26 PROF. A. DEFDT OIT THE 



Although I examined preparations o£ the integument, both 

 simply cleared with absolute alcohol and oil of cloves and after 

 boiling with caustic potash (2 per cent, solution), I could find 

 no spicules, nor could I find any pharyngeal skeleton. 



Possibly the spirit in which the specimen has lain for more 

 than twenty years may have contained some acid which has efiec- 

 tually removed all calcareous deposits. 



Synapta iKJEQUALis, Hutton. 



1872. Synapta insequalis, Hutton, Cat. Echinoderm. N.Z. p. 17. 



1886. Synapta insequalis, Theel, ' Challenger ' Holothurioidea, p. 32. 



The original description runs : — " Conical ; inflated anteriorly 

 and tapering behind; soft, minutely papillose; tentacles none? 



" Brownish grey. 



" Length I'O ; breadth at the anterior end '33. 



" Dermal plates anchor-shaped, with one fluke much longer 

 than the other." 



The type specimen in the Wellington Museum is in a perfectly 

 useless condition. It was nearly dry when I first saw it and 

 has apparently at some time been completel}' desiccated, so that 

 it now resembles a small fragment of brown, shrivelled leather. 

 As in the type of S. uncinata, the spicules have apparently all 

 been dissolved out. 



Chieodota DUiSEDiKENSis, Parker. (PI. 3. figs. 1-8.) 



1881. Chirodota dunedinensis, Parker, Trans. N. Z. Inst. vol. xiii, 

 p. 418. 



1886. ChirodeJ^ australiana, Theel, ' Challenger' Holothurioidea, p. 16. 



1 886. Chirodota dunedinensis, Theel, ' Challenger ' Holothurioidea^ 

 p. 34. 



The original description of the species runs : — " Tentacles ten^ 

 each with about ten processes, which increase in size pro- 

 gressively from the proximal to the distal end. Integument 

 quite smooth, there being no tentacles or papillae. Colour 

 yellowish (owing to the bright yellow A'iscera shining through 

 the translucent skin) with small crimson spots which disappear 

 ]n spirit ; tentacles whitish, with dark spots on the inner side at 

 the base ; these spots are unafiected by spirit. Length, in the 

 extended condition, about 4 cm. Otago harbour : littoral." 



This is supplemented by the following generic diagnosis : — 

 "Worm-like ; calcareous spicules in the form of wheels imbedded 



