MR. E. A. SMITH ON A NEW FORM OP OPHIUUID^. 335 



Description o? Jcantharachnamirabilis, a new Form of Opbiuridse. 

 By Edoae a. Smith, F.Z.S., Zoological Department, British 

 Museum. (Communicated by Dr. Mubie, F.L.S.) 

 [Eead March 1, 1877.] 

 (Plate XVIII.) 



The specimen upon wbich the following new subgenus is founded 

 was obtained by the British Museum many years ago (about the 

 year 1840) from Mr. Cuming, by whom it was collected at the Phi- 

 lippine Islands. To it is attached his label, which runs thus, " Isle 

 of Corregidor, Bay of Manilla, 7 fathoms — coarse sand and gravel." 

 This very remarkable species apparently partakes more of the 

 character of the genus Ophiomastix than of any other. The soft 

 skin covered with minute scales, the mouth-organs, and the cha- 

 racter of the arm-plates and upper series of spines agree precisely 

 with those of that genus ; but the absence of tentacle- scales is per- 

 haps sufficient to separate it subgenerically therefrom. 



Genus Ophiomastix, Muller Sf Troschel. 



Subgen. nov. Aoanthaeachna*. 



Discus cute molli, minute squamata, spinas paucas supra et 

 infra gerente, indutus ; scuta radialia nuda ; dentes, papillae den- 

 tales oralesque ut in Ophiocomidis ; squamse ambulacrales nullae ; 

 rimse genitales duse ; spinse brachiales supremse maximss irregu- 

 lariter positsa. 



Aoanthaeachna mieabilis, sp, nov. 



Discus subpentagonalis, in medio inter brachia sinuatus, cute 

 molli minute squamulata indutus; squamse ad marginem inter 

 scuta radialia imbricantes caeteris majores ; superficies supra et 

 infra spinis gracilibus paucis hie illic munita ; scuta radialia parva, 

 cuneiformia, longe distantia ; brachia quinque inferne plana, supra 

 convexa, diametrum disci octies paulo superantia ; scutella oralia 

 longiora quam latiora, ovalia, intus leviter acuminata; adoralia 

 triangularia lateribus concavis, margines oralium amplectentia, 

 intus inter se tangentia ; papillae orales crassse, octo ad quemque oris 

 angulum ; papillae dentales seriebus tribus, oralibus intimis similes ; 



dentes ? ; scuta brachialia inferiora fere aeque longa ac lata, 



heptagonalia, marginibus aboralibus medio in angulum levem pro- 



* uKavQa, a thorn, apaxvrj-i, a spider. The name was suggested from the 

 general appearance of a long thorny-legged spider. 



LINN. JOTJEN. — ZOOLOGY, VOL. XIII. 29 



