ATI. AN T. DEEP-SEA EXPED. 1910. VOL. III.] 



9 



The posterior dorsal process was 20 mm. long and 

 situated at a distance of 16 mm. from the posterior ex- 

 tremity of the body. The two anterior dorsal processes 

 were 6 mm. long and situated at a distance of 21 mm. 

 from the anterior extremity of the body. The other 

 specimen was 83 mm, long. 



The ventral deposits were cruciform, as noted by 

 R. Perrier in his monograph of the holothurians of the 

 "Travailleur" and "Talisman" 1 ). There were besides 

 straight or curved deposits, as well as all transition-forms 

 between them and the cruciform ones. The most common 

 form of the dorsal deposits was that described by Perrier 

 (pi. 20, fig. 12). But there were also found more simple 

 cruciform deposits similar to those on the ventral surface. 



Euphronides auriculata is an east Atlantic species 

 taken by the "Travailleur" and "Talisman" off the west 

 coast of Marocco and the Canary Is. The "Challenger" 

 collected it off Gibraltar (stat. 5, 35° 47' N., 8° 23' W., 

 1995 m., temp. 3.1° Cel.); for, as Perrier correctly remarks, 

 the example of Euphronides depressa Theel 2 ) taken at 

 the lastnamed locality differs from the two specimens 

 found off Juan Fernandez (stat. 300, 33° 42' S., 78° 18' W., 

 2516 m.) and must therefore be referred to E. auriculata, 

 and this is moreover confirmed by the fact that the 

 "Michael Sars" found the last-named species in the same 

 waters in which the "Challenger" specimen was taken. 

 The horizontal distribution is from 27° 31' to 37° 47' N. 

 Bathymetrical range, 1918 to 2300 m. 



Benthodytes gigantea Verrill. 



Benthodytes gigantea Verrill, Am. Journ. Sci., ser. 3 vol. 28, 

 1884, p. 216. 



3 %. Stat. 70, 42 59' N., 51 15' W., 1101) m., temp. 3.7 Cel. 

 4 large and some very young specimens. 



The specimens were unfortunately so very badly 

 preserved, that it was impossible to give a good illustration 

 of this species of which only a sketchy drawing by 

 Verrill exists 3 ). I merely give an outline drawing of the 

 actinal surface showing the arrangement of its ambulacral 

 papillae (fig. 5), as this is not clearly seen in Verrill's figure. 

 It is unnecessary to give a detailed description of Ben- 

 thodytes gigantea, as Verrill's description is very exhaus- 

 tive. I shall therefore confine my remarks to the cal- 

 careous deposits, as they were not dealt with by Verrill. 



The body was scantily furnished with three-rayed 

 deposits, whose points were slightly branched or provided 

 with a small perforated plate (fig. 6). The deposits of the ten- 



!) Op. cit. p. 437, tab. 20, fig. 13. 



2 ) Theel, Challenger Holothurioidea 1, p. 93. 



3 ) Verrill, Res. Explor. "Albatross" 1883 (1885), pi. 10 fig. 31, 

 pi. 11 fig. 31 a, b. 



tacles, whose form may be best explained by the accom- 

 panying illustration (fig. 7), were comparatively more 

 numerous than those of the body. 



Fig. 5. Diagrammatic view of the actinal surface of Benthodytes gi- 

 gantea Verr., illustrating the arrangement of the tube-feet. 



The best preserved of the large specimens measured 

 298 mm. in length. Anterior breadth 84 mm., posterior 

 breadth 61 mm. According to Verrill this species gene- 

 rally attains a length of 250 to 300 mm., and a breadth 

 of 75 mm. It may however be as much as 475 mm. 

 long and 127 to 152 mm. broad. 



The very young specimens were 10—14 mm. long 

 end 4 — 5 mm. broad. 



Fig. 6. 



Calcareous deposits from the body of Benthodytes gigantea Verr. 



