14 Messrs. J. Wood-Mason and A. Alcock on 



Order C R Y P T O Z O N I A. 



Family Zoro aster idae. 



7. Zoroaster, Wyville Thomson. 



Twenty-three specimens of a species nearly resembling Z. 

 Ackleyi, Perrier, from ofiF the West-Indian Islands. Off the 

 west coast of the Andamans, 240 to 220 fathoms. Colours 

 brick-red. 



Family Echinasteridse. 



8. Plectaster, Sladen. 



We venture to include in this genus a remarkable crypto- 

 zone, reticulate form, characterized by the exceedingly wide- 

 meshed reticulation of the abactinal plates (which leave large 

 interspaces each of which is perforated by innumerable 

 papulje), by the groups of stout spinelets imbedded in mem- 

 brane Ijorne by the abactinal plates, and by the parallel, 

 biserial, palisade-like armature of the adambulacral plates. 

 In only one specimen, however, are the actinal intermediate 

 ])lates — -and in that one only a few of the plates — spinate. 

 Five specimens, from 240 to 220 fathoms, off the west coast 

 of the Andamans. Colours dark reddish brown. 



Family Pedicellasteridse. 



9. Pedicellaster, Sars. 



Two large specimens of a species characterized by very 

 numerous and very large forciplform pedicellariae, from 2i0 

 to 220 fathoms, in the same situation as the last. 



Class OPHIUROIDEA. 



Eight or nine species of Ophiuroidea were obtained during 

 the season. Of these six or seven species, numbering several 

 scores of individuals, were caught in the tangles on a clean 

 bottom of coarse coral-sand off the west coast ot the Anda- 

 mans (240 to 220 fathoms). A single specimen was taken 

 in the Laccadive Sea in 740 fathoms, bottom coral-mud ; and 

 off the Madras coast, from a muddy bottom in 1310 fathoms, 

 six small specimens of a form which is probably Ophiomastus 

 were obtained. 



In a group presenting so many technical difficulties we 



