BERMUDA ECHINODERMS. 409 



nize it in these handsome specimens from Bermuda. A close 

 examination, however, shows that the great difference in color is 

 only one of degree. Specimens from Jamaica are green with white 

 markings and with whitish or greenish spines, the latter being 

 often tipped with violet. Now in the Bermuda Toxopiienstcs, 

 \'iolct has become the predominant color, so that all trace of 

 green and white variegation has disappeared. The test has be- 

 come very dark and the spines are a bright purple violet. This 

 tendency towards violet coloration of spines has already been 

 mentioned in connection with the starfish, Asterias, and it is 

 also quite marked in one of the other sea-urchins, Ecliinonictra. 

 Specimens of this form from Jamaica are usually reddish-brown 

 of some shade but the spines are often greenish, tipped with 

 violet. Bermuda specimens show this violet coloration of the 

 spines much more plainly. It would be interesting to know 

 what may be the cause of this tendency toward violet among the 

 Bermuda echinoderms ; but I have no explanation to offer. 



There are only three species of Holothurians in the collection 

 but all of these are of considerable interest because of the light 

 which they throw on the " new" species described by Professor 

 Heilprin. Professor Bristol's students report that there are two 

 large species of SticJiopiis common at the Bermudas, and that 

 they are readily distinguishable from each other. This statement 

 agrees with Professor Heilprin's, who has described and figured 

 each of them as a new species. One of them is black and was 

 called vS". diaboli, but I am sorry to say that of this species there 

 is not a specimen in the collection before me. The other one 

 is less common, is markedly different in color, and was given 

 the name 6". xantJiouicla Heilprin. Of this species, I have two 

 specimens in hand, one of which agrees perfectly in color with 

 Professor Heilprin's description, while the other is much darker. 

 It needed but a glance to see that they are the common West 

 Indian form of SticJiopus, though what that form is to be called 

 it is not easy to decide. A more careful examination of the Ber- 

 muda specimens has shown that they agree in all particulars 

 with specimens from Jamaica. After a careful examination of 

 hundreds of specimens of SticJwpiis from Jamaica, both living 



