1900.] ME. F. P. BEDFOED ON MALAYAN ECHINODEBMS. 297 



Locality. This species is fairly common on Pulo Rengkam 

 Singapore, between tide-marks on the reef ; it lives in company 

 with, and appears to have a mode of life similar to, the large 

 tropical species of Muelleria. 



Distribution. This variety has previously been recorded from 

 Amboina, Cerani Laut, and the Sandwich Islands. 



Unfortunately I have only examined one specimen with care, 

 so that I do not know whether the other recorded varieties of the 

 species also occur in the district. This specimen must certainly be 

 regarded as the 0. arenosa of Perrier : the pore-areas are not dis- 

 tinct from each other but tend to unite over the whole abactinal 

 surface, leaving small, distinct islands which are devoid of pores 

 and granular, the larger of these spaces being about the same size 

 as the madreporite ; they are devoid of large spines, thus differing 

 from typical arenosa and approaching C. coriacea M. & T. The 

 madreporite is an irregular oval structure, and is quite prominent, 

 being bordered with a few large blunt spines ; it measures 13 mm. 

 X 6*5 mm. 



Dr. Doederlein has shown that 0. novce-g uinece differs from the 

 Western species C. schrnideliana in the character of granulation 

 of the ventrolaterals, the larger granules not being divided up into 

 distinct groups corresponding to the subjacent plates in the former. 

 In the specimen now described this holds good, and parallel to the 

 ainbulacral furrow up to within a distance of about 7 mm. from 

 it the granules enlarge gradually up to the furrow, where they 

 form a conspicuous edging ; in the adambulacral armature there 

 are 3 to 6 furrow-spines (usually 5) on each plate, the outer row 

 being extremely irregular and poorly developed, over a large part 

 of the arms it seems to disappear completely. 



Dr. Sluiter has pointed out how impossible it is in this genus 

 to rely on shape for specific diagnosis ; and in this species, at any 

 rate, this character depends almost entirely on the mode of pre- 

 servation. During life, especially when left dry on the reef at low- 

 tide, the outline may alter considerably, aud, if placed on a flat 

 surface with the actinal side downwards, the upper side would 

 flatten out over the edge, so that the ainbulacral furrow would 

 appear confined to the lower side (cf. 0. acutisjjinosa Bell) ; also 

 when specimens are placed in a bash* and spirit is poured over 

 them, the lower surface (abactinal or actinal) will often accommodate 

 itself to the shape of the bottom of the vessel. 



H + r = 195 mm. 



14. PALMIPES EOSACEdS. 



Asteriscus rosaceus, Miiller & Troschel, System d. Ast. 1842, p. 40 

 Distribution. Japan and Bay of Bengal. 



Locality. One large and rather damaged specimen in 5 fathoms, 

 Singapore. 



This species, being the only 15-armed Asterinid, is easy to 

 it appears to be rare. 



R — 121-5 mm., r = 82 mm. 



