NO. 1555. HAWAIIAN HOLOTHURIANS—FISHER. 657 



and forms intermediate lietween the rods and plates are abundant. 

 The simple rods are commonly about 0.3 to 0.35 mm. long. The 

 processes along the sides may become more numerous and partially or 

 wholly join, forming a series of irregular porfoi'ations. Rods of this 

 sort are found intergrading with the small rods (see tig. '•2c). The 

 fenestrated plates, which are in the neighborhood of the terminal plate 

 of the pedicels, are formed simply by the branching and joining of the 

 lateral processes of the supporting rods. Theel does not mention these 

 plates, but the other deposits agree so well with his description that 1 

 l)elieve 1 have not erred in calling this form pervicajc. The small rods 

 are certainly ver}" characteristic. 



This is another widely distributed form. Theel summarizes the 

 disti'ihution as follows: Tahiti, Pelew Islands, Philippine Islands, 

 Hawaiian Islands, Sanioau Islands, Zanzil)ar, Mauritius, Ked Sea, 

 Australia. Bedford" considei's this form a variety of fuscocinerea, 

 which he believes includes also cufiosd and drprema. His specimens 

 were taken at Rotuma. 



HOLOTHURIA ATRA Jager. 



I 'late LXX, tigs. 2, 2a-,: 



Uoloiharia alra, Jacjek, De Holotliuriis, 183S, p. 22. 

 Body elongate, subcylindrical, capable of considerable extension, 

 tapering to a ))lunt posterior extremit}'. Mouth rather small, ventrallv 

 directed, surrounded l)}^ a not very conspicuous papillose collar. 

 Anus terminal. Tentacles of medium size, twenty in number, the 

 well-developed peltate crowns forming a double row. Pedicels of 

 ventral surface numerous and crowded. Papilhe of dorsal surface 

 rather prominent in life, slightly thicker than the pedicels and less 

 numerous, being more widely spaced. In alcoholic .specimens they 

 are often quite inconspicuous on account of contraction. Perisome 

 rather thick, tough, and of a leathery consistency. J)eposits: Tables 

 with a small annular disk, usually forming a simple ring with a 

 perforation at the base of each vertical spire support; spire termi- 

 nating in eight horizontal and four vertical, rather long teeth; a single 

 crossbeam to spire, situated slightly nearer disk than summit. In 

 addition to tables are small, usually incomplete, fenestrated plates, 

 often in the form of X-shaped bodies with the arms dichotomously 

 branched. The incomplete plates appear rather more numerous than 

 the fully developed ones. Color, a very dark brown, almost black. 

 Peristome and disks of pedicels, yellowish. Length of a large pre- 

 served specimen, 210 mm. ; thickness, about 55 mm. In life this 

 specimen would be capable of expanding to at least 300 mm. 



aProc. Zool. Soc, 1898, p. 837. 



