MB. H. FAKQUHAE ON NEW ZEALAND ECHIN0DEEM8. 195 



are mine. " In distingaishiag species all characters are of use, 

 and a well-marked difference in any one character is, in my 

 opinion, a sufficient justification for a distinct specific name. 

 Tbis, of course, necessitates a good many specific names ; but it 

 is better to have too many than too few ; and so long as each 

 form is properly described, incre ise of species only adds to our 

 knowledge, while the merging of many forms under one name 

 makes hopeless confusion ; for the author who does so seldom 

 thinks it necessary to give an adequate description of each 

 variety ; and it then becomes impossible to sort them out and to 

 determine which is really the type of the species." (Trans. Roy. 

 See. Victoria, vol. iii. pt. 1, p. 44, 1891.) 



I have drawn up a description and figure of this species which 

 I withhold for the present, for it has occurred to me that this may 

 be Gray's species A. ahnormale, the habitat of which is unknown. 

 Unfortunately I have not seen Gray's description, but only the 

 name in Mr. Sladen's list of known species (' Challenger ' Report, 

 vol. XXX. p. 748). 



Mr. Lukins has sent me a very fine specimen from Nelson, in 

 which the plates on the dorsal surface are very prominent, almost 

 spherical. 



If this be not Gray's A. ahnormdle, I propose that it be called 

 Astrogonium Suttoni. 



Ophidiastee sp. 



The collection made by Mr. Danby at the Kermadecs contains 

 four specimens of an Ophidiaster which probably belong to one 

 of the following species : — 0. Germani, Perrier ; O. pusillus, 

 Miill. & Trosch., O. cylindricus, Lamarck. The two former species 

 occur at New Caledonia, and the latter at the Piji Islands. I 

 have not seen descriptions or figures of any of these, and I cannot 

 therefore identify my specimens. 



In the largest specimens E-— 120 mm. and?':=ll'5 mm. There 

 are seven regular longitudinal series of granular plates on the 

 rays, and a series of smaller ones on each side of the furrow out- 

 side the outer row of spinelets. The outer adambulacral spinelets 

 are very short, blunt, and slightly flattened, and those of the 

 inner or furrow series are similar, but much finer ; both series 

 are single. Those of the outer series are surrounded by granules. 



LINN. JOUEN. — ZOOLOGY, VOL. IXVI. 14 



