146 COLLECTIONS FltOM MELANESIA. 



26. Euryale aspera, Lamlc. 

 Lyman, p. 43. 



(a) One specimen, Port Molle, 12 fms. ; bottom, rock and sand : 

 of a dark black colour. 



(b) Several specimens, Port Curtis : all lighter in colour. 



HOLOTHUHOIDEA. 



A considerable number of specimens belonging to less than twenty 

 species were collected, Colochirus tuberculosus being extremely well 

 represented ; in tbe case of rarer or less well-known species, un- 

 fortunately, a single representative was often all that was obtained, 

 so that in some cases conclusions have been arrived at which cannot 

 be regarded as any thing more than provisional. Where a number 

 of specimens were collected, or where the species was already repre- 

 sented in the British Museum, evidence was frequently obtained as 

 to the wide extent of variation within the limits of apparent spe- 

 cies ; and this has especially made the work of discrimination an 

 anxious and difficult one. Other difficulties were presented by the 

 extreme density of the integument of some of the species and our 

 slight knowledge of the characters of the group. On the other 

 hand, the work of bibliographical research has been but slight, the 

 three moro important workers at the group (Professors Semper, 

 Selenka, and Ludwig*), having published works of remarkable ex- 

 actness and care. 



The arrangement followed is that of Prof. Semper. 



1. Synapta grisea. 



Semper, IIol. p. 11. 



The condition of the single specimen did pot admit of an anato- 

 mical investigation, so that the characters of the calcareous ring 

 were not discovered ; the form of the anchoring-plates is, however, 

 exactly that of the species described by Semper under this name. 

 That the species has a wide distribution would seem to be shown 

 by its presence in this collection, and by its being represented by a 

 specimen from the Indian Ocean in the Leyden Museum f. 



Fitzroy Island, Queensland. 



2. Cucumaria maculata. 

 Semper, Hoi. p. 47. 



Prom the external characters of the single specimen one would 

 hardly be led to associate it with this species ; but in the case of 



* Dr. Thecl's worfc does not seem to touch the present collection. 

 t See Ludwig, Notes Levd. Mus. iv. p. 128. 



