ECHINOIDEA. II. 



J 57 



such indifferent characters as a somewhat more compact test with a slight keel from the apex to the 

 anal system, a closer tuberculation and a slightly sharper peripetalous fascicle; characters which are 

 found in specimens coming from such distant localities as the Coast of Norway and the western 

 shore of Spain. The species has further been recorded from that region by Bell (Echinoidea of South 

 Africa, p. 175) and recently by Doderlein (Echinoidea d. deutsch. Tiefsee-Exp. p. 256), both authors 

 likewise regarding the Cape-specimens as specifically identical with the B. lyrifera from the Northern 

 Atlantic; Professor Doderlein, however, points out as differences between the two forms that in the 

 northern specimens the anterior end is considerably lower than the posterior, the odd interambulacrum 

 rising somewhat (kraftig), which is not the case in the Cape-form. Further the anterior petals are 

 straight in the northern form, whereas in the Cape-specimens the petals are slightly curved (but only 

 in the larger specimens). In the pedicellariae Doderlein finds no essential difference between the 

 two forms. 



Any further differences in the structure and the shape of the test between the Cape-specimens 

 and the northern form of Brissopsis lyrifera I have been unable to find by a brief examination of 

 the Challenger -specimens in the British Museum. In the pedicellariae, however, I find some small 

 differences. The globiferous pedicellariae often, though not always, show the peculiar feature of the 

 edge of the basal part of the valves being very irregular (PI. XVIII. Fig. 3);' the upper end of the 

 stalk is mostly irregular with a projection on one side (PI. XVIII. Fig. 23) ; otherwise they agree with 

 those of the northern form of lyrifera. The larger forms of tridentate pedicellariae do not show any 

 reliable differences from those of the northern form, whereas the second, smaller form differs rather 

 considerably from the corresponding form in the northern specimens (PI. XIX. Fig. 2, comp. with 

 PL XIX. Fig. 3), the outer part of the blade being more rounded and the lower part less narrowed. 

 The rostrate pedicellariae are also very like those of the northern form, only the quite small specimens 

 of this form (PI. XIX. Fig. 9) have the valves lower and broader than is generally the case in those 

 of the northern specimens. I have found no form corresponding to the simply leafshaped tridentate 

 pedicellariae of the northern specimens. Ophicephalous pedicellariae I have not found. In the triphyllous 

 pedicellarise and the spicules no differences are found between the Cape-specimens and those from 

 the northern seas. The differences in the shape of the test and the form of the petals pointed out 

 by Doderlein together with the differences in the pedicellariae shown here seem to me to justify 

 separating the Cape-specimens at least as a distinct variety, which I may name capensis n. var. But 

 I should not be surprised, if on a careful comparison of a larger material of the Cape-form with the 

 northern form the former should prove a distinct species. 



In the British Museum I have further examined a Challenger -specimen of Brissopsis lyri- 

 fera^ from Simon's Bay, which is, however, not this species. (There are two labels in the glass, one 

 with Br. lyrifera, the other with Br. luzonica, which seems to indicate that Agassiz was in doubt of 

 the right identification; nothing is, however, said thereof). The specimen is ca. i8 mm in length. 

 The labrum reaches to the suture between the first and second adjoining ambulacral plates. Only 

 two pairs of pores are included within the subanal fascicle, the first plate included being the 6th. 

 The anterior petals are scarcely longer than the posterior ones; they point almost directly out- 



1 In the valve figured here one of the terminal teeth is abnormally curved inwards. 



