280 MR. F. P. BEDFOBD ON MALAYAN ECHLNODERMS. [Mar. 20, 



by Agassiz in the ' Challenger ' species of the genus, is the condition 

 of the radial -water-vessels ; these, together with the nerves and 

 associated canals, are slung up from the body-wall by a narrow 

 mesenterial fold, so that the nervous system is farther removed 

 from its primitive epithelial position than, so far as I know, occurs 

 in any other Echinoid (see section figured). The division of the 

 nerve-trunk into a deeper and a superficial layer is very obvious 

 in sections, the deeper layer being swollen at intervals on each 

 side to form gauglia : this condition is quite unique among 

 Echinoids, the deeper nerve-layer being absent in the radii of all 

 forms hitherto investigated in which it is said to be confined to 

 the neighbourhood of the oral ring : its occurrence in the radii of 

 this species recalls the condition in Holothurians. 



In addition to adult examples, of which several were taken, two 

 young stages were obtained which I hope to describe in a later 

 communication in some detail, as they show some important 

 differences in the calycinal system, coronal plates, poison-organs, 

 pedicell arise, &e. I hope also to give a more detailed account of 

 the adult morphology than seemed advisable in a paper dealing 

 chiefly with systematic features. 



Adult examples seem to average about 83 mm. in diameter and 

 have a height of about 24 mm. ; they are thus smaller than the 

 allied species. 



4. Temnopleurtjs torettmaticus Ag. 



Temnopleuras toreumaticus Agassiz & Desor, Ann. Sci. Nat. 3 me 

 ser. Zool. t. vi. 1846, p. 360. 



References. Alexander Agassiz, Echini, pt. 3, 1873, p. 463. 

 J. E. Tenison- Woods, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. 8. W. vol. iv. 

 p. 159. 



Locality. Common between tide-marks and up to 5 fathoms on 

 the east of Singapore island; also common in from 1 to 3 fathoms 

 of water at Tanjong Kling near Malacca, and several young 

 specimens were dredged in 10 to 15 fathoms at C. Kachado. 



Habitat. At Singapore they are found on Zostera on mud. 



Distribution. Reported from the Indo-Pacific area between the 

 Gulf of Persia on the west and New Caledonia on the east ; it 

 extends also into North China, and is recorded from N.E. 

 Australia. 



The Malacca specimens differ strikingly from those found at 

 Singapore by reason of their much longer spines and somewhat 

 different coloration. In some specimens the general colour-effect 

 is a greenish grey, the spines being light-coloured with 6 to 12 

 dark transverse bands of the same tint, these bands are con- 

 spicuous towards the tip of each spine, but become gradually 

 fainter towards the base ; in other individuals the bands are 

 claret-coloured, giving a reddish hue to the entire animal. 

 Individuals do not seem to reach the same size as those recorded 

 from other localities. 



