124 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. 



2. Asterias polyplax. 

 Perrier, p. 63. 



A small specimen with two long, two short and stout, and four 

 shorter and more delicate ai'ms. 

 Port Jackson, March 1881. 



3. Echinaster purpureus. 



Othilia purpurea, Gray, Ann, $ Mag. N. H. (1) vi. p. 282. 

 Echinaster fallax, Mull, 8f Trosch. Syst. Asterid. p. 23 ; Perrier, p. 106. 



While some have six and another five arms, not markedly differing 

 in length, another has one very long arm, with a madreporite on 

 either side of its base, and four shorter arms, of which one is very 

 much shorter than the rest ; it bears, however, indications of injury 

 and subsequent repair. 



Port Molle ; Port Denison ; Thursday Island, 4-6 fms. 



4. Metrodira subulata. 

 Gray, Ann, $ Mag. N. II. (1) vi. p. 282. 



Flinders, Clairmont ; Alert Island, 7 fms. 



5. Linckia laevigata. 

 Perrier, p. 137. 



A dried specimen still retains very well its blue coloration. 

 Clairmont Island. 



6. Linckia nodosa. 



Perrier, p. 153. 



There is not, I think, any doubt that the four specimens from the 

 Arafura Sea (32-36 fms.) and Prince of AY ales Channel (7 fms.) 

 are representatives of this species, of which Prof. Perrier has given 

 an admirable description ; the specimens, however, on which that 

 description is based bore no indication of any locality. 



The specimens are very much finer than those measured by 

 M. Perrier, B, being equal to 213, 118, and 104 millim., with r 23, 

 18, and 13. The disk with 18 millim. radius has apparently 

 received some injury ; but it may be that, in this species, there 

 is a difference in the sexes, and that the specimen in question is 

 in a different condition of generative maturity to the others ; it is 

 impossible, however, to settle the question, as the example has been 

 dried. 



