477 



ECHINODERMATA. 



ECHINODERMATA. 



478 



are numerous, but, that their distinction ia not yet sufficiently estab- 

 lished. He certain, for example, that four species have been con- 

 founded under the name of the Fringed Star (Asterie Frange'e). 

 On the other hand, he thinks that those of the last section may 

 have been too greatly multiplied. 



P. Species which are divided into a greater number of rays than 

 five or six (Solaste'ries). Examples, Asterias tenuispina ; A.endeca; 

 A. papposa. 



II. Asterophidians. 



Genera, Ophiura, Euryale. 



Opltiura. 



A. Species the spines of whose rays are very short, and applied 

 upon the latter. Example, Ophiura texturata, Lam. 



B. Species the spines of whose rays are long, and not applied upon 

 the latter. Example, Ophiura tquamata, Lam. [OPHIURA.] 



Euryale. 



A. Species whose rays dichotomise but little, and far from the root. 

 Example, Euryale palmifera, Lam. 



B. Species whose rays divide and dichotomise from the base. 

 Example, Euryale tcutata. [OPHIURA.] 



III. Asterencrinidians. 



1. Free Asterencrinidians. Example, Comatula. [COMATULA.] 



2. Fixed Asterencrinidians. 



Genera, Encrinut ; Phatocrinus ; Penlacrinus ; Apiocrinita ; 

 Poteriocrinita ; Agathocrinita ; Actinocrinites ; Rhodocrinitet ; Platy- 

 crinitei; Caryocrinitei ; Martupitet ; Pentremita. [ENCRINITES.] 



Agassiz also divides the Stellirideans into three families or principal 

 sections, but he gives them different names. 



1st. Asteriaus, consisting of those species which have for their 

 digestive organ a single orifice surrounded by suckers, but deprived 

 of teeth ; a madreporiform tubercle on the back between the two 

 posterior rays, and deep furrows occupied by many rows of pedicles, 

 going from the mouth to the extremity of the arms. 



2nd. Ophiurians, comprising those whose body forms a flattened 

 and distinct disc, to which are annexed more or less elongated or even 

 ramified rays, deprived of furrows on their lower surface. 



3rd. The Crinoidians, having two separate, but closely approxi- 

 mated orifices to the intestinal canal ; and being for the most part 

 fixed by the dorsal surface, by means of an articulated pedicle. 



Before w^uiimerate the genera into which this zoologist divide* 

 Asterius, we must notice the division of M. Nardo, who had previously 

 proposed the following: Stellaria (A. aranciaca A. calcitrapa) ; 

 SleUonii (A. rubau A.glacialit) ; Atterina (A.cxiyua A. minuta) ; 

 Aiueropoda (A. membranaceaA. rotacea); Linkia (A. Icfrigata A. 

 rarioiota). 



The following is the division of Agassi/. 



1. Asteriiu (Attropecten, Link; C'fenattcr, Llhuyd. ; Pentattei; BL ; 

 Sltltaria, Nardo). 



2. Ccelaiter, Ag., differing from the preceding in having the interior 

 cavity circumscribed by plates disposed like those of the Echini, at 

 the summit of which may be perceived a star with ambulacra. A 

 genus approaching the Crinoidians in its organisation, whilst its 

 general form is that of the true Star-Fishes. Example, only one 

 species, and that fossil, C. Couloni, Ag. 



3. Goniatter, Ag. (Scutaster or Platastcr, Bl.). Examples, Asteriat 

 tttttttata, Lam., A. equelrii, Linn. 



4. Ophidiruler, Ag. Example, A. ophidiana, Lam. 



5. Linkia, Xardo. Example, A. variolata, Lam. 



6. Slellitnia, Nardo, (Pentaster in part and Solaster in part, Bl.). 

 Examples, A. rubem ; A. glacialii ; A. endeca; A. pappota ; A. 

 Helianthus, Ac. 



7. Aittrina, Nardo (Aiterias, sect. C., Bl. ; Pentaceroi, Link). 

 Example, A. minut. 



8. Palm ipes, Link (Palmatttr, Bl. ; Anteropoda, Nardo). Example, 

 A . mcmbranactu. 



9. Culcita, Ag. (Ortiller, Bl.). Example, A . diicoidea. 



In 1840 Miiller of Berlin read his paper on the genera of Star- 

 FUhes to the Berlin Academy, in which the anus or anal pore in 

 employed as characteristic of family distinction. This aperture is 

 described aa present in all Star-Fishes, excepting Asteriat proper and 

 Hemichemit, which, according to Mr. Forbes, seems to be identical 

 with his previously established Luidia. " His genus Croaatter also," 

 says Mr. Forbes, " is my Solailer, published a year before. Several 

 generic names, previously adopted by Agassiz and Nardo, are wan- 

 tonly changed; thus Vratter is turned into Asterocanthium, and 

 Palmifiei into Atericui, with which he unites Asterina. In this 

 paper Miiller maintains that one of the five intermediate inferior 

 plates of the Opkivridai bears a madreporiform tubercle, or rather 

 corresponds to that body, a view which I am not inclined to adopt." 



With regard to Solailer, we have seen how long ago Solaste'rie was 

 used by De Blainville ; but the practice of wantonly changing names 

 is productive of so much confusion that it cannot be too strongly repro- 

 i ' it'-'l. Mr. Forbes admits, as all indeed must, that the generic charac- 

 ters in Miiller' papers are excellently drawn up ; and no difference 

 of opinion can exist as to the great general value of the memoir. 



The following arrangement is that of Dr. J. E. Gray, in the ' List of 



the Specimens of British Animals in the Collection of tlie British 



Museum." 



Centronix. 



1. Echinodermata. 



Class I. Dilremata. 

 Order I. Echinida. 

 Family 1. Cidaridce. 

 I. Cidaris. 



1. C.papillala. North Sea. 

 Family 2. Echinidce. 



I. Echinus. 



1. E. Flemingii. Falmouth. 



2. E. esculentus (E. sphcera, Forbes). lale of Arrau. 



3. E. miliaris. Isle of Man. 



4. E. lividus. Cork. 



II. Echinometra. 



1. E. Drabachemis (E, neylectus, Forbes). Shetland. 

 Family 3. Scutdlida;. 



I. Echinorachniue. 



1. E. placenta. Zetland. 



II. Echinocyamut. 



1. E. puaillus. Berwick-on-T n-Dod, and Arrau. 

 Family 4. Spatanyidce. 



I. Spatangus. 



1. purpureus. Irish Sea. 



II. Echinocardium. 



1. E. cordatut (Amphidotus cordatm, Forbes). Coast 

 of England. 



2. E. ovatum (Amphidotus roseus, Forbes). Coast of 

 Northumberland. 



III. Brittiopsu. 



1. B. lyrifera (Brians lyrifer, Forbes). Shetland. 

 Order II. Holothurida. 

 Family 1. Holothurida;. 



I. Thyone. 



1. T. futiu (T. papillosa, Forbas). Berwick Bay, 

 Ireland. 



2. T. Kaphanui. Ireland. 



II. Holothurid. 



1. H. nigra. Cornwall. 

 Family 2. Cuvieriadte. 



I. Piolus. 



1. P. phantoput. North Sea. 



II. Piolmut. 



1. P. brevis. Shetland. 

 Family 3. Pentactidce. 



I. Pentacla. 



1. P. frondosa, (Cucumaria frondosa, Forbes). Shet- 

 land. 



2. P.fiisiforinia(CucUfmanafusiformis,or\)es). Shet- 

 land. 



3. P. J/yndmanni (Gucitmarin Jfyndmanni, Forbes). 



4. P. lactea (Ocnus tacteiit, Forbes). 



5. P. pentactta (Cucumaria pentactes, Forbes). South 

 Coast of Devon. 



C. P. Montagui (Holothuria pentactes, Forbes). South 

 Devon. 



7. P. Neillii (Holothuria pentactes, Forbes). Frith of 

 Forth. 



8. P. dissimilis (Holothuria pentactea, Forbes). Leith. 



II. Thyronidium. 



1. T. pellucidum (Cucumaria hyalina, Forbes). Shet- 

 land. 



2. T. Drummondi (Cucumaria Drummondii, Forbes). 

 South Devon, and Falmouth. 



Family 4. Synaptida. 

 I. Synapta. 



1. S.inkerens(Chirodotadigitata,Forbeii). SouthDevon. 



2. S. Hensloviana, May be the young of the preceding. 

 Family 5. Sipunculida. 



I. Sipuncului. 



1. S. nudu (Syrinx nudui, Forbes). 



2. S. papilloiui (Syrinx papillosus, Forbes). Clare, 

 Ireland. 



3. S. macrorhyncho-pterus. 



4. S. Harveii (Syrinx Ha,neii, Forbes). Devonshire. 



5. S. Strombi (S. Bernhardm, Forbes). Devonshire. 

 U. S. Johnttoni (Sipuncului Johnstoni, Forbes). Ber- 

 wick. 



7. S. saccatus. Teignmouth. 



8. S. tenuicinctus. Ireland. 



9. S. Forbesii. Ireland. 



10. S. granulota, Houudstone Bay. 



II. Phascolosoma. 



1. P. Pallaiii (Sipunculua Pallas, Forbes). Coast of 

 Sussex. 



III. Priapulus. 



1. /'. caudatut. 



