126 



THREE CRUISES OF THE " BLAKE. 



which he had access in the various Euroi^ean museums, entirely 

 confirm and extend the conclusions to which he had previously 

 been led respecting the separation of Antedon and Actinometra 

 as distinct generic types. A glance at the skeleton is sufficient 

 to enable one to distinguish the genus. 



With another species of Comatula, in 450 fathoms, Pourtales 

 dredged off Cojima two mutilated specimens belonging to a type 



Fig. 418. — Actinometra pulchella. ^. 



of singular interest. This new Comatula may be considered as 

 a permanent larval form ; and it is not a little singular to find 

 larval characters persisting in recent Comatulse. For this re- 

 markable combination Carpenter has established a new genus, 

 which he proposes to call Atelecrinus. (See Fig. 416.) 



In conclusion, I may mention that many of the Comatulse ex- 

 amined were the hosts of Myzostomidse. These curious para- 

 sites have been fully described by Dr. von Graff, from the ma- 

 terial of the " Challenger " and " Blake." I give here figures 



