Holothurians.^ SUBANTAROTIC ISLANDS OF NEW ZEALAND. 149 



not be present in the dorsal interambulacra ; that the calcareous ring is similar 

 to that figured by Semper for C. godeffroyi* which apparently consists of 5 radial 

 and 5 interradial pieces, none of them very strongly developed ; and that there 

 are usually 4 but sometimes only 3 Polian vesicles, showing that this character is 

 variable. 



As regards the calcareous ring, we cannot make a comparison with the type 

 of C. dubiosa, but in the Carnley Harbour specimen it appears to be considerably 

 less well developed than in Semper's type of C. leonina or in Ludwig's examples. 

 This is especially seen in the disappearance of the interradials. 



It is probable that in Semper's original type of C. dubiosa the ring was also 

 very feebly developed, or he would surely have mentioned its presence at least. In 

 any case, the difference, if any, can hardly be regarded as of specific value. 



While doubting the correctness of the locality — Singapore — given for the original 

 type of C leonina, Ludwig points out that the range of this typically antarctic species 

 is tolerably extensive, beginning west at Peru and Chili, embracing the southern 

 extremity of America, extending northwards on the east side of South America 

 to latitude's 34° S., and including the Falkland Islands.| Remy Perrier has also 

 recen' r-i-orded a large number of specimens from the neighbourhood of Cape 

 Horn, v> . le the species appears to be very common. % 



It is extremely interesting to find the species again at Carnley Harbour, in the 

 Auckland Islands. 



Cucumaria brevidentis (Hutton), var. carnleyensis, nov. 



(For synonymy of C. brevidentis, vide Dendy and Hindle, " Some Additions to our 

 Knowledge of the New Zealand Holothurians," Linn. Soc. Journ., Zool., 

 vol. xxx, p. 99, 1907.) 



Three specimens of this variety were sent to me for examination, but it must 

 be very common in Carnley Harbour, for Professor Benham writes to me about it 

 as follows : " The little Holothurian is, in life, bright crimson with whitish papillae ; 

 found at very low water (spring tide) ; it occurred in hundreds near our camp in 

 Carnley Harbour — to wit, on the rocks of Masked Island — pressing itself into 

 crevices, so as to assume all sorts of irregular forms, and looking like strawberries. 

 The vertical face of the dark rock on one side of the island was bespangled with 

 them." 



All three specimens reached me in a very contracted state, the tentacles being 

 quite invisible externally. The shape of the body (in spirit) is oval, and somewhat 

 depressed. The largest specimen is 26 mm. long and 12 mm. in greatest breadth. 

 A pinkish tinge was still visible in parts, especially on the dorsal surface, but the 

 integument was nearly bleached by the alcohol. The dorsal surface is covered with 

 irregularly scattered retracted papillae, less strongly developed in the mid-dorsal 

 interradius. The ventral surface bears numerous tube-feet arranged in several 



* " Reisen im Arcbipel der Philippinen," Holothurien, taf. xv, fig. 14. 

 t " Hamburger Magalhaensischen Sammelreise," p. 37. 



{ " Holothuries antarctiques," " Aimales des Sciences naturelles," Zool. et Pal., ser. ix, tome i, 

 p. 25, 1905. 



