322 HAWAIIAN AND OTHER PACIFIC ECHINI. 



Mespilia. 



Agassiz and Desor, 1846. Ann. Sci. Nat., (3), VI, p. 357. 

 Type-species Echinus globulus Linne, 1758. Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 664. 



Little need be said of this well-known genus, which still contains only the 

 species on which it was based. It is true Yoshiwara (1897, Ann. Zool. Jap., I, 

 p. 58) has described a second species but his description applies perfectly well 

 to globulus except that he .says the spines are "longitudinally striated with orange 

 stripes and tipped with white." As he doubtless means tran.sversely banded with 

 orange, his name becomes a simple synonym of globulus.^ Some Samoan speci- 

 mens have the bare spaces on the test densely covered with globiferous pedi- 

 cellaria? but this condition seems to be unusual. In the M. C. Z. collection 

 are a number of specimens from Samoa, Fiji, the Caroline Islands, and the 

 Philippines, which differ strikingly from the ordinary globulus in the complete 

 absence of red from both test and spines. The primary spines are green banded 

 with blackish or with blackish and whitish. The largest specimen is 47 mm. 

 h. d. Though this form is not entitled to specific rank it is suggested that it be 

 known as Mespilia globulus variety pellocrica (ttcXXos = dark-colored + KpUos = 

 a circle). It is certainly not a geographical form, for typical globulus occur in 

 the same localities, with specimens of var. pellocrica. 



MiCROCYPHUS. 



Agassiz and Desor, 1846. Ann. Sci. Nat., (3), VI, p. 358. 

 Type-species, Microcyphus maculatm Agassiz and Desor, 1846, 1. c. 



Since Agassiz's references to this genus in 1841 are absolute nomina nuda 

 for both genus and species, the names cannot date back earlier than 1840. No 

 type has been dofinitoly given the genus since it was first published, but there 

 aj)poars to be no objection to adopting maculalus, the first species mentioned 

 by Agassiz. Mortensen (1904, Dan. Exp. Siam: Ech.) has added two species 

 to the genus as known to Aga^ssiz, but no other additions have been made.^ 



• Examination of Yoshiwara's type-specimen shows this conclusion to be correct. 



' Unfortunately Mortensen selected rlrgans as the name of one of his species, overlooking the fact 

 that a Mirrocyphu.'i cicgaus {= Tctuuoplcnrus hardwickii juv.) was described by A. Aga.ssiz in 1S63. 

 In place of dcgans, I would propose for Dr. Mortensen's species, the Greek equivalent (»co^i«//o9), 

 compsus. 



