98 



perfectly simple.' oval, stemmed vesicles, in the interior of which the reddish yellow ova are 

 shining. Only nearer to the base of the arm, they exhibit in large specimens some few 

 short and broad lobes (fig. 20). The spermaries (fig. 21, 22) are more ramified, and look 

 like small bunches of grapes, with considerably smaller rounded lobes of a whitish color. 



The color of the body is in both species of Brisinga tolerably uniform; but the red 

 color of the dorsal side in the Br. endecacnemos, seems generally to be lighter or less in- 

 tense than in the Br. coronata. 



The remarkable difference in the occurrence of both species has been previously 

 noticed. On our coasts it appears to be quite constant. 



Br. endecacnemos was first discovered by Asbj0rnsen in the interior of the Har- 

 dangerfjord, where its occurrence is not so very rare in one locality (Hesthammer). It is 

 found here, as in every other place, only on a rocky bottom, on the steep incline from the. 

 outside deep (400 fathoms) towards the shore. Subsequently it has also been met with in 

 a few other places in the same fjord under similar circumstances. But on the other hand, 

 it was not known among us as occurring elsewhere than in the Hardangerfjord, until I found 

 it again some years ago at Flor0, 12 miles north of Bergen. The figures here given are 

 taken from the fine specimen then obtained. According to reports of the Atlantic expedi- 

 tions organised by the English government, it is found at least as far towards the south as 

 the west coast of Portugal, where several specimens were taken, partly at very considerable 

 depths, during the Porcupine's expedition under the guidance of Mr. Jeffreys. 



9. 



On the systematic position of the genus Brisinga, with remarks on the classification 



of the star-fishes in general. 



We have previously mentioned that the genus Brisinga, according to its whole orga- 

 nisation, is a genuine star-fish, and has nothing in common with the Ophiurse, which latter 

 must be considered as a diverging branch from the group of the Asteridse, wherein the course 

 of development has taken a very peculiar direction different from that of the star-fish now 

 living. In the general composition of the body, 'and especially in the extremely slight cen- 

 tralisation of the cormus, the Brisinga certainly occupies a rather indifferent position; and it 

 may in this respect be considered as more nearly agreeing with the ancient primitive forms 

 from which all the other echinoderms have sprung. But on the other hand, the organisation is 

 otherwise completely developed in the manner characteristic of the star-fishes; for which 



