OPHIURA TERES. 



ratus, lowest ami-spines, and under ann-plates, yellowish white 

 rest purphsh brown. 



the 



Variations. — The mouth-shields may differ somewhat in shape, and 

 the under arm-j^lates may be light bro^\^l. The radial shields are almost 

 always j^i^esenf, except in very large specimens. A small specimen had 

 a disk of 14'°"', and arms of 35°"°- ; there were seven or eight arm-spines ; 

 most of the upper arm-plates were broken in only two pieces ; the color 

 was very dark umber, with fine, sinuous black lines on the disk. 



This species at once strikes the eye by its short, rounded arms, cov- 

 ered above by a multitude of irregular pieces. It is distinguished from 

 0. j^anamensiSy by broken arm-plates, and proportionately shorter amis ; 

 from 0. variegata, by proportionately shorter arms, granulated side 

 mouth-shields, &:c. It most resembles the dark variety of 0. clnerea 

 (O. Antillarum Ltk.) of the West Indies, but differs in having shorter 

 and more rounded arms. 



LIST OF SPECIMENS. 



