194 ME. H. rAEQTJHAE Olf NEW ZEALAIfD ECHHiTODEEMS. 



gives as a distinguishing character of the former " a pair of 

 specially localized pedicellariee at the base o£ the rays on the 

 abactinal surface " (' Challenger' Report, vol. xxx. p. 355). 



I have two specimens of A. vernicina from Port Jackson • 

 one of them exhibits no trace of these organs, and the other 

 has a pair of elongate excavate pedicellariae, with two much 

 depressed valves at the bases of three of the rays ; and the other 

 two rays have each but one of these organs. These pedicellarige 

 are present in A. imperiaUs ; but they are irregular in number, 

 size, and situation. Two of the rays have a pair of elongated 

 pedicellarise situated as those in A. vernicina ; but one of these 

 rays has also two smaller pedicellarise nearer the extremity, and 

 the other ray has one ; another ray has also two near the base, 

 but one is situated more distally than the other, and they are 

 not so elongate as those on the other rays ; and two rays 

 have each but one of these organs. These 'pedicellarias are more 

 prominent in this species than in the Australian form. 



The colour of A. imperiaUs is brilliant red, variegated on the 

 rays and actinal surface with yellow. 



A single example of this fine species was collected by Mr. Danby 

 at Haoul Island. 



Gkathastee eugosxjs, Kutton. (Plate 14. fig. 6.) 

 I have a very fine specimen of this rare species which was 

 collected at Nelson by Mr. Lukins. Pig. 6, Plate 14, shows 

 the form and character of the spines on the mouth-plates and 

 the two long spiniform glassy-tipped processes (keels), one on 

 each plate. The specimen is dry, and the spines are somewhat 

 displaced. 



AsTEOGOisriuM sp. 



In a pr-evious paper (Trans. N. Z. Inst. vol. xxvii. p. 200) I 

 gave reasons for believing that tlie form which Prof. Hutton 

 called ''Astroffonium pulchelliom, variety B," would probably 

 prove to be a distinct species. I have since been able to examine 

 a good series of this form, which I have compared with several 

 specimens of A. pulchellum ; and I find that the differences are 

 so well marked and so constant that I can come to no other con- 

 clusion than that it is distinct. 



The opinion of Dr. Dendy on the establishment of new species 

 is so good that I take the liberty of quoting it here. The italics 



