138 COLLECIIOKS FEOM MELANESIA. 



stout, the penultimate one about twice as wide as those on either 

 side of it. 



The arms, which are not more than four times the diameter of 

 the disk, are very delicate at their tip, strongly carinated superiorly 

 on the proximal portion ; the upper arm-plates have pretty straight 

 oral and aboral edges, about twice and a half as wide as they 

 are long ; the lower arm-plates are encroached upon by the side 

 plates, which extend far towards the middle line ; near the disk 

 they are wider than long and hexagonal in form ; further out the 

 two lateral angles widen out, the sides gradually become straighter, 

 and a quadrangular replaces the hexagonal form ; towards the distal 

 end of the arm the ventral plates are longer than broad. Arm- 

 spines, near the disk, eight, the median longer than those above or 

 below them ; quite close to the disk they may be long enough to 

 extend to the edge of the next plate ; rapidly, however, they become 

 shorter, though they do not diminish either rapidly or notably in 

 number. Tentacle-scales two on the most proximal joints, one 

 beyond. A pore between the first and second arm-plates. 



Colour, in alcohol, brownish, with some blackish spots on the 

 disk ; these are also found on the arms ; three or four successive 

 plates often much darker than those in front of or behind them. 



Port MoUe (14 fms., rock) ; Port Curtis ; Port Denison ; Thursday 

 Island. 



Specimens of this species, bearing as locality " Indian Ocean," 

 have long been in the Museum. 



Specimens of what may be the young of this species were taken 

 in the Prince of Wales Channel. 



6. Ophiolepis annulosa. 



Lyman, p. 4. 

 Clairmont Island ; Port Darwiu. 



7. OpMoplocns imbricatns. 

 Lyman, p. 4. 



Port Darwin. 



8. Ophiactis savignii. 



Lyman, p. 14. 

 Port Jackson, 0-5 fms. 



9. Ophionereis duMa. 



Lyman, p. 25. 



Thursday Island; Albany Island; Prince of Wales Channel; 

 Torres Straits. 



