CRINOIDEA AND ECHINOIDEA 



15 



other species, both the cirri and arms being more slender and 

 liable to injury. Lieutenant Commander Sigsbee reported that 

 the colors of these pentacrini were light brown, white or yellow. 

 We saw none that were either white or yellow, all being of 

 some shade of light brown, usually with a purplish or violet 

 tinge, and sometimes approaching a flesh color. Bright yel- 

 low Comatul^e were fairly abundant, and white or nearly 

 white Comatulee were also secured at this place. It occurs to 

 me as possible that Lieutenant Commander Sigsbee may have 

 had these in mind when giving the colors of the pentacrini. 

 Several specimens lived some little time after coming on deck. 

 The P. decorus would gracefully expand its arms until they 

 assumed a reflexed attitude similar to that of P. mulleri. The 

 cirri were also moved about as if seeking support, and there 

 was some motion of the stem. We did not observe any inde- 

 pendent motion of the pinnules. A majority of the specimens 

 came on deck in good condition. Some were broken in the 

 operation of disentangling from the hemp strands, and a few, 

 not very many, were ruined by their noted proclivity to 'fly 

 all to pieces' when displeased." 



One of the most notable specimens taken on the Pentacrinus 

 grounds was a very small individual, the whole calyx and arms 

 only about 16 mm. high. This specimen was not sent to me 

 but there is little reason to doubt that it is a young P. decoriis. 

 Although this specimen "is of peculiar interest" as Professor 

 Nutting writes me, nothing has been published in regard to it 

 as far as I know. Professor Nutting adds, in his letter, ''Dr. 

 Alexander Agassiz upon seeing it, thought it was at that time 

 the youngest pentracrinus that had been secured. He made 

 some drawings of it and sent it to a German specialist for 

 study. I have seen no results of these studies neither have 

 Agassiz 's drawings appeared in print. This specimen we regard 

 as so valuable that I do not like to have it leave our hands." 



The list of stations where Isocrinus decorus was taken, as 

 shown by the specimens at hand, is as follows : 



Station 2. Cuba: off Havana, about 2% miles, 110 fms. 5 

 specimens. 



