388 E. DEICHMANN, I. LIEBERKIND, AND TH. MORTENSEN 
Through the kindness of Prof. HARTMEYER I have had an opportunity 
of examining MEISSNER’s type specimens and am, therefore, able to definitely 
ascertain that these specimens really belong to this species. Regarding DE 
LORIOL’s description of Ast. fernandenszs, see under the following species. 
Cosmasterias sp. 
Literature. 
1904. P. pe LorioLt: Notes pour servir a l’étude des Echinodermes. Seconde série. 
Fascicule II, p. 41. Planche III (6). Fig. 4—8. 
In the collection were found 3 specimens *°/3 1917 (K. BACKSTROM): 
MASATIERRA: 20—35 m, calcareous algae. 
R 2,5..mm.. 1% Capalves aaa 
R 5,5 mm. RK 4 mm. -R.3 mm_ jijeasaaee 
» 10—30 m, sand with calcareous algae, *'/4 1917. 
R 3. mm. (f.ca- seme 
The specimens entirely agree with the species described by DE LORIOL 
under the name Asz. fernandensts of which there are specimens, received from 
LORIOL, in the Copenhagen Museum. They are, however, quite different from 
the Ast. fernandensis of MEISSNER — as might already be seen on a careful 
comparison with MEISSNER’s description. In fact, I do not understand, what 
made LORIOL state as follows: »... il m’est absolument impossible de trouver 
la moindre différence entre ceux que M. MEISSNER a décrits et figurés et ceux 
que j'ai sous les yeux», since the »3 deutliche Reihen von Kranzen gekreuzter 
Pedicellarien umgebener Stachelen», so characteristic of Ast. fernandensis are 
quite indistinguishable in his figures as well as in the specimens which the 
Copenhagen Museum received from him. Very likely, however, LORIOL has 
been led to this identification through a comparison with what he might be- 
lieve to be typical specimens which he may perhaps have had from Berlin. 
I namely find, on examining the material of Ast. fernandenszs, identified by 
MEISSNER — all of which I have had for examination — that MEISSNER under 
the name Asterzas fernandensis has confounded two entirely different forms, 
viz. the form figured by him, to which the description applies, and which 
must, of course, remain the type of Ast. fernandensis — and another form 
which is identic with the one described and figured by LORIOL. 
As for deciding on a name for this form I should not venture on any 
definite opinion. Prof. W. K. FISHER, to whom I sent a specimen for exami- 
nation, kindly informs me that he thinks it a Cosmasterias, and a young form 
not having developed all its characteristic features. — I can fully adopt the 
view of the eminent specialist and shall, accordingly, designate it only as 
Cosmasterias sp. 
I beg to express my sincerest thanks to Prof. FISHER for his kind help. 
