228 BULLETIN OF THE 



are very rich in species ; such are Ophioglypha, Arophiura, Ophiacantha, 

 and Ophiothrix, which contain two thirds as many species as do all the 

 remaining sixty-eight genera in the family. A peculiar structure does 

 not necessarily entail abundance of species, for the Astrophyton-like 

 Ophiurans (e. g. Ophiomyxa) have few species. 



There are included in this paper three unpublished species from the 

 dredgings of H. B. M. ship " Porcupine," — Ophiochiton tenuispinus, 

 Ophiomyxa serpentaria, and Ophiobyrsa hystricis ; and from the "Chal- 

 lenger " expedition there are one genus and three species whose originals 

 were found among the collections of the late Sir Wyville Thomson. 

 They are Ophiocopa spatula,, Ophiacantha scolopendrica, and Ophiomastus 

 texturatus. All the rest are from the " Blake " dredgings. 



The following list of species will show all new information as to the 

 depths at which they occur, and will give some notion of their fre- 

 quency, by the number of stations at which they are found. 



Ophiopaepale Goesiana. Up to 38 fathoms. 



Ophiozona nivea. From twenty-six stations, and in large numbers. Up to 

 50 fathoms. 



Ophiozona tessellata. From seventeen stations. 60-300 fathoms. 



Ophiozona impressa. Down to 300 fathoms. 



Ophiozona antillarum. Ten stations. 94-508 fathoms. 



Ophioglypha Sarsii. Found as far south as 35° 45' 30" X., and down to 306 

 fathoms. 



Ophioglypha lepida. Ten stations. 



Ophioglypha falcifera. Twelve stations. 200-508 fathoms. 



Ophioglypha variabilis. Twenty-six stations. Up to 175 fathom3. 



Ophiomusium eburneum. Twenty-two stations. 95-390 fathoms. 



Ophiomusium Lymani was dredged at only nine stations, but in such 

 quantities that Mr. Agassiz was forced to throw away a large part. These 

 hauls illustrate the abundance of animal life at great depths ; for the shal- 

 lowest station was 810 fathoms. 



Ophiomusium validum. The great number of stations (thirty-two) at which 

 it was dredged show its frequent occurrence, as well as its variation in 

 depth, now known to run from 60 to 1568 fathoms. 



Ophiomusium testudo. Sixteen stations. 69-5<>s fathoms. 



Ophiomusium planum. Up to 300 fathoms. 



Ophiomusium acuferum. This humble species, described by me in 1875 

 i'miii the "Hassler" dredsin^s. proves to be the mosl widely spread in 

 that fauna. It also inhabits very diverse depths, and must accom m odate 

 itself to temperatures varying from 78° to 39° Fab. Strangely enough, it 

 has not yet been round outside the West Indian limits. Thirty-I-. . 

 tions. 27-1080 fathoms. 



