AKTU'LE VIII.-ON A SMALL (X)L1.KCTI0N OF HOI.OTHIJRIANS 

 FROM THF AUCKLAND ISLANDS. 



By Arthur Dendy, D.Sc, F.R.S., Sec. Linn. Soc., Hon. Member of the New Zealand Institute, 

 Professor of Zoology in King's College (University of Loudon). 



PLATE VI. 



Although small, this collection is of very considerable interest from two points 

 of view. Of the three species obtained, two — Cucumaria leonina and C. hrevidentis 

 — occur also in the South American fauna, while the third — Chirodotn henhnmi — 

 affords useful evidence as to the supposed value of the wheel spicule for purposes 

 of classification. Cucumaria leonina has not been recorded before from the New 

 Zealand area ; C. hrevidentis, var. carnleyensis, is a variety of a very common New 

 Zealand species, and Chirodota henhami is evidently very nearly related to C. dunedin- 

 ensis, which occurs abundantly at Dunedin. 



I wish to express my indebtedness to my friend Professor Benham, F.R.S., by 

 whom all the specimens were collected, and who has undertaken to see this paper 

 through the press. 



Cucumaria leonina, Semper, var. 



1868. Cucumaria leonina. Semper, " Reisen im Archipel der Philippinen," Holo- 

 thurien, p. 53, pi. xv, fig. 9. 1868. Cucumaria duhiosa. Semper, op. cit., 

 p. 238, pi. xxxix, fig. 19. 1898. Cuoumaria leonina, Ludwig, " Hamburger 

 Magalhaensische Samraelreise," Holothurien, Hamburg, p. 36 (further 

 synonomy and references are given in this paper). 1905. Cucumaria 

 leonina, Remy Perrier, " Holothuries antarctiques," " Annales des Sciences 

 naturelles," Zool. et Pal., ser. ix, vol. i, p. 25. 



There are two small specimens in the collection, from Carnley Harbour, which 

 must be referred to this characteristically antarctic but variable species. They were 

 found under stones. The smaller of the two is somewhat damaged by rupture, and 

 the following description is taken entirely from the larger. 



The body (in spirit) is fusiform, the tentacles being entirely retracted. It is 

 truncated anteriorly and blunt behind ; slightly flexed, with the convexity of the 

 curve ventral. The length is 15 mm. and the transverse diameter in the middle 

 4 mm. The anus is posterior and terminal, surrounded by 5 small reticulate cal- 

 careous nodules (anal teeth) only recognisable under the microscope. The colour 

 in spirit is light grey. The tube-feet are arranged in 5 well-marked, irregularly 

 double, ambulacral bands ; rather more numerous and more prominent in the 3 

 ventral ambulacra than in the 2 dorsal ; especially prominent anteriorly, where the 



