REPORT OR" THE HOLOTHIJPIOIDEA, 
15 
Marenzeller, figured by me, but here and there plates are to be found which have the 
margin of the holes quite smooth. No miliary granules are visible. The anchors 
(PL I. fig. 11, «), generally broken off, have some serrations on the flukes, and their 
handle is provided with several processes, ^ength of the anchors about 0-54 mm. 
Length of the plates about 0’52 mm. 
Habitat. — Station 346, April 6, 1876 ; lat. 2° 42' S., long. 14° 41' W.; depth, 2350 
fathoms; bottom temperature, 34° '0 ; Globigerina ooze ; a small fragment. 
The discovery of this abyssal Synapta is of very great interest, proving that the 
representatives of this genus belong not to the shallow-water fauna only, and it is rather 
unexpected that no more striking differences exist between forms living under such 
various conditions. In fact, Synapta abyssicola bears the strongest resemblance to 
several shallow- wnter forms, and is distinguished by no marked peculiarity. The anchors 
have the form common to most of the Synaptidse occurring in shallow water, and the 
plates have the characters of those of Synapta distincta, v. Marenzeller, as well as of 
Syyiapta pseudo-digitata, Semper. 
Genus Chirodota, Eschscholtz, 1829. 
Chirodota purpurea, Lesson, 1830 (PI. II. fig. 1). 
Tentacles twelve, of equal size, each with about ten digitations, increasing in length 
towards the end of the tentacles, so that the two terminal are much longer than the 
remaining ones. There are also tentacles with as many as thirteen digitations. The 
thin integument is covered with minute dark pap ill se, and in some specimens the dorsal 
surface is provided with whitish tubercles containing wheels. Excepting series of minute, 
obtuse, unbranched rods (PI. II. fig. 1, h) along the muscular bands, there are only very 
scattered aggregations of wheels present. Diameter of the wheels (PI. II. fig. 1, a) 
from 0T4 mm. to 0T6 mm. Madrej)oric canal single. Polian vesicles of unequal size, 
and varying in number from eight to. sixteen. Calcareous ring consisting of twelve 
pieces, the five radial pieces being perforated for the nerves. Colour in alcohol, darker 
or lighter purplish-red. Length about 65 mm. or more. 
Habitat. — Station 316, February 3, 1876 ; lat. 51° 32' S., long. 58° 6' W. (Falkland 
Islands) ; depth, 4 to 5 fathoms ; mud ; numerous more or less macerated 
individuals. 
It is remarkable that the forms dredged at the Falkland Islands are devoid of any 
sigmoid deposits, while those found by the Challenger Expedition in the Strait of 
Magellan and at Kerguelen Island have, as a rule, such deposits. Therefore it seems to 
me far more credible that Holothuria purpurea of Lesson, which was also obtained at 
Falkland Islands (Soledad), is identical with the above described forms rather than with 
