E. CUKVISTELLATA. 217 



EUPLECTELLA CURVISTELLATA nov. sp. 

 Euplectelhi, Takeshita 19'. 



In the July nuiiiber, lOOO, of the Zoological Magaziue 

 (published by the Tokyij Zoological Society) appears a brief 

 notice by Mr. Takeshita, of the Kagoshima Middle Scliool, of 

 the discovery of EupledeUa sp. off the southern coast of the 

 Province of Satsraa in Kyiisliu. A specimen was obtained from 

 a fisherman in that district, where, it is said, Euplectella} are 

 often brought up from a depth of 70-100 hiro (say, 100-142 m.) 

 by the hooks of long-lines, sometimes to the number of three or 

 four at a single haul. 



At my request, the specimen was kindly sent to me for 

 examination, just in time to insert ils description in this work. 

 It was in a badly dilapidated condition but nearly entire, the 

 parts being sufficiently preserved to give a fairly good idea of 

 its original appearance. It may at once be stated that it most 

 closely resembles E. owcni, but differs from that species in its 

 peculiarly characterized oxyhexasters, which seem to sufficiently 

 justify its erection into a new and distinct species. I propose 

 to call it E. ciirristellata. However, with more materials at 

 hand, it may possibly turn out advisable to regard it as only a 

 variety of E. oireni. 



The body is IG-j mm. long. On restoring it from a collapsed 

 state to a tubular form it is found to be onh' perceptibly bent 

 and to be slio'htlv venlricose in the lower half. The 2;reatest 

 breadth measures 37 mm., against 30 mm. in the region of the cuff. 

 The manner of juncture of the body with the sausage-shaped 



