654 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. xxxii. 



HOLOTHURIA CINERASCENS (Brandt). 

 Plate LXVIII, figs. 1, la-f. 

 Sddiopus {fliiiiniorhirohi) cineniscens Brandt, Prodr., 1835, p. 51. 



General form robust, subcylindrical, dorsal and ventral surfaces 

 sharply diti'erentiated, the former with numerous papilhe, rather uni- 

 formly spaced, among- which some are larger than others; the latter 

 beset with crowded robust pedicels. Anterior end rather broad, the 

 20 tentacles being robust with large sul)globose crowns when fully 

 expanded. The mouth is turned slightly ventrad in life. Posterior 

 extremity of body very blunt; anus surrounded by papillte. Body 

 wall thick, fairly smooth to the touch. Deposits: Tables, somewhat 

 resembling those of //. «//v/, with a small annular disk (rarely a larger 

 perforated one) and a spire consisting of four rods, one crossbeam, 

 and a crown terminating in eight horizontal and four vertical promi- 

 nent teeth; numerous slightl}' curved rods, linely granulated, with the 

 tips frequentl}^ slightly branched. Color in life a reddish heliotrope 

 purple to brownish purple; in alcohol, a dull purplish brown, lighter 

 below. Length, about 160 mm. 



Localities. — Honolulu Reef (5), Hanalei, Kauai (1), Hilo, Hawaii (1), 

 Puako Bay, Hawaii (1). Eight specimens examined. Of these one is 

 a tritie doubtful on account of absence of calcareous deposits. 



There is no sign of an}^ regular arrangement among the pedicels. 

 The papilhv are unequal in size, some being somewhat longer and 

 more pointed than others, which are truncate; the latter, however, 

 may be simply contracted individuals. In one specimen the skin 

 between the papilhv is raised in tiny wartlike eminences, which give 

 the surface a roughened appearance. In a specimen killed with the 

 tentacles fully expanded, the latter are 10 mm. long, and the expanded 

 crowns are 6 to 10 mm. in diameter and almost "arborescent"' in 

 appearance. The collar surrounding tentacles is inconspicuous. 



Calcareous ring of the usual form. Polian vesicles six in specimen 

 dissected, two being larger than the rest; number reported to be very 

 variable. One madreporic canal is present, on right side of mesentery. 

 The Cuvierian organs are present in specimen examined. Longitu- 

 dinal nuiscle ])ands rather thin. Interior of body cavity 3'ellowish, 

 irregularl}' spotted with l)lack (alcoholic specimen). Left respirator}^ 

 tree in relation with rete mirabile of intestine. 



The rods are the most characteristic and conspicuous feature of the 

 calcareous deposits. They are ver}^ numerous both in the dorsal and 

 ventral perisome, and the supporting rods of the papillae and pedicels 

 are the same, but in the neighborhood of the tcrimal perforated plate 

 are smaller. Typicall}' the rods are simple, tinel}^ granulated, slightly 

 to considerably curved, with the extremities often branched, or with 



