1 30 ON THE LITTORAL FAUNA OF N. E. AUSTRALIA, 



Properly speaking the Synaptidce are the only "lungless" 

 family of the Holutlmrm. Semper mentions two others,* the 

 Eupytgida and the Qncinolabidce, both containing only one genus 

 but all the species according to Theelf have lungs or the evidence 

 of the absence of these organs is doubtful. The definition of 

 Synapta according to the same author is as follows. Body more 

 or less vermiform, cylindrical, without feet or ambulacral areas 

 along the body, hermaphrodite, calcareous concretions in the skin 

 either wanting or forming anchors and wheels. 



I have been able to make some observations on the development 

 of the young of this species, but these and some other remarks on 

 this part of the reef fauna I must reserve for a future occasion. 



On every portion of the coral islands on the Barrier Opliiuridce 

 were very abundant. Their long arms might be seen protruding 

 from under almost every block of coral ; the bodies were generally 

 concealed. One species in particular with very long arms I took 

 tobeOphiocoma scolopendrina, Lam., Ophioglyfia Kinlergi, Ljungman 

 and 0. muUispina, are both Port Jackson forms, but I fancy allied 

 species are represented in the coral regions. Ophiolepis annulosa 

 is common, as also Ophiocoma erinaceus, Mull, and Tros., and 0. 

 lincolata, Mull, and Tros., who give it as 0. pica. I also saw 

 species which I referred to Opliiomastix annulosa, Mull, and Tros. 

 (p. 107) Ophiothrix longipeda, Lam., (Mull, and Tros. p. 113) 0. 

 nereidina, (Mull, and Tros. 115) Lamarck (p. 224, vol. 3, 2nd edit.) 

 Ophiocnemis marmorata, Lam., p. 223, and Mull, and Tros., p. 87. 

 Some of these identifications are doubtful and the whole of the 

 species noticed by me need revision, a work which I hope to effect 

 in detail hereafter. 



It is very curious to watch the manner in which these starfishes 

 ply their search for food. The long arms are extended from the 

 smallest possible holes or cracks from whence the cirrhi can be 



* Reisen in Arcliipel der Philipinea I. Holothuriea 1, p. 8. 

 f Holoth. desMers N. Zemble. Upsal 1877. 



