we found a magnificent crinoid with a spread of about 

 twelve inches growing in water less than three feet deep^ 

 These specimens were of a rich golden brown color, which 

 has not faded in alcohol, and belonged to the genus Actino- 

 metra. The mouth is even more eccentric than usual in this, 

 genus, and the pinnules are long and slender. The arms ap- 

 pear to be more brittle than in other crinoids, and the ultimate 

 ramifications are twentv-four in number. This is probably 

 the handsomest species of free crinoid secured during the 

 cruise, and the unexpectedness of the discovery added to its 

 interest. ^ 



Only two species of star-fish were found. One is an As- 

 terina, which is quite small, not exceeding an inch in diameter. 

 It is a ver}^ robust species, almost pentagonal. The dorsal 

 surface is covered with imbricating plates with a dermal pa- 

 pilla peeping from the upper edge of each. One specimen is 

 four-rayed and almost perfectly square in outline. Star-fish 

 seem to be much more apt to have additional ra^'s than to 

 have less than the typical number of five. By far the most 

 abundant species at this station was a species of Astropcctcn, 

 which came up in great numbers when we dredged across the 

 channel near the quarantine buoys. At no other spot did we 

 find star-fishes so abundant in individuals as here. Like 

 others of the x\stropectinid.*;. this species is partial to a clear, 

 sandy bottom. We greatly admired the arrangement of pax- 

 ilia', whereby these animals were able to keep their dermal 

 tentacles constantly bathed in fresh sea-water without the 

 channels becoming clogged with sand. So far as my obser- 

 vation goes, it would seem that species with true paxilla; 

 always live in sand or mud. and are as a rule flat, not vaulted, 

 and thus especially apt to be covered with sand. 



The serpent-stars were unusually abundant in this region, 

 the genus Opliinra being represented by some half-dozen 

 species. The most abundant of these is the Ophinra citicrea 



' Professor Alexander Agassiz informs me that he has found large 

 Coiiiatuhe in shallow water at the Tortugas. Whether it is the same spe- 

 cies as ours or not I do not know. 



