Massy — The Bolothurioidea of the Coasts of Ireland. 65 



Thompson regarded L. digitata from Carrickfergvis as intermediate 

 between that species and L. inJiaerens, while Herapath recognized in it the 

 type of L. Thomsoni (p. 56). Kemp (1905, p. 177) found this species to be 

 much less common on the west coast of Ireland than Leptosyiut'pta inliaerens 

 (0. F. Miill.). It would seem from the above, however, to be distributed 

 round much of our coast. As regards var. ijrofundicola, no giant anchors 

 were observed in any of the specimens, and, as in the typical L. digitata from 

 shallow water, the anchors and plates are shorter in the anterior region : 

 thus, in the type specimen of var. profundicola, an anchor in the anterior 

 portion measures loO^u in length, and 124/a across the flukes. Another 

 anchor measures 190^ in length, and 124^ across flukes. A plate measures 

 165/x by 132/i. The posterior end shows anchors measuring from 242-313/*. 

 The plates are much narrower at the free end, and are a little, or much, 

 shorter than the anchor, which may extend ca. 60|U beyond plate. There is 

 no trace of a secondary network in any of the plates ; and all the specimens 

 in which tentacles are present agree with the shallow water examples in 

 having 12 tentacles with sensory buds. The purple colour characterizing the 

 Y&v. profwidicola seems to be very constant, and is still present in specimens 

 which have been preserved 6-14 years in alcohol. An exception to this 

 occurs in the specimen from station S.E. 1176, which is recorded in the log 

 as " deep purple, almost black," and is now sand colour, although it has only 

 been 7 years in alcohol. The plates were not quite like those usually present 

 in the variety, and seemed to be intermediate in shape and strength between 

 the broad solid plates of the shallow water form and the delicate, abruptly 

 narrowed plate of var. -profundicola. Plates of 154;x and 176^ in length 

 measured 124/x in width. Another plate of 126|U measured 132ju in 

 width. They usually possessed 6 or 7 large holes, with small ones 

 disposed more or less all round them. A long, narrow perforation and 

 some very small round ones were present in the handle. The anchors 

 measured from 190 to ca. 300|U in length, the shaft being twice as long as 

 the breadth across flukes. No giant anchors were observed. In the 

 specimens from shallow water, a Ballynakill example had anchors measuring 

 ca. 764^ by 350yu, across flukes with plates of 385/x. The small anchors of 

 the anterior region measure 143 to 154yu in length ; and the plate is but 

 little longer than broad, the length, including handle, being 166(U by 132/i 

 in breadth. The example fro n Valencia Harbour shows giant anchors of 

 816/x by 378yii across flukea. A plate measured 599;u by 330/x. The inside 

 of this specimen is missing ; but a ring of skin taken from the thicker, and 

 presumably anterior end, shows anchors of 165 to 302/i. The specimen from 

 the east coast had lost its tentacles, so that it cannot be ascertained if 



g2 



