OUR KNOWLEDGE OF NEW ZEALAND HOLOTHUEIANS. 99' 



1903. Cucumaria Filholi, R. Perrier, Bull. Mus. d'Hist. Nat. vol. ix. p. 144. 



1904. Cucumaria alha, var, Filholi, R. Perrier, Bull. Mus. d'Hist. Nat. vol. x. p, 367. 



1905. Cucumaria alba, R. Perrier, Ann. Sc. Nat., Zool. 9- ser. i. (1905) p. 85. 

 1905. Cucumaria Filholi, R. Perrier, Ann. Sc. Nat., Zool. 9^ ser. i. (1905) p. 88. 



Nine examples of this species were obtained by Mr. Henry Suter, in 

 Akaroa Harbour, at a depth o£ 4-8 fathoms. 



The specimens vary in size from 1"2 cms. long and 0"35 cm. broad up to 

 3'4 cms. long and 0*8 cm. broad. 



In all the specimens the two extremities are bent upwards, and, in addition, 

 the posterior end is drawn out into a more or less pronounced caudal 

 appendage. The arabulacral appendages are almost absent from the dorsal 

 surface and are not very numerous on other parts of the body. They are 

 concentrated towards the middle of the body, and here they show very little 

 definite arrangement. Towards the extremities they are almost confined 

 to the radii. 



We have examined the calcareous ring in three examples, and find that the 

 anterior processes of the radials have each a very narrow median cleft, giving 

 them a bifid appearance. The same is the case in one of the specimens from 

 Wellington Harbour previously studied by one of us. In none of these 

 specimens, however, are the anterior ends of the inter-radials split. 



We include Cucumaria FilJioli under the heading of C. alha, as we do not 

 think that Professor Perrier has adduced suflicient reasons for separating his 

 specimens from the latter species. It is true that he describes the presence 

 of a cleft in the anterior extremities of both radial and inter-radial plates ; 

 but we venture to doubt its existence in the latter, especially as a shallow 

 groove runs up the middle of this process and produces an illusion of 

 bifidity. Even if this cleft is present in Professor Perrier's examples, it 

 constitutes but a very slight distinction. The tail is stated to be larger in 

 C. FiUioli ; but our specimens vary so much in this character that we cannot 

 attach any specific importance to it, and it probably depends very much on 

 the state of contraction. Neither can we admit any specific difference in 

 the arrangement of the tube-feet, such as Perrier attempts to demonstrate. 

 The supposed differences in spiculation also appear to be trifling. 



CUCUMAEIA BEEVIDENTIS, Hutton, Sp. 



1872. Thyone brevidentis, Hutton, Cat. Echinoderm. N.Z. p. 16. 



1886. Thyone brevidentis, Th6el, Chall. Reports, vol. xiv. p. 141, 



1897. Colochirus calcarea, Dendy, Journ. Linn. Soc, Zool. vol. xxvi. p. 38. 



1897. Colochirus brevidentis, Dendy, Journ. Linn. Soc, Zool. vol. xxvi. p. 40. 



1898. Colochirus brevidentis, Ludwig, Hamburg. Magalliaen. Sammelreise, Holothurien, 



p. 30. 

 1898. Colochirus brevidentis, Ludwig, Zool. Jahrb., Suppl, iv. Part 2, p. 442. 

 1905. CucumaiHa brevidentis, R. Perrier, Ann. Sc. Nat., Zool. 9* s6r. i. (1905) p. 110. 



A large number of specimens of this animal were obtained from many 



