io7 
ver > rnuch like tha.t of Stich. occidentalis Gray. The form of the colony is almost the same 
in both species, viz. “elongate, slender, distinctly tapering” in Stich. echinulata Br. and “loner 
very slender, and tapering” in Stich. occidentalis Gray. Both are i m. long or more. The 
number of longitudinal rows of spines is 9—10 in Stich. echinulata (while F. Cooper figures 
7 longitudinal rows for this species), and 6—10 in Stich. occidentalis , according to Brook’s 
figure. So the conformity of both species is too great and the differences are too small to 
keep them apart. Via Stich. occidentalis , Stich. echinulata is joined to Stich. gracilis Gray. 
The polyps of Stich. echinulata and occidentalis are unknown. — The polyps on the four 
colonies of Stichopatlies mdica Sch. are in a bad condition, so that only their uniserial arranp- 
ement is to be discerned. The diagnosis is: spiral colony, length of the spines ± 300 p, 5 — 7 
longitudinal rows, mutual distance of the spines 600 — 900 p. (measured in Schultze’s figure), 
conical, slightly distally inclined, sometimes different in length on opposite sides of the axis. 
On comparing this species with Stich. occidentalis and Stick, echinulata , we find, as far as 
some characters of the spines are concerned: 
Stick, indica Sch. length ot spines 300 p-j distance 1000 p. ; rows 5 — 7 
Stich. echinulata Br. „ „ ,,190 p; „ 750 p; „ 9—10 
Stich. occidentalis Gray „ „ „ 190 p. ; „ ± 575 p; „ (6—) 10. 
Tracing these data I am inclined to consider Stich. echinulata as a transition from 
Stick, indica towards Stick, occidentalis. — I he shape of the colony is in accordance with the 
spiral colony ol Stick, pourtalesi. In my opinion there are points of communication enough to 
join Stick, indica via these species to Stich. gracilis Gray. — J. Y. Johnson separated Stichopathes 
setacea Gray from Stichopathes gracilis (Gray) Brook with which it was joined by Brook, but 
on comparing the description of Johnson’s specimen with the following diagnosis there is no 
reason to keep them separated. Johnson’s remark that the specimen from the Canary Islands, 
described by Alcide d Orbigny, is either Stichopathes setacea or a young specimen of Stichopathes 
gracilis Gray demonstrates that the difference is clearly very slight. The polyps are unknown. 
The diagnosis of this latter species, after its combining with the discussed species, should be 
emendated as follows : 
Colony: sinuous or partly or entirely spiral, several meters long, with 
a basal diameter of a few mm.; slender, regularly tapering; sometimes 
g r o w i n g in groups. 
Spines: 5 —10 longitudinal rows (usually 6 — 7); length 75—220 p (usually 
± 200 p); mutual distance 300 — 1000 p (usually ± 900 p); triangular or conical, 
at right angles with the axis or slightly distally inclined; smooth or 
rough surface. 
Polyps: large and conspicuous, very long tentacles, swollen at their 
base (Pourtales, figs. 24, 25); well developed oral cone with transversally 
elongated mouth; proximal lateral tentacles predominate; interpolyp a r 
distance 2 mm. (variable). Tentacles may be shorter and more rip-id throuo-h 
preservation? (cf. Schultze’s PI. XIV, fig. 15 in 11). 
