28 On the Names or Existence of three Exotic Starfishes. 



any other part of Gray's paper. I cannot find that Gray at 

 any time described a species called Randasia^ Goniaster^ or 

 Goniodiscus gracilis^ or, indeed, ever gave the name gracilis 

 to any Asterid except a Dactylosaster (i. e. OpMdiaster) from 

 the west coast of Columbia. 



Prof. Perrier takes no notice of this species, if such it be, 

 in his well-known revision ; but in his Essay on the geogra- 

 phical distribution of starfishes (Nouv. Arch. Mus. i. (1878) 



\). 82) he writes : — '■ Goniodiscus gracilis^ Gray 



Moluques." On p. 24 he speaks of Pentagonaster gracilis^ 

 Gray (Moluques) (Philippines). Whether these two names 

 are meant to be synonyms I cannot of course say ; but the 

 latter name does not find a place in the systematic list. From 

 what I have already said it is clear I have no information to 

 give as to Pentagonaster gracilis, Gray. I have something 

 more than a suspicion that M. Perrier is here quoting Dr. von 

 Martens from memory. 



The only other author who speaks of Goniodiscus gracilis 

 is Mr. Sladen, who gives it in his list of known species at the 

 end of his * Challenger ' Report. But I understand that he 

 bases his citation on Prof. Perrier's list, and I may therefore 

 be content with merely mentioning his name, and ask why, 

 under the circumstances, Pentagonaster gracilis was not also 

 cited ? 



It may fairly be concluded that ^^Goniodiscus gracilis^ 

 Gray," is a species which Dr. J. E. Gray at any rate never 

 described, and 1 am inclined to think that the whole citation 

 is due to an error on the part of some copyist employed by 

 Dr. von Martens. For the present I would suggest that 

 "Goniodiscus gracilis, Gray," be the technical term for the 

 Sea- Serpent, for the one has as shadowy an existence as the 

 other. 



This suggestion is not made in a spirit of mere buffoonery ; 

 in the one case as the other we have assertions repeated 

 without discrimination or independent inquiry; this may be 

 pardoned, though it is not justifiable, in a penny-a-lining 

 paragraphist who is in want of a crust of bread, but it is 

 unpardonable and unjustifiable in any one who aspires to be 

 the author of a zoological monograph. 



Gymnasterias valvulata. 



Gymnasterias valvulata, Perrier, Arch. zool. exp. v. (1876), p. 97. 



The locality of the specimen described by Prof. Perrier is 

 Lord Hoioe's Island, and not Lord Hood^s Island, as stated in 

 the text; Lord Hood's Island is one of the Low Group, and 



