36 THE APODOUS HOLOTHUEIANS 



MOLPADIA OOLITICA Pourtales. 



There are three specimens of a Molpadia in the collection, which answer 

 admirably to Pourtales' description of oolitica, of which borealis Sars is al- 

 most certainly a synonym. It is 'probably true in this species, as in others, that 

 the older the specimen, the more elliptical bodies and the fewer tables it will 

 have. The specimens before me are all large, 100, 110, and 122 mm. in length, 

 and dark-colored; one is reddish with small gray patches; another is very dark 

 reddish, with very little gray, and the third is so dark a red it is almost black. 

 In all, the oral disc and the tail are almost white, as they are free from the 

 elliptical bodies which give the color to the body. There are apparently no 

 tables present. The three specimens were all taken by fishermen from Glouces- 

 ter, on the banks of Newfoundland. There is also in the collection a small 

 molpadid, labeled "Ankyroderma jeffreysii. Norway," which has at some time 

 been completely desiccated. It is impossible now to determine its identity, 

 but if it is correctly labeled it may be included here, as jeffreysii is very prob- 

 ably the young of oolitica. 



MOLPADIA PARVA (Theel). 



The thin-skinned molpadids from the Caribbean Sea, referred by Theel to 

 antarctica, and two varieties of arctica, are represented in the National Mu- 

 seum collection by nine specimens. While their relationship to arctica is ob- 

 vious, they seem to be clearly and constantly different, and I therefore adopt 

 for them the first of the varietal names suggested by Theel. I do not think, 

 however, that the variety c&rulea is sufficiently well marked or constant to 

 warrant its separation. 



1 specimen from "Albatross" Station 2106, lat. 37 41' 20" K, long. 73 3' 20" W., 



2,695 m. 

 8 specimens " " " 2144, lat. 9 49' N., long. 79 31' 30" W., 1,613 m. 



CAUDINA ARENATA (Gould). 



There are 3 specimens of this well-known species from off Cuttyhunk 

 Island (Mass.), in 33 m., the largest 50 mm. long. There are 173 specimens 

 of all sizes, labeled simply "Massachusetts Bay," and a single greatly con- 

 tracted specimen from "Fish Hawk" Station 1617. From "Albatross" Sta- 

 tion 3767, off the coast of Japan, 25-32 m., there is a completely desiccated 

 molpadid, the calcareous particles of which are exactly like those of arenata. 

 I am unable to avoid the suspicion that there is some mistake about the label. 

 If not, arenata or a very closely allied species occurs in Japanese waters. 



