;li!|!l!i!i!!!i|!l|l{j!ji|ij!li| i i V HM;.. V f EEPOET Zot,l. ON THE ZOOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS MAJ)E IK THE INDO-PACIFIC OCEAN DtrRING THE VOYAGE or H.M.S. 'ALEET' * * t 1881-2. '^^^0^^ ' Vv ^ '^^ ^4.^]?D0NX. PlilNTED m^JQ^J)^.m^B:E TEUSTEES. 1884. AIBHJK T FLAM MAM. PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, RED WON COURT, FLEET STREET. ^•..:..J OO SIJMMAEY OF THE VOYAGE .... By Dr. E. W. Coppinger. MAMMALIA By 0. Thomas. AVES By R. B. Shabpe. REPTILIA, BATEACHIA, PISCES. By A. Guntheb. MOLLUSCA By E. A. Smith. ECHINODEEMATA By F. J. Bell. CEUSTACEA By E. J. Miers. COLEOPTEEA By C. 0. Waterhoitse. LEPIDOPTEEA By A. G. Butler. ALCYONAEIA AND SPONGIIDA. . By S. 0. Eidlet. G93 C a2 C. PREFACE, The zoological collections made during the Surveying-voyage of H.M.S. * Alert ' in the years 1878-82, under the command of Capt. Sir G. Nares and his successor Capt. J. Maclear, were presented by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to the Trustees of the British Museum. A narrative of the voyage has been given by Staff-Surgeon R. W. Coppinger, in his work ' Cruise of the ' Alert ' ' (London, 1883, 8vo). ^ The principal parts of the Survey, and consequently the Collections, fall into three distinct sections, viz. : — 1, that of the Southern extremity of the American continent; 2, that of the coasts of i^orth-eastern Australia and Torres Straits : and 3, that of the groups of Oceanic Islands in the Western Indian Ocean, situated between the Seychelles and Madagascar. The first of these collections has already been reported upon in Proo. Zool. Soc. 1881 ; but the two others surpass it so much in extent and importance as to be quite beyond the scope of a periodical publication, and therefore the Trustees considered it best that a full account of them should be prepared in the form of a separate work. With the exception of the 'Challenger' Expedition, none of the recent voyages has contributed so mixch to our knowledge of the Littoral Invertebrate Fauna of the Indo- Pacific Ocean as that of the ' Alert.' Irrespective of a iramber of specimens set aside as duplicates, not less than 3700, referable to 1300 species, were incorporated in the National Collection ; and VI PREFACE. of these more than one third (490) were new additions, if not to science, at any rate to the Museum. The hest thanks of zoologists are due to the Lords of the Admiralty, to the late Hydrographer, Capt. Sir F. Evans, K.C.B., and to the Commanders of the ' Alert,' from whom Dr. Coppinger received every encouragement in the prosecution of his zoological work. Finally, although the following pages are by themselves a lasting testimony to the great service rendered by Dr. Coppinger to the National Museum and to the cause of science, I must not allow this opportunity to pass without duly acknowledging the energy and skill with which he performed this work. The col- lections were made with singular judgment, the specimens (many of them most fragile and delicate) preserved, labelled, and packed with the greatest care ; and, beside, full lists wore prepared by him giving additional, and in many cases most valuable, information. When we bear in mind that all this work was done in the leisure hours which Dr. Coppinger could spare from his strictly official duties, we may be encouraged in the hope that on future occasions similar advantage will be taken of the opportunity which a voyage of Survey offers to q, man of science. The collections were worked out immediately after their arrival ; but the completion of this Eeport was considerably delayed by the removal of the Department from Bloomsbury to South Kensington. ALBEET GUNTHER, Keeper of the Department of Zoology^ British Museum, June 20, 1884. SYSTEMATIC INDEX. SUMMARY OF THE VOYAGE. By R. W. Coppinger. (page 1.) Part I. THE COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. MAMMALIA. By Oldfibld Thomas Page Skull of Torres-Straits Islander Skull of Torres-Straits Islander Cranium of Solomon Is- lander Craniimi of MallicoUo Is- lander Page 5. Cranium of MallicoUo Is- lander 8 6. Skull of Banks Islander . . 8 7. Skull of Banks Islander . . 9 8. Calvaria of Fijian 9 9. Cranium of Fijian 10 BIRDS. By R. Bowbler Sharpe, Cerchneis Lalage 1. cenchroides, V. 8f H. . . 11 11. leucomelsena, F. ^ S".. . 13 Ninox 12. tricolor, Swavos 13 2. peninsularis, Salvad. . . 11 Pseudogerygone Corvus 13. magniros<".'is, Gould . . 13 3. coronoides, V. ^ H. . . 12 MyiagTa Oriolus 14. latiroocris, Gotild 13 4. flavicinctus, King . . . . 12 15. nit'aa, Gould 14 Sphecotheres 16. I'abecula, Lath 14 5. flaviventris, Gould . , . . 12 17, concinna, Gould 14 Chibia ^ .iipidura 6. bracteata, Gould . 19 18. rufifrons, Lath 14 Grallina 19. tricolor, V. 14 7. picata, Lath . 12 Piezorhynchus Pinaro estes 20. nitidus, Gould 14 8. ruflgaster, Gould . 13 21. medius, sp. n 14 Graucalus Cisticola 9. hypoleucus, Gould . . . . 13 22. exilis, Vig. ^ H. 16 10. melanops, Lath . 13 SYSTEMATIC INDEX. Page Cracticus 23. Bigrignlaris, Gould .... 15 Pacliycepliala 24. melauura, Gould 15 25. rufiventris, Lath 17 Cinnyi'is 26. frenata, Miill. 17 Myzomela 27. obscura, Gotild 17 Zosterops 28. albiventer, Reichenh. .... 17 29. lutea, Gmdd 18 Manorliina 30. garmla, Lath 18 Stigmatops 31. ociilaris, Gould 18 32. subocularis, Gould 18 Ptilotis 33. notata, Gould 19 34. lewinii, Sioains 20 35. fasciogularis, Gould .... 20 36. flava, Gould 20 37. unicolor, Gould 20 Pbilemon 38. argenticeps, Gould .... 20 39. buceroides, Swains 20 40. citreogularis, Gould .... 20 Dicseum 41. birundinaceum, Shaw . . 21 Petrocbelidon 42. nigricaus, V. 21 Donacicola 43. castaneotlioras, Gould . . 21 Ai'tamus 44. leucorliynchus, L 21 Pitta 45. simillima, Gould 21 Merops 46. ornatus, Lath 21 Dacelo 47. gigas, Bodd. 21 48. leachii, Vig. ^ H. 21 Halcyon 49. sanctus, V{(j. ^ H. 24 50. inacleayi, J. ^ S. 24 51. sordidus, Goidd 24 Page Centropus 52. phasiauus, Lath 25 Cacatua 53. galerita, Lath 25 Trichoglossus 54. novfe hoUandife, Gm. . . 25 55. cblorolepidotus, Kuhl . . 25 Macropygia 56. phasianella, Temm 25 Geopelia 57. bumeralis, Temm 25 58. tranquilla, Gould 25 Ptilopus 59. swainsoni, Gould 25 Megapodius 60. duperreyi, Less 26 Rallus 61. pbilippensis, L 26 Poipbyrio 62. melanonotus, Temm 26 ^sacus 63. magnirostris, Geoffr 26 Hfenaatopiis 04. longirostris, F. ....... . 27 ^gialitis 65. mongolicus, Pall. 27 Cbaradrius 66. Mvus, Gm 27 Totanus 67. incanus, Gm 27 Larus 68. uovse hollandife, Steph. . . 27 Anous 69. stolidus, L 27 Sterna 70. bergii, Licht 27 71. dougalli, Mont 28 72. caspia, Pall 28 73. ansestbeta, Scop 28 Nycticorax 74. caledonicus, Lath 28 Demiegretta 75. sacra, Gm 28 Butoroides 76. javauica, Ilorsf. 28 Microcarbo 77. melanoleucus, V. 28 REPTILIA, BATRACHIA, AND PISCES. By Albert Gunther. Obelonia viridis 29 Varanus gouldii, Gray 29 timorensis, Gray 29 prasiuus,';_-MM//. 29 Lialis burtonii, Gray 29 Gyinuodactylus platurus, Shatv 29 Diemeuia torquata, Gthr 29 SYSTEMATIC INDEX. IX Page Hyla caeriilea, White 29 | Hyla dolichopsis, Cope 29 Trachynotus coppingeri, sp. n. 29 Syngnathus trachypoma, sp. n 30 Doryichthys aeiialis, sp. n. . . 30 Branchiostoma elongatum, Sundev 31 Branchiostoma bassanum,sp.n. 31 belcheri, Gray 32 caribseum, Sundev 32 lanceolatum, Pcdl 32 cultellum, Ptrs 32 MOLLUSCA. By Edgar A. Smith. Cephalopoda. Octopus 1. polyzenia, Gray 34 2. teuebricus, sp. n 35 3. maculosus, Hoyle 36 Gastropoda. Conus 1. lizardensis, Crosse .... 36 2. aculeiibrmis, Reeve .... 36 Terebra 3. exigua, Desk 37 Pleurotoma 4. torresiana, sp. b 37 5. laterculata, Sow 38 6. spiirca, Hinds 39 7. gi'acilenta, Reeve, var. . . 39 8. axis, Reeve 40 9. araf urensis, sp. n 40 Cytbara 10. cylindrica, Reeve, var. . . 41 Mm-ex 11. tenuispira, Lam 42 12. coppingeri, sp. n 42 13. acanthostephes, Watson 43 14. macgillivrayi, Dohrn . . 44 15. axicornis, Lam 44 10. cervicornis, Lam 45 17. territus, Reeve 45 18. monodon, Soto 46 Fusus 19. hanleyi, Anyas 46 20. heptagonalis, Reeve .... 46 21. cereus, sp. n 46 Urosalpinx 22. contracta, Reeve 47 Tritonidea 23. curtisiaua, sp. n 47 Columbella 24. fulgurans, Lam 47 25. scripta, Lam 48 26. pardalina, Latn 48 Nassa 27. coronata, Rrug 48 28. tbersites, Rrzty 48 29. algida, Reeve, var 48 30. uuicolor, Kiener 48 31. sutiu'alis, Adams, var.. . 49 Pbos 32. scalaroides, Adams .... 49 33. seuticosus, L., var 50 Purpura 34. bituberciilaris,A7eMer,var. 50 35. amygdala, Kiener .... 51 Sistrum 36. uudatum, var., Reeve . . 51 37. tuberculatum, Blainv. . . 52 Latirus 38. angustus, sp. n 52 Tm'bineUa 39. armigera, Adams 53 40. spinosa, Adatns 54 Mitra 41. proscissa, Reeve, var. . . 54 42. peasei, Dohrn 55 43. corrugata, Lam 55 Voluta 44. volva, Reeve, var 56 Ranella 45. rana, L 56 46. pulchella, Forbes 56 Natica 47. plumbea, Larn 57 48. limpida, sp. n 57 49. coliinmaris, Rccliiz .... 57 50. cumingiana, Recliiz .... 58 Eulima 51. martinii, Adams, var. . . 58 Strombus 52. campbeUi, Gray 58 TerebeUum 53. subulatum, Lam 59 Cyprsea 54. arabica, L .0!) 55. lynx, i 59 56. annulus, L 59 SYSTEMATIC rNDEX. Page 57. errones, L 59 58. walkeri, Ch-ay 59 Ovula 59. angasi, Adams 59 Littorina 60. scabra, L 60 61. filosa, Sotv, 60 62. mauritiaiia, Lam., var. diemenensis 60 Risella 63. lutea, Qtfoy ^' Gaim. . . 61 Rissoina 64. clathrata, Adams 62 65. cui'tisi, sp. n 63 Cerithium 66. morus, Lam 63 67. nigro-balteatum, sp. n. . 65 68. torresi, sp. n 66 69. macrostoma, Hinds .... 66 70. fasciatum, Brug 67 71. vertagus, L 67 72. kochi, PhU 67 73. granosum, Soiv 68 74. novse-liollandise, Adams 68 Lampania 75. australis, Q. Sf G 68 Pyrazus 76. sulcatus, Lorn 68 Telescopium 77. fuscum, Schum 68 Siliquaria 78. anguina, L 68 79. ponderosa, Morch .... 68 Narica 80. cancellata, Chemn 68 Nerita 81. clirysostoma, Recluz . . 69 82. melanotragus, sp. n 09 83. costata, Chemn 70 84. lineata, Chemn 70 85. squamulata, Le Gillon. . 70 86. signata, Mackay 70 Turbo 87. concinnus, Phil 70 Trocbus 88. coronata, Adams 71 89. speciosa, Adams 71 90. decoratus, Phil 72 91. rubropimctatus, Adrms. 72 92. torresi, sp. n 72 93. lifupnus, Fischer 73 94. labio, L 74 95. zebra, Menke 74 96. elisus, Gould 74 97. atratus, Gm 74 Page Bankivia 98. picturata, Adams 75 StomateUa 99. cancellata, Ej'auss .... 76 Stomatia 100. rubra, Lam 76 Haliotis 101. asinina, L 77 Dentalium 102. javanum, Soxo 77 Scutus 103. unguis, L 77 Fissurella 104. jukesii. Reeve 77 105. singaporensis, Reeve . . 77 106. quadriradiata, Reeve . . 78 Chiton 107. jugosus, Gould 78 108. curtisianus, sp. n 78 109. adelaidensis, Reeve .... 79 110. antiquus. Reeve 79 111. coppingeri, sp. u 80 112. spiniger, So2v 81 113. incanus, Goidd 81 114. incisus, So2v 82 115. costatus, Adams 83 116. asbestoides, sp. n 83 117. fortiliratus, Reeve 84 118. striatus, Lani 84 119. burrowi, sp. n 85 Tornatella 120. soUdula, Z 86 Cylicbna 121. aracMs, Q. ^ G 86 Atys 122. naucum, L 86 Haminea 123. cuticulifera, Smith .... 87 Akera 124. soliita, sp. n 87 Doridium 125. marmoratum, sp. n 87 Pleurobranchus 126. angasi, sp. n 88 Dolabella 127. rumpbii, Ctw 89 Aplysia 128. sparsinotata, sp. n 89 129. piperata, sp. n 89 130. denisoni, sp. n 89 Stylocbeilus 131. sp 90 Mianiira 132. nobilis, Bergh 90 Ceratosoma 133. tenue, Abraham 90 SYSTEMATIC INDEX. Doris 134. iufi-apicta, sp. n 91 Plocamophorus 135. insignis, sp. n 91 Boruella 13G. digitata, Ad. ^ Reeve . . 93 Oncidium 137. punctatiim ?, Q.^G... 92 CONCHIFERA. Teredo 1. antarctica ?, Hutton .... 93 Saxicava 2. arctica, L 93 "Venus 3. lamellaris, Schum 93 4. toreuma, Gould 93 5. torresiaua, sp. n 94 6. giadstoueusis, Angus . . 94 7. snbuodulosa, Hanley . . 94 Cytherea 8. coxeni, sp. n 95 9. albina, Lat7i 95 Dosinia 10. Mstrio, (rm.jvar. alba . . 9G 11. deshayesii, Adams .... 96 Circe 12. pectinata, L 96 13. australis, Sotv 96 14. castrensis, L 96 Tapes 15. hiantiua, Lam 96 16. malabarica, C'hemn 97 17. variegata, Soio 97 18. araneosa, Phil 97 19. textrLx, Chemn 97 "Venerupis 20. crenata, Lam 97 Trapezium 21. vellicatum, J2eeve, var. . . 97 Petricola 22. lapicida, Chemn 98 Psammobia 23. modesta, Desk 98 24. gracilenta, sp. n 98 Tellina 25. semen, Hanley 99 Syndosmya 26. elliptica, Soio 99 Mactra 27. eximia, Eeevc 100 28. producta, Angas, var. . . 100 29. coppingeri, sp. n 101 Mactrinula 30. angulifera, Desk 101 Pagp Cardium 31. reevianum, Dunker .... 101 32. hystrix, Heeve 101 33. sp. juii 102 34. maculosum, Wood, var. . 102 35. multispinosum, Sow. . . 102 36. unedo, L 103 Ohama 37. divaricata, Reeve 102 38. pulchella, Reeve 102 Corbula 39. tunicata, Hinds 103 40. fortisulcata, (S^niY/i .... 103 41. scaphoides, Reeve 103 Lucina 42. ornata, Reeve 103 Diplodonta 43. subcrassa, sp. n 104 44. sublateralis, sp. n 104 Kellia 45. jacksoniana, sp. n 105 Scintilla 46. cuvieri, Desh 105 47. aurantiaca, Desh 106 48. alberti, sp. n 107 Crassatella 49. pulchra, Reeve 107 Modiola 50. sp. . . . 108 51. glaberrima, Dunker . . 108 Modiolaria 52. miranda, sp. n 108 53. varicosa, Gould 109 Litbodomus 54. teres, Phil 109 Area 55. navicularis, Bruff 109 56. imbricata, Brug 110 57. lima, Reeve 110 58. tenebrica, Reeve 110 59. symmetrica, Reeve .... Ill 60. tortuosa, L Ill Leda 61. darwini, sp. n Ill Malleus 62. legumeu, Reeve 112 Avicula 63. lata, Grarj 112 64. rufa, Dunker 1 13 65. smaragdina. Reeve .... 113 66. zebra, Reeve 113 Melina 67. cumingii, Reeve 113 Crenatula 68. nigrina. Lam 113 xu SYSTEMATIC riTDEX. Spondylus 69. multisetosus, Reeve .... 114 70. victorife, Soto 114 Pecten 71. leopardus, Reeve 114 72. singaporinus, Sow 116 73. dringi, Reeve 115 74. funebris, Reeve 116 Page Amussium 75. pleuronectes 116 Lima 76. fragilis, Chemn 116 Placuna 77. lobata, Sow., var 116 ECHINODERMATA. By F. Jeffrey Bell. ECHINOIDEA. Phyllacanthus 1. anuulifera, Lmnk 118 Diadema 2. setosum, Gray 118 Salmacis 3. bicolor, Af/ns 118 4. sulcata, A(/as 118 5. alexandri, Affas 118 Temnopleurus 6. toreumaticus, iesA;e . . . . 119 7. granulosus, Gray 119 8. bothryoides, Ayas 119 Echinus 9. angulosus, Leske 121 10. damleyensis, Woods . . 121 Tripneustes 11. angulosus, Leske 121 Strongylocentrotus 12. erythrogranimus, Val. . . 121 Echinometra 13. lucunter, Leske 122 Fibularia 14. volva, Agas 122 Olypeaster 15. bumilis, Leske 122 Laganum 16. depressum, Ar/as 122 17. decagouale, Less 122 Echiuoneus 18. cyclostomus, Leske .... 123 Maretia 19. planulata, Lamk 123 Lovenia 20. elongata, Gray 123 Breynia 21. australasise, Leach .... 123 Echinocardium 22. australe, Gray 123 ASTEROIDEA. Asterias 1. calamaria, Gray 123 2. polyplax, M. Sf Tr. . ... 124 Ecbinaster 3. purpureus, Gray . . . . .. 124 Metrodira 4. subulata, Gray ... 124 Linckia 5. laevigata, Lamk. . . . . .. 124 6. nodosa, Perrier . . . . .. 124 7. marmorata, Mich. . ... 125 8. pauciforis, Martens. . . .. 126 9. megaloplax, sp. n. . . .. 126 10. sp ... 127 Antbenea 11. flavescens, Gray . . . . .. 127 Oreaster 12. gracilis, Ltk ... 127 13. nodosus, L . .. 128 14. sp . .. 128 SteUaster 15. belcberi, Gray ... 128 16. incei, Gray ... 128 Pentagonaster 17. coppingeri, sp. n. . . . ... 128 18. validus, sp. n ... 129 Dorigona 19. longimana, Mobms . ... 130 Asterina 20. belcberi, Perrier . . . ... 131 21. calcar. Gray ... 131 22. cepbeus, M. 8^ Tr. . ... 131 23. gunnii, Graif ... 131 24. regularis, Verrill . . . ... 131 25. brevis, Perrier ... 131 Patiria 26. craasa, Gray ... 131 Luidia 27. sp ... 132 Astropecten 28. coppingeri, sp. n. . . . ... 132 29. polyacantbus, M. Sf Tr. 133 Arcbaster 30. typicus, M. ^ Tr. . ... 133 Retaster 31. insignis, Sladen ... 133 SYSTEMATIC INDEX, xm Ophiuboidea. Pectinura 1. gorgonia, M.^ Tr 134 2. mfernalis, M. ^ Tr. . . 134 3. megaloplax, sp. n 134 Ophiopinax, u. g. 4. stellatus, Ljn 136 Ophiopeza 5. conjungens, sp. n 137 Ophiolepis 6. aunulosa, M. 8f Tr 138 Ophioplocus 7. imbricatus, M. ^ Tr. . . 138 Ophiactis 8. savignii, M. i^ Tr 138 OpMonereis 9. dubia, M. ^- Tr 138 Opbiocoma 10. brevipes, Peters 139 11. scolopendriua, A(/as. . . 140 Opbiarthrum 12. elegans, Peters 140 Opbiothrix 13. fumaria, M. ^ Tr 140 14. csespitosa, Lyman .... 141 15. martensi, Lyman 141 16. striolata, Grube 142 17. galateae, Ltk 142 18. ciliaris, 3L ^ Tr 142 19. rotata, Martens 142 20. punctolimbata, Martens. 143 21. longipeda, M. ^- Tr. . . 143 22. mici'oplax, sp. u 143 23. darwini, sp. n 144 24. melanograuima, sp. n. . . 145 25. cacaotica, Lyman 145 Euryale 26. aspera, Lamk 146 HOLOTHUROIDEA. Synapta 1. grisea, SenijJer 146 Cucumaria 2. maculata, Semper 146 3. semperi, sp. n 147 Ocnus 4. sp 147 Colochirus 5. tuberculosus, Semper . . 147 6. australis, Ludwig .... 148 Page Actmocucumis 7. difficilis, sp. n 148 Thyone 8. mirabilis (?), Ludwig . . 149 9. sacellus, Selenka 149 10. okeni, sp. n 149 Thyonidivim 11. schmeltzii, Ludioig .... 150 Orcula 12. cucumiformis, Semper. . 150 Pliyllophorus 13. proteus, sp. n 150 Stereodenna 14. validimi, sp. u 150 Stichopus 15. variegatus, Semper .... 151 Holotliuria 16. lineata, Ludwig 152 17. peregrina, Ludwig .... 152 18. modesta (?), Semper . . 152 19. macleari, sp. n 152 Cbinoidea. Antedon 1. adeonae, Miiller 156 2. milberti, Midler 156 3. pinniforiuis, Carpenter . 156 4. carpenteri, sp. n 157 5. pumila, sp. n 1.57 6. bidens, sp. n 158 7. loveni, sp. n 158 8. decipiens, sp. n 159 9. regiuse, sp. n IGO 10. articulata, Miill 160 11. gyges, sp. n 100 12. irregularis, sp. u 161 13. elegans, sp. u 162 14. biiareus, sp. n 163 15. microdiscus, sp. n 163 Actinometra 16. Solaris, Lamh 164 17. intermedia, sp. n 166 18. robusta, Carpenter .... 167 19. strota. Carpenter 167 20. cvuningii, Miill 167 21. coppiugeri, sp. n 168 22. jukesi, Carpenter 168 23. parvicirra, Carpenter . . 168 24. alternans. Carpenter . . 169 25. paucicirra, sp. n 169 26. multifida, Midi 169 27. variabilis, sp. n 169 28. sp. juv 170 XIV SYSTEMATIC INDEX. CRUSTACEA. By E. J. Mtebs. Page Page Decapoda, Hypoccelu,^ Brachyura. 34, punclatus, sp. n . 206 Achasus Atergatis 1. lacertosus, Stimps. . . . 188 35. floridus, L . 207 2. affinis, sp. n 188 Lophozozymus Camposcia 36. epheliticus, L 207 3. retusa, Latr 189 Galene Oncinopus 37. granulata, sp. n . 208 4. aranea, De Haan 190 Halimede ? Mensethius 38. coppingeri, sp. n . 208 5. monoceros, Latr 190 Actsea Hueuia 39. riippellii, Krauss . 209 6. proteus, De Haan .... 191 40. areolata, Dana ? 209 Egeria Banareia 7. arachnoides, Rumph. . 191 41. inconspicua, sp, n, ... 210 Chorilibiuia Xantho 8. gracilipes, Miers 192 42. macgillivrayi, sp. n 211 Paramithrax Cycloxanthus 9. coppingeri, Hasioell .... 192 43. lineatus, A. M.-Edw. . 212 10. aciileatus, var. n. armatus i 193 Carpilodes Hyasteniis 44. venosus, M.-Edw. . . . 213 11. diacanthus, De Haan . . 194 Leptodius 12. oryx, A. M.-Edw 195 45. exaratus, M.-Edtv. . . . 214 13. planasius, Ad. 8f W. . . 196 46. lividus, De Haan . . . 214 14. convexus, sp. n 196 CLlorodius Naxia 47. niger, Forsk 215 16. serpulifera, M.-Edtv. . . 196 Chlorodopsis Schizophrys 48. granulatus, Stifnps 216 16. aspera, M.-Edw 197 Etisus Pseudomicippa ? 49. Isevimanus, Randall . , 217 17. varians, Miers 197 Etisodes Micippa 50. electra, Herhst 217 18. thalia, Herhst 198 51. anaglyptus, M.-Edw. . 218 19. philyra, Herhst 198 Menippe 20. curtispina, Haswell .... 199 52. legouilloni, A. M.-Edw. 218 Paramicippa Pilumnus 21. spinosa, Stimps 199 53. vespertilio, Fabr 219 Lambrus 64. pulcber, sp. n 219 22. longispinus, Miers .... 199 55. rufopunctatus, Stimps. . . 220 23. laevicarpus, Miers .... 200 56. lanatus, Latr 220 24. longimaiius, L 200 57. semilanatus, sp. n 222 25. nodosus, Jacq. ^ Lucas , 200 58. seminudus, sp. n 222 26. tiirriger, White 201 59. cursor ?, A. M.-Edtv. . . 223 27. hoplonotus, var granu- 60. labyrinthicus, sp. n 224 losus, Miers 201 61. pugilator, A. M.-Edw. 225 28. harpax, Ad. ^ W. 202 Actumnus Cryptopodia 62. setifer, De Haan 226 29. fornicata, Fabr 203 Cryptocoeloma, g. n. 30. spatulifrons, Miers .... 203 63. fimbriatum, M.-Edw. . . 227 Gonatonotus Pilumnopeus 31. pen tag-onus, Ad. ^ W. . 204 64. serratifrons, Kinahan . . 228 Euxanthus Ozius 82. huonii, Lucas 204 66, guttatus, var. speciosus, 33. tuberculosus, sp. n 205 Hilgen 228 8TSXEMATIC riTDEX. XV Neptunus 6Q. pelagicus, L 229 67. hastatoides, Fabr 229 Achelous 68. granulatus, M.-Edtv. . . 230 TJbalamita 69. admete, Herbst 2-30 70. sima, M.-Edto 231 71. stimpsonii, A. M.-Edio. 2.32 72. crenata, Riipp 232 Goniosoma 73. variegatum, Fabr 2-32 74. spinif eriiru, sp. n 233 Nectocarcinus 75. integrifrons, Latr 234 Lupocyclus 76. rotimdatus, Ad. 8f W... 234 Kraussia 77. nitida, Stimps 235 Telphusa 78. crassa ?, A. M.-Edio. . . 235 Gelasimus 79. signatus, Hess 236 Ocypoda 80. ceratoplithalma, Pallas . 237 81. kulilii, Be Haan 237 Macrophthalmus 82. punctulatus, sp. n 237 Euplax 83. boscii, Audotdn 238 Camptoplax, g. n. 84. coppiiigeri, sp. u 239 Pseudorhombila 85. vestita, var. sexdentata, Hastvell 240 86. sulcatifrons, var. n. aus- traliensis 242 Ceratoplax 87. arcuata, sp. u 243 88. ? Ifevis, sp. n 244 Metopogi-apsus 89. messor, Forsk 245 Chasmagnathus 90. laevis, Dana 246 Sesarma 91. bidens, De Haan ? 246 Pinnotheres 92. villosulus, Guer.-Minev. 247 Mycteris 93. longicarpus, Latr 248 Halicarcinus 94. ovatus, Stimjjs 248 Leucosia 95. oceUata, Bell 249 96. whitei, 5e/^ 249 97. craniolaris, var. n. Isevi- mana 250 Page Myra 98. carinata, Bell 250 99. affinis, Bell 250 100. niammillaris, Bell .... 251 101. australis, Haswell ? . . , . 251 Plilyxia 102. crassipes, Bell 252 103. lambriformis, Bell 252 Nursia 104. sinuata, Miers 252 Nursilia 105. dentata, Bell 253 Iphiculus 106. spongiosus, Ad. i^ W. . 253 Aj'cania 107. pulcherrima, Haswell . . 253 Lithadia 108. sculpta, Haswell 254 Oreophorus 109. reticiilatus, Ad. 8f W... 264 110. frontalis, sp. n 254 Matuta 111. victrix, 2^«5>- 256 112. inermis, sp. u 256 Calappa 113. hepatica, L 257 Dorippe 114. dorsipes, L 257 115. australiensis, sp. n 258 Anomura. Cryptodromia 1. lateralis, Gray 259 Petalomera" 2. pulchra, sp. n 260 Paratymolus 3. bituberculatus, var. n. gi-acilis 261 4. sexspinosus, sp. n 261 Diogenes 5. rectimanus, sp. n 262 Pagurus 6. imbricatus, M.-Edio. . . 264 7. hessii, sp. n 264 Clibauarius 8. t;eniatus, M.-Ediv 265 Eupagurus 9. compressipes, sp. n 266 10. kirldi, sp. n 267 Petrolisthes 11. japonicus, De Haan, var. inermis, Hasivell 268 12. lamarckii, Leach 268 13. haswelli, sp. n 269 14. annulipes. White 270 16. coraUicola, Haswell ? . . 271 XVI SYSTEMATIC INDEX. Polyonyx 16. obesulus, WhUe 272 Pachycheles 17. pulchellus, Haswell 273 PorceUana 18. nitida, var. n. rotundi- frons 274 19. dispar, Stinips 275 20. quadrilobata, sp. n 276 Galatliea 21. australiensis, Stimps. . . 277 22. eleg-ans, Wliite 278 Munida 23. spinulifera, sp. n 279 Mastig-ocliii'us 24. quadrilobatus, Mieis . . 280 Macru7'a. Gebia 1. carinicauda, Stimps. . . 280 Gebiopsis 2. darwinii, sp. n 281 Axius 3. plectrorhynchus, Strahl. 282 Thalassina 4. anomala, Herhst 283 Alpbeus 5. edwardsii, Auclouin. . . . 284 6. obesomanus, Dana .... 287 7. gracilipes, Stimps 287 8. minor, var. neptunus, Dana 288 9. comatiilarum, Haswell , 289 10. villosus, M -Edwards . . 290 Pontonia 11. tridacnse, Peters 290 Harpilius 12. iuermis, sp. n 291 Anchistia 13. petittbouarsi, Audouin ? 293 Coralliocaris ? 14. tridentata, sp. n 294 Palsemon 15. intermedius, Stimps. . . 295 Sicyonia 16. oceUata, Stimps. ...... 295 Penaeus 17. granulosus, Hasioell .... 295 18. velutinus, Dana 296 19. batei, sp. n 296 Stomatopoda. Squilla 1. uepa, Latr 298 Gouodactylus 2. cbiragra, Fabr 298 •'J. grapburus, Wliite (ined.), Miers 298 ISOPODA. Ligia 1. gaudicbaudii, var. aus- traliensis, Dana ? .... 299 Ceratotboa 2. imbricata, Fabr 800 Cirolana 3. multidigitata, Dana . . 301 4. scbiodtei, sp. u 302 5. tenuistylis, sp. n 303 6. lata, var. n. Integra. . . . 304 Rocinela 7. orientalis, Sclmdte 8f Meinert 304 Oymodocea 8. longistylis, sp. n 305 Cerceis 9. bidentata, var. n. asperi- caudata 306 Cilicsea 10. latreillei, Leach 308 11. latreillei, var. crassicau- data, Haswell 309 Haswellia 12. carnea, Hasioell 311 Anisopoda. Paranthura 1. australis, Haswell .... 311 Amphipoda. Epbippipbora 1. kroyeri, WJiite 312 Leucothoe 2. spinicarpa, var. couimen- salis, Hasivell 312 3. brevidigitata, sp. u 313 Melita 4. australis, Haswell .... 316 Moera 5. ramsayi, Haswell 315 6. rubromaculata, Stimps. . 315 Megamoera 7. suensis, Hasivell ? .... 317 8. tbomsoni, sp. n 318 Podocerus 9. australis, Haswell .... 319 Caprella 10. sequilibra, Say 320 11. attenuata, Dana ? .... 320 SYSTEMATIC DTOEX. OSTBACODA. Acasta Cypridina 1. albo-maculata, Baird . ClBBIPEDIA. Balanus 1. trigonus; Darioin . . . 2. amaryllis, Darwin . . . . 321 . 321 . 321 t>. suicatti, jjam,, var o^^ Pycnogonida. Achella 1. laevis, Hodge, var. aus- traliensis 323 Phoxichilidium 2. hoekii, sp. n 324 ALCYONARIA. By Stuart 0. Ridley. Nephthya 1. jukesi, Gray, var 332 Spougodes 2. Horida, Usper 332 3. hemprichi, Klunzinger ?. 332 4. spinosa, Gray, var 332 5. studeri, sp. n 333 Telesto 6. smitlii, Gray Pteroides 7. javanica, Bleeker Virgularia 8. sp Miu'icella 9. tenera, sp. n Muiicea 10. iimbraticoides, Studer. . Echinomuricea 11. iudo-inalaccensis , sp. n. Ecbinogorgia 12. flabellum, Esper Plexam-a 13. praelonga, sp. n., var. ty- pica , var. cinerea .... 14. miniacea, Ehr Leptogorgia 15. tlexilis, rerrill ? 341 16. australiensis, sp. n 342 Psammogorgia 17. rectangularis, sp. n 344 Juncella 18. juncea, Pallas 345 19. gemmacea, M.-Edic. . . 346 20. elongata, Pallas, var. . . 346 334 334 335 335 336 336 337 339 340 341 21. fragilis, sp. n Ellisella 22. calamus, Studer Ctenocella 23. pectinata, Pallas Suberogorgia 24. suberosa, Pallas Briareum ^ 25. ? sp Callipodium 2^. australiense, sp. n Sokxnderia 27. ? sp Iciligorgia 28. orientalis, sp. n Sipbonogorgia 29. mirabilis, Klunzingej' var. tlava Solenocaulum 30. tortuosum, Gray Leucoella 31 . cervicornis, Gray Melitodes 32. albitiucta, sp. n Mopsella 33. textiformis, Lam 34. clavigera, sp. n Acabaria 35. japonica, Verrill 36. sen-ata, sp. n Psilacabaria, g. n. 37. gracillima, sp. n. , . . ,, Tubipora 38. bempricbi, Ehr 347 348 348 349 349 350 351 351 ,' 352 , 353 . 355 . 357 . 358 . 360 . 361 . 362 . 364 . 365 SPONGUDA. By Stuart O. Ridley. Cacospongia 1. mollior, Schmidt 378 Euspougia 2. foliacea, Esper 378 3. officinalis, L., var, caver- nosa 379 4. septosa, Lamh. 381 xvm SYSTEMATIC HTDE Hippospongia 5. derasa, sp. n 382 Stelospongus 6. excavatus, sp. n 383 7. implexus, sp. n 384 8. intertextus, Hyatt .... 385 Carterispongia 9. otahitica, Esper 385 10. lamellosa, Es^ier 386 11. fissurata, Lamk 386 Hircinia 12. horrens, Selenha 387 13. sp 387 Dysidea 14. favosa, Marsh 388 15. fusca, Carter 388 16. digitifera, sp. n 389 17. semicanalis, sp. n 389 Psammopemma 18. densum, Marsh., var. n. subfibrosa 390 Aplysiiia 19. membranosa, Pallas . . . 391 lanthella 20. flabeUiformis, Pallas . . 392 Chalina 21. monilata, sp. n 394 Cladochalina 22. arrugiera, Duch 394 23. sp 395 24. uuda, sp 395 , var. n. abrupti- spiciila 396 25. subarmigera, sp. u 397 26. pergamentacea, Ridley. . 398 Acervochalina, g. n. 27. finitima, Schmidt 399 Tuba 28. bullata, Lamh 399 29. confcederata, Lam 400 Siphonocbalina 30. tubulosa, Esper, var. . . 401 Tubulodigitus 31. communis, Carter .... 401 Toxochalina, g. n. 32. folioides, Bowerbank . . 402 33. robusta, sp. n 403 34. mvirata, sp. n 404 Pacbychalina 35.*lobata, Esjyer 404 36. macrodactyla, Lamk. . . 405 Reniera 37. m&istmctn., Bowerh.,^far. 407 38. scypbouoides, Lamk. . . 407 39. ferula, Bowo-b 408 40. aquseductus, Schmidt . . 409 Page 41. testudinaria, Lamk. . . 409 42. sp 410 43. sp. 410 44. sp 411 Pellina 45. muricata, sp. n 411 46. aliformis, sp. n 412 47. sp 413 48. sp...... 413 49. eusipbonia, sp. n 414 Protoscbmidtia 50. liispidula, sp. n 414 Scbmidtia 51. variabilis, sp. n 415 Amorpbina 52. megalorrbapbis, Carter , 416 Tedauia 53. digitata, Schm., var. . . 417 Rhizocbalina 54. tistulosa, Boioerb., var. n. iufradensata 420 55. singaporensis, Carte)-,y&r. 421 56. spatbulifera, sp. n 421 57. canalis, sp. n 422 Gellius 58. coucbi, Boioerb., var. ce- ratina, n 423 59. varius, Boioerb 424 60. fibulatus, Schmidt .... 424 61. cymiformis, Esper .... 425| Gelliodes, g. n. 62. fibulata, Carter? 427 Ampbilectus 63. tibiellifer, sp. n 428 64. bispidulus, sp. n 429 Myxilla 65. arborescens, sp. n 4-30 Orella 66. scbmidti, sp. n 432 lotrocbota, g. n. 67. purpurea, Bowerb 434 68. baculifera, sp. n 435 Esperia 66. parisbi, Bmverb 436 70. pellucida, sp. n 437 71. obscura, Carter 438 Phoriospongia 72. fibrosa, sp. n 439 Opblitispougia 73. australieusis, sp. n 442 Clathria 74. aculeata, sp. u 443 75. tuberosa, Boxverb 444 76. coppiugeri, sp. u 445 77. reinwardti, Vosm., var. subcylindrica . 446 STSTEMATIC INDEX. reinwardti, var. pal- mata 447 78. frondifera, Botoerb 448 Rhaphidophlus 79. arborescens, sp. n 450 80. pi'ocenis, sp. n 451 81. sp 452 Acamus 82. teriiatus, sp. u 453 Echini )dictyiim 83. bilamellatum, Lamk. . . 454 84. costiferum, Lamk 455 85. glomeratum, sp. n 456 , var. subglobosum . 457 86. caucellatum, Lamk. . . 457 Raspailia 87. bifurcata, sp. n. ...... 459 88. australiensis, sp. n, .... 460 89. clathrata, sp. n 461 Axinella 90. echidusea, Lamk 462 Acanthella 91. sp 463 LeucopMoeus 92. fenestratus, sp, ii 464 , var 464 Suberites 93. carnosus, Johnst 465 94. epiphytum, Lamk 465 Hymeniacidon 95. canmciila, Boioerb 466 96. agmiaata, sp. n 466 97. sp 467 Spirastrella 98. vagabuuda, sp. n 468 99. congeuera, sp. n 469 100. decuinbens, sp. n 470 Stelletta 101. purpurea, sp. u 473 , var. retroflexa . . 473 102. clavosa, sp. n 474 103. sp 476 Stellettiiiopsis 104. carteri, sp. n 476 Tetbyopsis 105. dissimilis, sp. n 477 Greodia 106. globosteUifera, Carter . . 480 Placospongia 107. cariuata, Bowerh 481 Leucetta 108. primigenia, Hdckel, var. microrrbapbis, id. .... 482 Leucaltis 109. batbybia, Hackel, var. australiensis, u 482 Leuconia 110. saccbarata, Hdckel . . . 482 Part II. COLLECTIONS FROM THE WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN. BIRDS. By R. Bowdleb Sharpe. Foudia 1. madagascariensis, L. . . 483 CritbagTa 2. cbrysopyga, Stoains. . . 483 Francolinus 3. pouticerianus, Gm 483 Sterna 4. melanaucben, T. 484 Zosterops 5. madagascariensis, L. . . 484 Corvus 6. scapulatus, Daud. .... 484 Turtur 7. coppingeri, sp. n 484 Strepsilas 8. interpres, L 484 Ardea 9. atricapilla, Afzel 485 10. bubulcus, Sciv 485 SYSTEMATIC INDEX. Page Strepsilas 11. iuterpres, L 485 Puffinus 1^. chlororhyiiclius, Less. . . 485 Sterna 13. anaestheta, Scop 485 Gygis 14. alba, Sparrm 485 Anous 15. stolidus, L 485 Hemidactylus 1. frenatus 486 EEPTILIA. By Albert Guntheb. I Gerrhouotus ariensis 486 MOLLUSCA. By Edgar A. Smith. Gastropoda. Conus 1. arenatus, Hwass 487 2. hebrseus, L 487 3. tiirriculatus, Sow 487 4. miliaris, Hivass 488 5. literatus, L 488 6. millepunctatus, iam. . . 488 7. flaviclus, Lam 488 8. tessellatus, Born 488 9. striatus, L 488 10. martensi, sp. n 488 11. articulatus, Sow 489 Pleurotoma 12. grisea, sp. n 489 Terebra 13. babylonica, Lam 490 14. cerithina, Lam 490 15. dimidiata 490 16. bruguieri, Desh 490 17. casta, Hinds 491 Murex 18. adustus, Lam 491 19. pumilus, Adams 491 20. infaus, sp. n 491 21. darrosensis, sp. n 492 Pisania 22. ignea, Gm 492 23. uudosa, L 492 Columbella 24. turtuiina. Lam 492 25. nympba, Kiener 493 26. seychellensis, sp. n 493 27. moleculina, Duclos .... 493 28. cincinnata. Martens. . . . 494 29. rufopiperata, sp. n 494 30. amirantium, sp. u 494 31. conspersa, Gaskoin ... 495 32. albocaudata, sp. u 495 Nassa 33. arcularia, L 496 34. grauifera, Kiener 496 35. gaudiosa, Hinds 496 36. stigmaria, var 496 Phos 37. nodicostatus, var 496 Purpura 38. hippocastauum 496 39. sertum, Brug 496 Sistrum 40. ricinus, L 497 Coralliophila 41. madreporarum, Sow. . . 497 42. amirantium, sp. n 497 Leptocouclius 43. rostratus, Adams 497 Fasciolaria 44. filamentosa, Lam 497 Latirus 45. nassatula, Lam 497 Oliva 46. episcopalis, Lam 497 Harpa 47. minor 498 Mitra 48. episcopalis, L 498 49. coronata, Chemn 498 50. luctuosa, Adams 498 51 . tenuis, Sow 498 Turricula 52. exasperata, Chemn 498 53. mucronata, Sioains 498 54. modesta, Reeve 499 55. bipartita, sp. n 499 Marginella 56. picturata, G. ^ H. Nevill . 499 Dolium 57. pomum, L 499 SYSTEMATIC INDEX. Page Ranella 58. pusilla, var 500 Triton 59. cancellinus, Hoissij .... 500 60. tessellata, Phil 500 Cyprsea 61. aseUus,i 500 Trivia 62. scabriuscula, Gray .... 500 Erato 63. corrugata, Hinds 500 Littorina 64. glabrata, Phil 500 Ceritliium 65. echinatum, Lam 500 66. columna, Sow 500 67. albovaricosum, sp. n. . . 501 68. amirantium, sp. n 501 69. acutiuodulosum, sp. n.. . 501 70. kochi, PM 502 Triphoris 71. mirificus, Desk 502 72. mouilifer, Hinds 502 73. elegans, Hinds 502 74. maxillaris, Hinds 502 Strombus 75. maiiritianus, Lam 502 76. gibberulus, L 503 77. floridus, Lam 503 78. columba, Lam 503 Pterocera 79. aiirantia, Lam 503 Calyptraea 80. cicatricosa, Reeve 603 Nerita 81. plexa, Chemn 503 82. plicata, Chemn 503 83. polita, L 503 84. albiciUa, i 503 Neritina 85. rangiana, Recluz 503 Turbo 86. bistrio, Reeve 503 87. tiirsicus, Reeve 504 88. coronatus, Gm 504 Pbasianella 89. sethiopica, Phil 504 Trocbus 90. amirantium, sp. n 504 91. australis, Lam 505 92. labio, Z 505 Cylicbna 93. protracta, Goul d 505 Tornatina 94. voluta, Quoy ^ Gaim, , . 505 PyramideUa 95. maculosa, Lam 505 96. terebellum, Midler 505 97. sulcatus, Adams 505 Obemnitzia 98. coppingeri, sp. n 505 PbyUidia 99. varicosa, Lam 506 Doris 100. coriacea, Abraham .... 506 101. mabilla, Abraham .... 506 CONCHrFERA. Cytberea 1. obliquata, Hanley 506 Circe 2. pectinata, L 506 3. gibbia, var 606 Tellina 4. elegans, Wood 507 5. semilsevis, Martens .... 507 6. staurella, Lam 507 7. rugosa, Born 507 8. scobinata, L 507 9. gxatiosa, Romer 507 Cardium 10. fornicatum, So^o 507 11. pulcbrum, Reeve 507 Gastrocbfena 12. mytiloides, Lam 507 Lucina 13. exasperata, Reeve 507 14. punctata, L 508 15. clausa, Phil 508 16. cumingii, var 508 Modiola 17. auriculata, Kraiiss .... 508 18. elegans, Gray 508 Area 19. divaricata, Smo 508 Cucullsea 20. concamerata, Chemn. . . 508 ECHINODERMATA. By F. Jeffrey Bell. (Page 509.) Neoplax opbiodes, g. et sp. n 512 SYSTEMATIC INDEX. CRUSTACEA, -^^y E. J. Miebs. Decapoda. Brachyura. Page Achgeus 1. Isevioculis, sp. n 520 Camposcia 2. retusa, Latr 520 Huenia 3. pacifica, Miers 520 Mensethius 4. monoceros, Latr 521 Stilbognatbus _ 5. martensii, sp. n 521 Paramitlirax 6. longispiniis, De Haan, var. bituberculatus .... 522 Hyastenus 7.o^j^,A.M.-Edio 522 8. ovatus, Dana 522 Naxia 9. petersii, Hilgendorf .... 523 Eurynome 10. stimpsonii, sp. n 523 Micippa 11. tbalia, ^e/'6s^, var. haani, Stimps 524 Paramicippa 12. asperiinanus, sp. n 525 Entomonyx, g. n. 13. spinosus, sp. n 526 Lambrus 14. calappoides, vld^fF/t.? 527 Euxanthus 15. exsculptus, Herhst, var. rugosus, n 527 Lophacta?a 16. semigranosa, Heller .... 527 Lophozozymus 17. dodoue, Herhst 527 Lioiuera 18. punctata, M.-Udto 528 Actfea 19. rufopunctata, M.-JEdto. . . 628 Atergatopsis 20. granulatus, A. M.-Ed^v. 529 Xantbodes 21. lamarckii, M.-Edio 529 Carpilodes 22. rugatus, M.-Ediv 529 Actseodes 23. tomentosus, M.-Edw. . . 530 Leptodius 24. exaratus, M.-Edw 530 25. exaratus, var. gracilis, Dana .... Phymodius 26. rugipes, Heller Chlorodius 27. niger, Forsk 28. miliaris, A. M.-Edw. . . Chlorodopsis 29. melanodactylu8,^.il!f.-^. 30. areolatus, M.-Edw Etisodes 31. electra, Herbst Oymo 32. andreossii, Aiid Actumnus 33. setifer, DeHaan Eiu-iippellia 34. annulipes, M.-Edto Ozius 35. frontalis, M.-Edw Eriphia 36. Isevimanus, M.-Edw. . . 37. , var. smitbii, Mac- Leay 38. scabricula, Dana Trapezia 39. cymodoce, Herhst . . . , 40. ferruginea, Latr 41. rufopunctata, Herhst . . Tetralia 42. cavimanus. Heller ... Xipbonectes 43. vigilans, Dana, var. ob- tusidentatus, n , Scylla 44. serrata, Forsk Acbelous 45. granulatus, M.-Edw. . . . Goniosoma 46. natator, Herhst Thalamita 47. sima, M.-Edio. 48. quadrilobata, sp. n. . . . 49. Integra, Dana 50. crenata, Hiipp 51. picta, Stimjjs Lissocarcinus 52. orbicularis, Dana Gelasimus 53. annulipes, M.-Ediv. . . . 54. dussumieri, M.-Edw. . Ocypoda 55. ceratophthalma, Prt/Z«s. Page 530 531 531 531 531 532 582 632 533 .533 533 634 536 535 535 , 536 636 637 538 . 538 . 538 . 539 . 639 . 539 . 540 . 540 . 540 . 641 . 541 . 541 . 642 SYSTEMATIC INDEX. 56, cordimanus, Desm 542 Macrophthalmus 67. parvimauus, M.-Edio. . . 542 Euplax 58. boscii, Aud. 542 Dotilla 59. fenestrata, Hilgendorf . . 543 Carcinoplax 60. Integra, sp. u 543 Grapsus 61 . maculatus, Cateshj .... 544 62. strigosus, Herbst 544 Geograpsus 63. grayi, M.-Edw 545 Metopograpsus 64. messor, Forsk 545 Liolophus 65. plauissimus, Herbst .... 645 Xauthasia 66. inurigera, White 546 PLilyra 67. rectaugularis, sp. n 546 Pseudophilyra 68. polita, sp. n 547 Nursilla 69. deutata, Bell 548 Arcauia 70. imdecimspinosa,i)e^aa?t 648 Ebalia 71. granulata, liilppell .... 549 Calappa 72. liepatica, Linn 650 73. gallus, Herbst, yar. bi- coruis 550 Cymopolia 74. wbitei, sp. n 551 Anoniura. Dromidia 1. spongiosa, Sfi7}i2)s., var. ? stimpsonii, n 552 Di'omia 2. TiUgaris, M.-Edw. . . . 553 Homalodromia, g. n. 3. coppingeri, sp. n 554 Birgus 4. latro,' X 555 Ccenobita 5. perlata, M.-Edio 555 Pagurus 6. punctidatus, M.-Edxo. . . 555 7. guttatus, Olivier ? .... 555 Oalcinus 8. tibicen, Herbst 557 Petrolisthes 9. lamarckii, Leach 657 10. , var. asiaticus, Leach 557 11. annulipes, Miers 558 12. maculatus, M.-Edw. . . 558 13. villosus, Richters ? .... 559 Polyouyx 14. biunguiculatus, Dana . . 559 Galathea 15. spinosirostris, Dana ? . . 560 Munida 16. edwardsii, sp. u 560 tt Macrura. Alpbeus 1. obesomanus, Dana .... 561 2. edwardsii, Audouin .... 501 3. Isevis, Randall 561 4. minor, var. neptuuus, Dana 562 Pontonia 5. brevirostris, sp. n 562 Coralliocaris 6. graminea, Dana 563 Penseus 7. canaliculatus, Olivier . . 563 8. richtersii, sp. n 564 Stomatopoda. Gonodactylus 1 . cbiragra, Fabr 565 2. graphurus, Miers 566 3. elegans, sp. n 566 Amphipoda. Mcera 1. diversimanus, sp. n 567 COLEOPTEEA. By C. 0. Waterhouse. Cratopus adspersus, sp. n 576 SrSTEMATIC HfBEX. LEPIDOPTEKA. By A. G. Butleb. Deiopeia lactea, sp. n Page 577 ALC YON ARIA, By Stuabt 0. Ridley. Spongodes 1. unicolor, Or ay 579 2. studeri, sp. n 579 , var. Isevior 579 Neplithya 3. sp 579 4. sp 579 Muricea 5. bifurcata, sp. n 579 Juncella 6. gemmacea, M.-JEdw. . . 580 Wrightella 7. clarysantlius, Gi-ay .... 581 8. coccinea, Gray 581 SPONGIIDA. By Stuabt O. Ridley. 590 Cacospongia 1. cavernosa, Schmidt Hippospongia 2. intestinalis, Lamk., var. . 590 3. sinuosa, Pallas 591 , var. Biauritiana . . 591 , var. deeidua, Hyatt 692 Phyllospongia 4. papyracea, Esper 593 5. madagascareusis, Hyatt 594 ,var.supraoculata,n. 594 Carterispongia 6. otahitica, Esper 595 7. mantelli, Boiverh 695 8. peunatula, Lamk 595 Hirciuia 9. fusca, Carter 596 10. byssoides, Lamk 596 11. sp 597 12. conica, Bowerb 597 13. gumminea, sp. n 597 Oligoceras 14. conulosum, sp. n 599 Aplysina 15. fusca, Carter 600 16. paUasi, sp. n 600 lantbeUa 17. flabelliformis, Pallas . . 601 Chondrilla 18. mixta, ScJmlze ? 602 Cbalina 19. elongata, Lamk. ..*.... 003 20. sp. 603 Acervochalina 21. fiuitima, Schmidt, var. . . 604 Reiiiera 22. indistincta, Boioerh., var. 605 23. rosea, Boioerb 605 24. camerata, sp. n 605 25. cribriformis, sp. n 606 26. sp 607 Pellina 27. sp 607 Tedania 28. digitata, Schmidt 607 Rbizochalina 29. pellucida, sp. n 608 Desinacidon 30. rimosa, sp. n 609 lotrochota 31. purpurea, Bowerb 610 32. baculifera, sp. n 610 Esperia 33. gelatinosa, s^. n 611 Clathria 34. froudifera, Bowerb 612 35. decumbens, sp. n 612 36. mseandrina, sp. u 614 Acarnus 37. ternatus, sp. n 615 Echinonema 38. sp 616 39. gracilis, sp. n. . .' 617 Axinella 40. spiculifera, Lamk 617 41. proliferans, sp. n 618 Leucophloeus 42. proteus, sp. n 620 43. fenestratus, var 621 Suberites 44. sp 622 Vioa 45. schmidti, Ridley 622 40. transitovia, sp. n 623 47. punctulata, sp. n G23 Tethva 48!^ cliftoni, JBowerh 624 Tetilla 49. dactyloidea, Carter G25 Erylus 50. cylindrigerus, sp. u 026 Stelletta 51. acervus, JBotverb 027 SYSTEMATIC INDEX. Page XXV Page 627 52. purpurea, var. parvi Stella Leucetta 53. primip:eiiia, var. megalir- rhaphis, Ilcickel 628 Leucaltis 54. bathybia, Hdckel, var. mascarenica 628 Leucortia 55. anguinea, .sp. n 629 Leuconia 50. ecliiuata, Sclmffner .... 030 THE ZOOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS oj H.M.S. 'ALERT.' SUMMARY OF THE VOYAGE. BY R. W. COPPINGER, M.D., Staff-Surgeon R.N. During the summer of 1878 it was resolved by the Admiralty to equip a vessel for the performance of special surveying-work on the western shores of Patagonia, among the South-Pacific Islands, and on the eastern and northern shores of Australia; in addi- tion to which, it was the wish of the Hydrogra])her of the Navy, Captain (now Sir Frederick) Evans, F.R.S., that no oppor- tunity should be lost of collecting objects of natural history when- ever the requirements of the survey brought the vessel into regions whose zoology was hitherto but imperfectly known. It was in accordance \vith these views that on the 20th August, 1878, H.M.S. 'Alert' was commissioned at Sheerness, with a complement of 120 officers and men, by Captain Sir George IS'ares, who, by a happy coincidence, had commanded the same vessel in the Polar Expedition of 1875-76. On the 20th of the following month we sailed from Plymouth. On the outward voyage we touched for a few days at Madeira and St. Vincent respectively ; and at both of these places some shallow- water dredging was accomplished, resulting in the acquisition of a small collection of marine invertebrates, in which, as might have been expected, there was little, if any thing, of special interest. B Z VOYAGE OF H.M.3. ' ALERT. During our further voyage through the South Atlantic a course was held which brought us over the Hotspur and Victoria Banks — submei-ged coral-reefs which are situated between the parallels of ITg" and 12° S. lat., and are about ISO miles from the east coast of Brazil. In these two places we plied our dredges in depths ranging from 35 to 39 fathoms, obtaining thereby a large number of zoolo- gical specimens, among which were several novelties in the classes of Sponges and Polyzoa. The collection made at these stations proved to be of special interest, as it helped to fill up a gap unavoid- ably left by the ' Challenger ' expedition in the marine zoology of the South Atlantic. On the 27th November we anchored in the esti;ary of the river Plate, off Monte Video, where we remained until the 14th Decem- ber. Sailing on the latter date, we shaped a course for the Falkland Islands, and arrived at Stanley Harbour on the 26th inst. A few weeks prior to the time of our visit to the Falklands a peculiar avalanche of semifluid peat had poured down from the summit of one of the low hills, laying waste a portion of the settlement. AVe again put to sea on the evening of the 27th December, and steering to the eastward, entered the Strait of ]\[agellan on the first day of the year 1S79. After stopping for a few days at the Chilian settlement of Sandy Point, we proceeded to our surveying- ground among the channels on the west coast of Patagonia. Here we spent the greater portion of the two succeeding years, executing surveys of previously uncharted waters, and adding to those which had been partially eflPected by our predecessors in the same field ; but during the more rigorous winter months we each year proceeded north to Coquimbo, on the Chilian coast, where our ship was refitted and fresh supplies of stores were obtained *. As the requirements of the survey necessitated our visiting and anchoring in a great many bays and inlets in this remote region, frequent opportunities occurred for shallow-water dredging, so that we were able to make a large collection of marine invertebrates — a branch of research to which our attention was more especially directed, as we were aware that in other departments of biology the work done by the ' Erebus ' and ' Terror,' ' Nassau,' and ' Challenger ' of our own navy, as well as by many foreign vessels, left little to be desired. During the month of March 1880 a visit extending over a few days was made to Skyring Water, a large and almost completely landlocked sheet of water situated to the eastward of the Cordillera, and, so far as we yet know, only accessible by ship through a narrow channel by which it communicates with the main Strait of Magellan. And here I should remark that in the month of July 1879, and during the surplus time allotted for refitting our ship on the Chilian coast, a brief visit was made to the island of St. Ambrose, which lies about 500 miles to the north-west of Coquimbo. * During the winter of 1879-80 Sir George Nares returned to England, and was succeeded in the command of the 'Alert ' by Captain Maclear, formerly of the ' Challenger ' Expedition. eiTMMARr. 3 Ou the 14th June, 1880, we bade adieu to the South-Americaa coast and sailed for Tahiti, spending much time on the way in searching for the so-called Minerva Eeef, which was reputed to exist some 60 miles to the north-east of Manga Eeva, one of the Paumotu group. Arriving at Tahiti on the 6th of August, we made a stay of twelve days at that interesting island, when we again got under way and pursued a circuitous route towards the great Fiji group. The first place at which we touched on this voyage was Nassau Island, whence we proceeded to the Union group, in 80^° S. lat., passing within sight of Tema Reef and the Danger Islands, which were found to be incorrectly placed on the charts. We made a short stay at Oatafu, the most westerly island of the Union group, and thence proceeded to Fiji. We anchored off the settlement of Levuka in the island of Ovalau, Fiji, on the 18th of September, and remained there until the 10th of October, We then steamed over to Tongatabu, in the Friendly Islands, where wo made a pleasant stay of ten days, but subse- quently spent some very dull weeks, aggravated by unusually boisterous weather, in an uneventful search for the La Eance Bank, the non-existence of which was, however, satisfactorily demon- strated. We returned to Levuka on the 4th of December, and remained in harbour for ten days, when we entered upon the last portion of our Pacific cruise, viz. the voyage from Fiji to Sydney. We arrived at Sydney on the 23rd of January, 1881, and re- mained there, refitting, until the 15th of April, when we steamed up the east coast of Australia to our next surveying-ground. During the ensuing six months we visited Port Curtis, Port MoUe, and Port Denison on the east coast of Queensland ; Lizard Island, Flinders Island, Clack Island, Bird Island, Percy Islands, Clairemont Islands, and Albany Island, adjoining the coast ; and while engaged on the survey of the Prince of Wales Channel, in Torres Straits, we anchored off Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Home, West, Prince of Wales, Hammond, Goode, and Booby- Islands. In aU these localities marine specimens were collected, as well as in the more open parts of the Prince of Wales Channel, where the depth rarely exceeds 30 fathoms. A good many inter- esting specimens were also obtained through the assistance of the pearl-shell divers, who have an extensive and lucrative industry in these waters. On leaving this channel we proceeded westwards through the Arafura Sea, sounding and dredging, until we reached Port Darwin, in North-west Australia. Here we remained from the 3rd to the ISth of November, when we again got under way and steamed through the Eastern Archipelago to Singapore. We reached this port on the 18th November, 1881, and remained there for two and a half months, spending most of the time in dock, where our ship underwent an extensive refit. We now received orders to undertake a survey of the Amirantes and neighbouring islands and reefs in the South-Indian Ocean, using Seychelles as our base for b2 TOYAGE OF H.M.S. ' ALERT,' supplies. We accordingly sailed from Singapore on the 5th Feb- ruary, 1882, and steered for the Seychelle Islands, touching ou the way at Colombo, On the 4th of March we reached Bird Island, the most northerly of the Seychelle group ; and as we remained at anchor there until tlie following morning, we had an opportunity, among other things, for exploring the island and accomplishing some dredging-work in the shallow water about the ship. On the next day we steamed over to Mahe, the chief island of the group. After some days spent here in provisioning and coaling the ship, during which time our boats did some useful dredging in the channel between Mahe and St. Anne's Islands, we steamed over to the Amirante group, the most northerly of which is only about a day's run from Mahe, \Ye had orders to make a survey of the Amirantes, and, as far as time would permit, of the other coral islailds which extend thence in an irregular chain southward towards Madagascar. The Amirante group consists altogether of twenty-one low coral islets, resting, with the exception of He des Eoches (which is sepa- rated by a deep channel), on an extensive coral bank, which is 89 miles in length, with an average breadth of 19 miles, and whose long axis lies in a N,N.E. and S.S.W. direction. It is included be- tween the limits of 4° 50^' and 6° 12^-' S. lat., and 53° 45' and 52° 50|' E. long., and is thus about 700 miles distant from the nearest part of the East-African coast. Some of the islets and sand-cays of which it is composed, and which are included in the above enumeration, are so arranged in clusters that for all practical purposes the group may be regarded as consisting of nine islets, which have been named African, Eagle, Darros, Des Roches, Poivre, Etoile, Marie Louise, Des Neufs, and Boudeuse Islands. From the Amirantes we moved over to Alphonse Island, which occupies an isolated position (50 miles S.W. by S. of the southern, extremity of the Amirante Bank ; and thence proceeded to Pro- vidence Island, which is about 240 miles from the Amirantes in a S.W. by S. direction, and about 2(J0 miles from Cape Amber, in Madagascar. After a short stay at each of these islands, we steamed over to the Glorioso group, which consists of three islands, also of coral formation, and situated about 120 miles W. by N. of the northern extremity of Madagascar. Every effort was made to investigate the fauna and flora of these islands as far as time and other circumstances would permit, so that sufficient materials were accumulated to connect their natural history with that of Seychelles to the northward and Madagascar to th^ southward. With our departure from the Glorioso Islands the surveying opera- tions of the ' Alert ' were brought to a close. On the 12th of May we reached Mozambique, whence, after a stay of a few days, we proceeded on our homeward voyage, stopping en route at AlgoaBay, Simon's Baj^, Cape of Good Hope, St. Helena, and Fayal (in the Azores), and arrived in Plymouth Sound on the 3rd of September, 1882, after an absence of nearly four years. PART I. THE COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. MAMMALIA. BY OLDFIELD THOMAS. The Mammalia collected by Dr. Coppinger are too few in number and of too common occurrence to be deserving of special notice; but a very interesting series of Melanesian skulls was obtained by him from various islands in the Pacific, and of these the most important measurements are given in the following notes. 1. Skull of Torres-Straits Islander. (Plates I. & II. fig. A.) Male. Adult. " Native chief of Nagheer Island, Torres Straits." — R. W. C. Length^ 174; gl. occ.^ 181. Breadth^ 144. Height* 136. Maximum frontal breadth* 115 ; minimum frontal breadth^ 99. Horizontal circumferences — preauricular^ 237, totaP 514. Transverse arcs — frontaP 286, bregmatic^" 303, parietal" 323, occipitaP^ 273. Longitudinal arcs — frontaP^ 121, parietaP* 129, occipitaP* 113. Foramen magnum — length^^ 35, width''' 29. Basinasal length'^ 105. Basialveolar length'^ 112. Bi- zygomatic breadth"" 136. Height of — face-' 98, malar'"^ 25, alveolus'^ 22. Auriculo-orbital length"* 72. Nasal height^' 50, width'^ 24. Maxilla— length''^ 65, width'^ 67. Mandible — bicondylar width"^ 126, bigoniac width^" 99, symphy- siul height^' 33, molar height^'^ 29, coronoid height^^ 63, gonio- symphysial length (1. sidef* 81. Ptamus — height^^ 71, antero- posterior breadth^" 35. Bigoniac arc''' 194. Indices— latitudinaP* 82-8, altitudinaP^ 78-2, frontaP" 687, gnathic" 106*7, nasaP" 48-0. 1 9-12 la 19 27 28 33 3^ 39 ^^^^^ accordiiig to Flower, Journ. Aiitlirop. Inst, x p 172(1881), and Cat. Coll. Surg. i. p. xvii (1879). ^ 2-y 13-17 20-26 29-32 31-37 4n-42_ Bfoca, Iii.stru'-t. CrAniol. (Paris, 187.^). 6 COLLECTIONS FR03I IIELANESIA. Subbrachycephalic, prognathous, just above leptorbine. Glabella prominent, about No. 3 of Broca's scale. Inion scarcely developed. This skull is unusually broad for a Melanesian, and has a some- what low nasal index ; it agrees, however, very well with No. 1193 of Prof. Plower's Catalogue * (" The cranium of a Papuan, from one of the islands in Torres Strait, c? "), and its extreme prognathism shows that it undoubtedly belongs to the Melanesian race. It has undergone considerable occipital flattening on the left side, either from sleeping on a hard wooden pillow or some similar cause ; and this has no doubt caused the brain-case to be abnormally broad. The present specimen is said to be the skull of the last chief of the island of Nagheer, and is ornamented with two long strings of glass beads and tassels of red calico hanging from the zj'gomata. It has its orbits filled with red clay, on which are fastened oblong bits of mother-of-pearl for eyes ; there is an artificial nose carved in wood and painted red, and a red band of paint passes across the forehead. The right upper canine, lost after death but befoi'e the preparation of the skull, has been replaced by a wooden tooth. The four posterior teeth in the right lower jaw have all been lost during life, and their alveoli have quite closed up. 2. Skull of Torres-Straits Islander. (Plates I, & II. fig. B.) Male [?]. Adult. " Native woman of Nagheer Island, Torres Straits." — R. W. G Length 178 ; gl. occ. 181. Breadth 136. Height 137. Maxi- mum frontal breadth 112; minimum frontal breadth 95. Horizontal circumferences — pi'caurieidar 230, total 503. Transverse arcs — frontal 283, bregmatic 300, parietal 320, occipital 207. Longitudinal arcs — frontal 130, parietal 120, occipital 112. Foramen magnum — length 38, width 31. Basi- nasal length 103. Basialveolar length 105. Bizygomatic breadth 129. Height of — face 86, malar 24, alveolus 16. Auri- culo-orbital length 68. Nasal height 49, width 26. Maxilla — length 61, breadth 63. Mandible — bicondylar width 117, bigoniac width 93, symphysial height 31, molar height 24, coronoid height 52, gonio-sym- physial length 88. Hamus — height 64, antero-posterior breadth 31. Bigoniac arc 197. Indices — latitudinal 76-4, altitudinal 77*0, frontal 69*9, gnathic 101-9, nasal 53-1. Subdolichocephalic, hypsicephalic, mesognathous, and platyrhine. Glabella low, about No. 1. No inion. Median line of nose very prominent. Similarly prepared to the last, the only differences being that the strings of beads from the zygomata are shorter and without ♦ Op. cit. p. 222. MAMMALIA. 7 tassels, and there is a blue crescent-shaped mark on the glabella, just below the supraorbital red line. Although stated to be a " woman of Nagheer," there can bo little doubt, from its general appearance, that this skull is that of a man. It is a remarkably fine and typical head, and has therefore been thought worthy of a figure. The peculiar roof-like shape of the crown is noticeable, a state of skull called " ill-filled " by Dr. Cleland. " These skulls are placed on the graves where the bodies of their original possessors lie, and are surrounded with idols, models of snakes, &c., which are supposed to guard the dead." 3. Cranium of Solomon Islander. Female. Adult. " Solomon group ; particular island unknown." — R. W. C. Length 187; gl. occ. 187. Breadth 130. Height 133. Maxi- mum frontal breadth 110 ; minimum frontal breadth 100. Horizontal circumferences — preauricular 243, total 510. Trans- verse arcs — fi'ontal 276, bregmatic 294, parietal 304, occipital 265. Longitudinal arcs — frontal 133, parietal 126, occipital 117. Foramen magnum — length 33, breadth 28. Basinasal length 102. Basialveolar length 102. Bizygomatic breadth 129. Height of — face 80, malar 21, alveolus 12. Auriculo- orbital length 68. Orbit— width* 39, height* 34. Xasal height 47, width 25. Maxilla— length oQ, width 63. Indices — latitudinal 69*5, altitudinal Tl'l, frontal 76-9, gnathic 100-0, orbital 87-2, nasal 53-2. Dolichocephalic, mesognathous, platyrhine ; orbit mesoseme. Glabella low, about No. 1 of Broca's scale. Nasal spine long, No. 4. Occipital crest scarcely visible. 4. Cranium of Mallicollo Islander, New Hebrides. Male. Aged. All the teeth gone and alveoli closed up. Length 170 ; gl. occ. 182. Breadth 128. Height 138. Maxi- mum frontal breadth 107 ; minimum frontal breadth 91. Horizontal circumferences — preauricular 232, total 481. Transverse arcs — frontal 276, bregmatic 301, parietal 320. Longitudinal arcs — frontal 131, parietal 139, occipital 104. Foramen magnum — length 29, width 2o. Basinasal length 103. Bizygomatic breadth 137. Height of malar 22. Auri- culo-orbital length 68. Orbit — width 39, height 35. Nasal height 48, width 30. Indices — latitudinal 75-3, altitudinal 81-2, frontal 71-1, orbital 89*7, nasal 62*5. Subdolichocephalic, hypsicephalic, very platyrhine ; orbit mega- seme. Glabella very thick and gorilla-like, approaching No. 4 of Broca's * Flower, Cat. Coll. Surg. i. p. xviii. 8 COLLECTIOKS PKOM MELATs'ESIA. scale. Inion long and recurved, between Nos. 4 and 5. Su- tures all very simple, in marked contrast to those of the next Bpecimcn. Zygomata very prominent. Squamosals widely separated from frontal. 5. Skull of MallicoUo Islander, New Hebrides. Pemale. Adult, Length 173 ; gl. occ. 178. Breadth 135. Height 134. Maxi- mum frontal breadth 101 ; minimum frontal breadth 95. Horizontal circumferences — preauricular 218, total 488. Transverse arcs — frontal 252, bregmatic 293, parietal 336. Longitudinal arcs — frontal 134, parietal 137, occipital 104. Foramen magnum — length 34, width 29. Basinasal length 90. Basialveolar length 91. Bizygomatic breadth 129. Height of — face 82, malar 19, alveolus 16. Auriculo-orbital length 61. Orbit— width 36, height 33. Nasal height 42, width 24, Maxilla — length 50, breadth 60. Mandible — bicondylar width 116, bigoniac width 97, symphysial height 25, molar height 21, coronoid height 56, gonio-sym- physial length 81. Ramus — height 49, antero-posterior breadth 33. Bigoniac arc 177. Indices — latitudinal 78-0, altitudinal 77'5, frontal 70"4, gnathic 101-1, orbital 91-7, nasal 57-1. Subdolichocephalic, mesognathous, platyrhine ; orbit megaseme. Glabella about No. 1. Nasal spine No. 3. No inion. Occipital prominent, lambdoid suture full of large Wormian bones. Epipteric bones on both sides. Auditory meatus flattened and oval-shaped, evidently owing to pressure applied to the man- dible. These two last specimens, presented to Dr. Coppingerby Mr. Boyd, of Ovalau, show the artificially produced absence of forehead and general depression of the frontal and prominence of the parietal and occipital regions characteristic of Mallicollo skulls, and described by Prof. Busk in the ' Journal of the Anthropological Institute ' *. Prof. Flower has also figured some monumental heads from the same island, showing a similar artificial deformity f. 6. Skull of Banks Islander. Young. Basilar suture open and wisdom teeth still hidden in the bone. " MerilavaJ, Banks group ; presented by Mr. Boyd, of Ovalau." — B. W. C. Length 170, gl. occ. 172. Breadth 124. Height 133. Maxi- mum frontal breadth 108 ; minimum frontal breadth 89. Horizontal circumferences — preauricular 230, total 470. Trans- * vi. p. 200, pis. ix.-xii. (1877). t J. A. I. xi. p. 85, pi. vi. (1882). I Also spelt " Meralaba " (Wliitmee, J. Anthr. Inst, viii., map facing p. 261 : 1878). MAMMALIA. 9 verse arcs — frontal 270, bregmatic 291, parietal 313, occipital 2(30. Longitudinal arcs — frontal 130, parietal 111, occipital 112. Foramen magnum— length 34, breadth 29. Easinasal length 97. Basialveolar length 91. Bizygomatic breadth 120. Height of — face 86, malar 17, alveolus 17. Auriculo-orbital length 66. Orbit, — width 36, height 34. Nasal height 51, width 22. Maxilla— length 50, width 62. Mandible — bicondylar width 110, bigouiac width 72, symphysial height 27, molar height 23, coronoid height 54, gonio-symphy- sial length 82, condylo-coronoid length 33. Bigoniac arc 175. Indices — latitudinal 72-9, altitudinal 78*2, gnathic 93*8, orbital 94-4, nasal 434. Lambdoid suture unusually complicated, with numerous "Wormian bones. 7. Skull of Banks Islander. Still younger than 6. " Merilava, Banks group ; presented by Mr. Boyd, of Ovalau." — B. W. G. Length 163 ; gl. occ. 166. Breadth 123. Height 124. Maxi- mum frontal breadth 98 ; minimum frontal breadth 92. Total circumference 455. Transverse arcs— frontal 242, breg- matic 267, parietal 300, occipital 244. Foramen magnum — length 32, breadth 27. Basinasal length 84. Basialveolar length 81. Bizvgomatic breadth 111. Auriculo-orbital length 57. Orbit— width 33, height 32. Nasal height 36, width 23. Maxilla — length 44, width 55. Mandible — bicondylar width 100, syrnphysial height 21, coronoid height 45, gonio-symphysial length 69, condylo-coronoid length 23. Indices — latitudinal 75*5, altitudinal 76-1, gnathic 96-4, orbital 97-0, nasal 63-9. These two Banks-Island skulls are of great interest, as showing a distinct tendency towards (probably a youthful stage of) the arti- ficial deformity noticed in the MallicoUo skulls, and hitherto sup- posed to be peculiar to the natives of that island. The present specimens, however, prove that the flattening process is also prac- tised to a certain extent in the neighbouring island of Merilava. 8. Calvaria of Fijian. Male. Middle-aged. Coronal suture nearly closed. " From an old tumulus near the village of Buretta, Ovalau." — R. W. C. Length 197 ; gl. occ. 200. Breadth 132. Height 141. Maximum frontal breadth 114, minimum 103, Horizontal circumferences — preauricular 250, total 542. Transverse arcs — frontal 312, bregmatic 318, parietal 327, occipital 280. Longitudinal arcs — frontal 130, parietal 152, occipital 120. Basinasal length 109. 10 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. Indices — latitudinal 67*0, altitudinal 71*6, frontal 78-0, Ste- phanie 90-4. DoKchoeeplialic and hypsicephalic. Glabella not prominent, No. 2 of Broca's scale. Inion No. 1. This skull has unfortunately lost all the bones of the face ; but nevertheless the conformation of the brain-case is such as to show its near relationship to the pure Melanesians of Viti Levu, agreeing very closely with the male " Kai Colo " skulls described by Prof. Flower. The forehead is slightly broader than in any of his specimens (1U3 against 99 millim.), and the altitudinal index is somewhat lower (70 "5 against 72*2). Otherwise the present skull agrees with Prof. Flower's figures and description. 9. Cranium of Fijian. Female. Middle-aged. Posterior teeth lost during life. " Kai Colo, from cave at Livoni, Ovalau, Fiji." — R. W. G. Length 175 ; gl. occ. 175. Breadth 121. Height 130. Maxi- mum frontal breadth 100, minimum 83. Horizontal circum- ferences — preauricular 218, total 475. Transverse arcs — frontal 274, bregmatic 281, parietal 294, occipital 245. Longitudinal arcs — frontal 123, parietal 128, occipital 110. Foramen mag- num — length 32, breadth 2(). Basinasal length 93. Basi- alveolar length 95. Bizygomatic breadth 117. Height of face 81, malar 19-2, alveolus 11. Auriculo-orbital length 68. Orbit — width 30, height 32. Nasal height 46, width 25. Indices — latitudinal 69*1, altitudinal 74*3, frontal 68'6, Stephanie 83-0, gnathic 102-2, orbital 88-9, nasal ^i:-'6. Dolichocephalic, hypsicephalic, mesognathous ; orbit just below megaseme ; and platyrhine. Glabella low, No. 1 of Broca's scale. Parietal eminences prominent. This cranium is interesting as belonging to one of the " Kai Colos," or pure-blooded mountaineers of Fiji, whose cranial charac- ters have been fully worked out by Prof. Flower (J. Anthr. Inst. X. p. 153: 1881). It agrees very closely with the skulls from Viti Levu described by that author, most of the actual dimensions and indices coming within the very narrow limits of variation found by him in his five female Kai Colos. The forehead, however, is very much narrower than usual, the minimum frontal diameter being, as given above, only 83 millim., with a frontal index of 68'6 (Broca, Iristr. Cran. p. 172), while Prof. Flower's five female Kai Colos average for these numbers 94 millim. and 77'0 p. c, the lowest breadth being 89 millim. and the lowest index 75-U. " The Kai Colos were the old hill-inhabiting tribes of Fijians, and were distinct from the coast-tribes, with whom they were frequently at war. Their power was broken by the renowned Fijian chief ' Cacobau,' now dead. Livoni, in Ovalau Island, was one of their strongholds, where these skulls were found by Mr. M'Corkill, a settler, who presented them to me."- — R. W. C. 11 BIRDS. BT R. BOWDLER SHARPE. The birds were obtained in the islands of Torres Straits, at Port MoUe and Port Curtis in Queensland, and at Port Darwin in North- western Australia. In the following notes the references to other works have been limited to the ' Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum,' as far as this work is published, and to Mr. Ramsay's useful list of Australian birds (Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. W. vol. ii. pp. 177-203), where the best illustration of their geographical distribution is to be found. 1. Cerchneis cenchroides (V. ^ IT.). Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. i. p. 431. Tinnunculus cenchroides, Bamsay, Pr. Linn. Soc. N. S. W. ii. p. 177. a. Port Denison, May 1881. 2. Ninox peninsularis, Salvad. a. 5 • Thursday Island, Torres Straits. Bill yellow with black tip ; feet and iris yellow. The British Museum contains a good series of this apparently well-marked species, which differs from Niuox connivens by the rufous streaks on the lower parts. The following is a descrip- tion of Dr. Coppinger's specimen : — Adah female. General colour above dull sooty brown, darker on the head, which is blackish brown, forming a tolerably distinct cap ; scapulars brown like the back, with large white markings on the outer web, forming a continuous white line on each side of the back; wing-coverts almost entirely uniform, with only here and there a spot of white, a little plainer on the outer web of the median and greater coverts, the latter of which are washed with pale rufous ; bastard-wing feathers and primary-coverts uniform sooty brown ; quills dark brown, barred on both webs with lighter brown, taking the form of whity-brown notches on the outer web ; inner secon- dai'ies spotted with white on the outer and barred witli white on their inner webs ; lower back and rump sooty brown, with more or less concealed spots of white ; upper tail-coverts deep brown ; tail- feathers dark brown, plainly though narrowly barred and tipped with whity brown, these light bars being eight in number besides the terminal one ; lores, base of forehead, and plumes over the eye 12 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. and round the fore and lower part of the latter white, with hair- like black shaft-lines ; ear-coverts dark brown ; chin and cheeks white, the hinder part of the latter streaked with dusky brown ; lower throat tinged with yellow and streaked with blackish centres to the feathers ; remainder of under surface white, slightly tinged with yellow and broadly streaked with dark brown on the fore neck and chest and with rufous-brown on the breast and abdomen ; thighs and tarsal plumes yellowish, spotted with brown ; under tail- coverts white, with a few heart-shaped spots iitar the end of the feather ; axillaries and under wing-coverts deep yellowish buff, broadly streaked with chocolate-brown, the central markings more or less irregular in shape ; quills dusky brown, barred with white, somewhat ashy whitish on the quills, but very pure white on the lower series of under wing-coverts, which resemble the lower surface of the quills in appearance. Total length 15 inches, culraen 0-85, wing 10'2, tail 6'5, tarsus 1--15. 3. Corvus coronoides, F. ^ U. Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. ill. p. 20. a. (S ad. Port MoUe, Queensland, May 1881. 4. Oriolus flavicinctus {King). Sharpe, t. c. p. 206. Mimeta flavocincta, Ramsay, t. c. p. 188. a. 2' ^^^^ Darwin, Oct. 1881. Bill flesh-colour; legs and feet slaty grey ; iris bright red. A smaller bird than the Cape-York examples (wing 5*2 inches), with rather a smaller alar speculum. The black centres to the feathers of the upper surface are wider, and the bird consequently appears darker ; but this is probably due to abrasion and wearing away of the plumage. ^ 5. Sphecotheres flaviventris, Gould. Sharpe, t. c. p. 225 ; Ramsay, t. c. p. 188. a,h. $ . Thursday Island, Aug. 1881. Iris black. 6. Chibia bracteata {Gould). Sharpe, t. c. iii. p. 236; Ramsay, t. c. p. 182. rt, 6. c? . Friday Island, Aug. 1881. c. (S . Port Darwin, Oct. 1881. Iris orange-colour. 7. Grallina picata {Lath.). Sharpe, t. c. p. 272 ; Ramsay, f. c. p. 180. o. J. Port Curtis, April 1881. BIRDS. 13 8. Pinarolestes rufigaster {Gould). Sharpe, t. c. p. 296. Colluricincla rufigaster, Ramsay, t. c. p. 181. a. Thursday Island, June 10, 1881. 9. Graucalus hypoleucus, Gould. Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. 3Ius. iv. p. 36 ; Ramsay, t. c. p. 180. a. 5 • Thursday Island, August 1881. 10. Graucalus melanops {Lath.). Sharpe, t. c. p. 30; Ramsay, t. c. p. 180. a. S iram. Port Molle, Queensland, May 1881. h. $ imm. Thursday Island, July 1881. 11. Lalage leucomelaena {V. Sf H.). Sharpe, t. c. p. 106. Campephaga leucomela, Ramsay, t. c. p. 181. a. 2 ad. Friday Island, Sept. 1881. Iris dark brown ; bill black ; legs and feet dark grey. h. $ juv. Thursday Island, July 1881. Iris black; bill black; legs and feet dark grey. Count Salvador! (Orn. Papuasia, ii. p. 163) separates the Aus- tralian form of this species from the Papuan, which he calls Lalaye Icaru (Less.), This view seems to me to be correct, for the Papuan race appears to have less white on the wing-coverts and to be permanently barred below, whereas the adult male of the Aus- tralian Lalage is uniform on the under surface. 12. Lalage tricolor {Swains.). Sharpe, t. c. p. 92. Campephaga humeralis, Ramsay, t. c. p. 181. a. (S imm- Port Darwin, Oct. 24, 1881. 13. Pseudogerygone magnirostris {Goidd). Sharpe, t. c. p. 223. Gerj'gone magnirostris, Ramsay, t. c. p. 133. a. Thursday Island, Sept. 1881. 14. Myiagra latirostris, Goidd. Sharpe, t. c. p. 381 ; Ramsay, t. c. p. 182. J . West Island, Sept. 1881. 14 COLLEJTIONS FROM MELANESIA. 15. Myiagra nitida, Gould. Sharpe, t. c. p. 375 ; Ramsay, t. c. p. 182. a. S . Fitzroy Island, May 1881. 16. Myiagra rubecula (Lath.). Sharpe, t. c. p. 373 ; Ramsay, t. c. p. 182. a. S • Percy Island, April 1881. b. J. Port Molle, May 1881. 17. Myiagra concinna, Gould. Sharpe, t. c. p. 374 ; Ramsay, t. c. p. 182. a. S • Booby Island, Aug. 31, 1881. 6.5. Booby Island, Aug. 1881. c. (S . "West Island, Sept. 1881. d. Priday Island, July 1881. e. c?. Friday Island, Aug. 1881. /. Thursday Island, Sept. 1881. The differences between this species and 31. rubecula are, to my mind, not satisfactorily established ; but until better specimens reach the British Museum from N.W. Australia (the habitat of the typical 31. concinna) it will be difficult to settle the question. 18. Rhipidura rufifrons (Lath.). Sharpe, t. c. p. 310 ; Ramsay, t. c. p. 182. a. c?. Booby Island, Aug. 1881. 19. Rhipidura tricolor ( F.). Sharpe, t. c. p. 339. Sauloprocta motacilloides, Ramsay, t. c. p. 182. a, 6, c. Port Curtis, April 1881. d. 2- Port Darwin, Ocb. 1881. 20. Piezorhynchus nitidus, Goidd. Sharpe, t. c. p. 41G ; Ramsay, t. c. p. 182. a. $. Horn Island, Torres Straits, Sept. 1881. Iris orange-red; bill greenish grey ; legs and feet dark. b. 5 . Thursday Island, Aug. 1881. Iris dark ; biU horn-colour, black at tip ; legs and feet grey. 21. Piezorhynchus medius, sp. n. a. 6- Port MoUe, May 1881. Iris black; bill light grey ; legs and feet dark. BIRDS. 15 Agrees ■with P. trivirgatus of Timor ia its black upper tail-coverts, which in the type specimens of P. gouldi are grey. In the 'Catalogue of Birds ' (vol. iv. p. 419) I united Gould's 3Ionarc?ia albiventris with Piezorhi/ncJius gouldi, but I now believe that I was wrong in doing so. It may be a matter of opinion whether the three forms here alluded to are more than local races or subspecies ; but it is certain that the white-flanked individuals, P. albiventris ( Gould), have the upper tail-coverts blackish, whereas in the rufous-flanked birds, P. gouldi (Gray), the tail-coverts are grey. Thus my " Key to the Species " (t. c. pp. 413, 414) will have to be modified as follows : — «'. Upper tail-coverts black. a'^. White endiug to outer tail-feathers not exceeding an inch in length. 6". White ending to outer tail-feathers I'O- 1-2 inch. a'^. Four outer tail-feathers white at the ends ; black throat-stripe narrow . . trivirgatus. v. Three outer tail-feathers white at the ends ; black throat-stripe broad, a*. Sides of body orange-rufous .... medius. 6*. Sides of body white albiventris, b". Upper tail-coverts grey ; sides of body orange-rufous gouldi, 22. Cisticola exilis, Vig, Sf Horsf. Sharpe, Cat, B. Brit. 3Ius. vii. p. 269 ; Ramsay, t. c. p. 185. a. N. Australia (not labelled). A specimen in winter plumage. 23. Cracticus nigrigularis (Ooidd), Gadotv, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. viii. p. 95. Cracticus robustus, Ramsay, t. c. p. 180. a, 6 . Port Curtis, Queensland, April 1881. Iris black ; bill grey, with the tip black ; legs and feet black. 24. Pachycephala melanura, Goidd. Gadoic, t.c. p. 185; Ramsay, t.c, p. 181. a. c? . West Island, Sept. 1881. h, c, (S . Booby Island, Aug. 1881. I am unable to follow Dr. Gadow in his conclusions respecting P. melanura and its allies, P. clio, P. macrorhyncha , and P. ohiensis, aU of which he unites together as a single species. Count Salvadori has kept them distinct ; and their specific characters I have endea- voured to set forth in the following " Key ": — 16 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. a. Upper tail-coverts olive-yellow like the back ; outer aspect of secoadaries distinctly grey; pectoral collar joined to ear-coverts melarwra. h. Upper tail-coverts black ; outer aspect of secon- daries olive-yellow, with which they are mar- gined or washed externally. a'. Pectoral collar joined to ear-coverts clio. b'. Pectoral collar separated from ear-coverts. a". Upper surface olive-greenish ; wings ex- ternally washed with greenish grey .... macrorhyncha. b". Upper surface golden olive ; wings ex- ternally washed with the same colour . . ohiensis. After having gone over the series in the British Museum, which likewise served as the basis of Dr. Gadow's studies, I regret that I must entirely disagree with him. He appears to me to have argued from immature specimens when he tries to show the variation of the species and attempts to prove that they run one into another. If it were possible to find in the same island examples of these Pa- chycephalce with the black breast-band united to the ear-coverts and others with this disunited, all being fidly adult birds, then Dr. Gadow would have proved his point ; but this is exactly what does not take place, the difference in coloration being accompanied by a different habitat. It is not right to compare immature birds of one form with adults of another, because in their young stages all these species are unquestionably very difficult to distinguish apart ; but if fully adult birds are compared, I do not think there ought to be any difficulty in determining four distinct species. Again, with regard to his observations that the colouring of the upper tail-coverts " is of no specific importance," some attention must be given to the age and condition of the specimens. In the group with the upper tail-coverts black, it will be found that the basal ones are always more or less tipped with olive, and that it is the long ones which are black. If, therefore, the latter are shot away, a superficial observer would jump at once to the conclu- sion that the upper tail-coverts are olive-yellow. Even in this case the yellow-washed quills (instead of grey) would enable one to dis- tinguish the P.-macrorhgncha group from P. mekmura. Then, again, it would appear from moulting specimens that the upper tail- coverts when first grown have more olive-yellow on the margins than in the fully adult bird. Therefore in these Pach/ycephalce, as in other birds, only fully plumaged specimens should be compared, if one is to understand the relations of the various species. There can be no doubt that the locality " Celebes " attached to the specimen from the Gould Collection is erroneous ; and Mr. Wallace has remarked on the absence of the genus in the above island, in the essay quoted by Dr. Gadow. 17 25. Pachycephala rufiventris (Lath.). Gadoiv, t. c. p. 208; Ramsay, t. c. p. 181. a. (S . Port Darwin, October 1881. b. (S . Port Darwiu, October 1881. c. $ . Port Molle, May 3, 1881. 26. Cinnyris frenata {Mull.). Qadow, Cat. B. Brit. Mas. ix. p. 85; Ramsay, t. c. p. 191. a. (S . Prince of Wales Island, Aug. 1881, b,c. c? ? . Thursday Island, July 11, 1881. 27. Myzomela obscura, Gould. Gadow, t. c. p. 143 ; Ramsay, i. c. p. 190. rt, h. (S . Thursday Island, Aug. 1881. c. $. Thursday Island, Aug. 1881. The following are the measurements of the sexes : — Total length. Culiuen. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. c?.. .. 5-1 2-75 2-1 0-7 6 ■■ .. 4-8 0-8 2-6 2-1 0-75 $■• .. 4-8 0-7 2-45 2-0 0-65 I may supplement Dr. Gadow's description of this species by re- marking that there are two distinct shades of colour observable in a series of the present species, the birds from Port Darwin and " Northern Territory " (ex Gould Coll.) being more mouse-coloured, and this is the form which is seen in South-eastern New Guinea. The specimens from Queensland, Cape York, and the islands of Torres Straits are browner, sometimes inclining to rusty brown. Another character which Dr. Gadow omits to mention is the blackish shade in the centre of the throat ; it is apparentl}' a mark of an adult bird, and is not confined to one sex, but appears to be equally- distinct in the female. 28. Zosterops albiventer, Reichmh. Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mas. ix. p. 164. Zosterops fiavogidaris, Ramsay, t. c. p. 191. a. 2 . West Island, Torres Straits, Sept. 1881. Iris greyish brown ; bill dark brown ; legs and feet greyish brown. This species is very rarely seen in collections, and was for a long time known only from the figure in the ' Voyage au Pole Sud.' It was originally described from ^^'alTior Island in Torres Straits, and appears to be a recognizable species. It seems to be the Z.Jiavi- ^«Zari> of Masters (Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. W. i. p. 56), described from c 18 COLLECTIONS FKOM MELANESIA. different islands in Torres Straits, one of the localities mentioned by the last-named anthor being Warrior Island, whence the original type of Z. alhiventris came. 29. Zosterops lutea, Gould. S/iarpe, t. c. p. 183; Ramsay^ t. c. p. 191. a. 2- Tort Darwin, Oct. 1881. Bill horn-colour ; legs grey. This specimen is rather duller in colour than a male from Cape York, and much paler yellow below, this brighter colour being probably due to sex, as the Cape-York bird is evidently an adult male. The female measures: — Total length 4*1 inches, culmen 0'-t5, wing 2-2, tail 1-65, tarsus 0-6, 30. Manorhina garrula {Lath.). Gadotv, t. c. p. 260. Myzantha garrula, Ramsay, t. c. p. 191. a. c? . Port Curtis, Queensland, April 1881. b. S . Port Curtis, April 1881. Young birds are washed on the back with olive-yellow, and are much darker above and below, not showing the whitish bars at the tips of the man tie- feathers. 31. Stigniatops ocularis {Gould). Ramsay, t. c. p. 189. Glyciphila ocularis, Gadotv, t. c. p. 213. a. cJ. Percy Island, April 1881, 32. Stigniatops subocularis, Gould. Ramsay, t. c. p. 189. Glyciphila subocularis, pt., Gachxo, t. c. p. 215. a. cJ. Port Darwin, Nov. 1881. Bill, legs, and feet black. Dr. Gadosv has united the present species to S. oadaris, and con- siders that intermediate forms occur between them. This I do not find from an examination of the series in the British Museum, for I have found no difficulty in referring the specimens either to one or the other of the above-named species. On the other hand, Count Salvadori seems to be quite right in uniting the Aru- Island birds with the Australian, as they are only a little larger and somewhat darker in colour. He adds that the speci- mens marked PtUotis limbata, Temm., from Timor, in the Leiden Museum, are also identical with the Australian *S'. ocularis. Timor BIRDS. 19 specimens are certainly very closely allied to the latter, but have rather a clearer grey throat and a more pronounced cheek-stripe ; but in any case it appears to me better to place P. limhata in the genus Stif/matops, along with its congener S. ocularis, and not to consider it a Ptilotis, as Dr. Gadow has done. His plate in the ' Catalogue ' gives too much of a brown colour to the bird, and the orange spot behind the eye is too strongly pronounced. Nor can I agree with Dr. (iadow concerning his G. chJoris, the only actual specimens of which in the British Museum are the two from Mysol, those from the Aru Islands and Lombock being true S. ocularis. 33. Ptilotis notata, Gould. Gould, Ann. ^- Mag. Nat. Hist. xx. p. 269 (1867) ; Ramsay, t. c. p. 189. Ptilotis analoga, pt., Gadoio, t. c. p. 227. a. S . Prince of Wales Island, Aug. 1881. b. 6 • Thursday Island, July 7, 1S81. This is the species which Count Salvador! unites under the name of P. analoga (lleichenb.) in his ' Ornitologia della Papuasia ' (vol. ii. p. 327), and in all his identifications he is followed by Dr. Gadow, who even goes further than Count Salvador! in his suppression of species, and adds P. Jlavirictus of the latter author as a final offering to the manes of the dominant form, P. analoga. It seems doubtful, however, to me whether Dr. Gadow has really ever seen the true P. jlavirictus of Count Salvador!, which is from the Fly Eiver, the specimens which he supposes to belong to that species being from South-eastern New Guinea : Salvador! refers all his specimens from this part of the island to P. analoga. Putting aside the question of the length of bill, which certainly varies very much, even in specimens from the same locality, the shape of the ear-tuft ought not to be overlooked ; and we find that there are two distinct forms, the birds from Dorey, Mysol, and "Waigiou having an elongated yellow ear-tuft. This is accompanied by a very Bulbul-like character, viz. a fluffy rump with strongly marked subterminal shades of blackish brown, the lateral featliers tipped with white, and reminding one of Pinarocichla or Polio- lophus. All specimens examined by me from other localities have a rounded yellow ear-tuft instead of a longitudinal one, and may be classed under three headings : — 1st. P. aruensis, nob. (Hah. Aru Islands), where the rump is mottled, as in the New-Guinea birds ; and 2nd, P. notata, Gould. The latter species embraces two forms, a large one and a small one {P. gracilis, Gould), the last-named being apparently only foimd in South-eastern New Guinea and the Cape- York Peninsula. Neither of the two forms of P. notata show the mottling on the rump of P. aruensis or P. analoga. 1 mar add that the specimens from Cape York, referred by the c2 20 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. late Mr. Forbes to P. clirysotis (P. Z. S. 1878, ji. 124, and Report Voy. H.M.S. ' Challenger,' ii, p. 88) really belong to P. notata. 34, Ptilotis lewinii, Sivains. Jlamjiay, t. e. p. 189 ; Oadow, t. c. p. 229. a h. Port Molle, Queensland, May 1881, 35. Ptilotis fasciogularis, Gould. Gould, P. Z. S. 1851, p. 285; Ramsay, t. c. p. 189; Gadotv, t. c. p. 240. a. $. Port Curtis, Queensland, April 1881. 36. Ptilotis flava, Gould. Ramsay, t. c. p. 189 ; Gadouj, t. c. p. 246. a. 2 ' Port Denison, Queensland, May 1881. 37. Ptilotis unicolor, Gould. Gadow, t. c, p. 249. Stomiopera unicolor, Ramsay, t. c. p. 189. a. S ad. Port Darwin, Nov. 2, 1881. 38. Philemon argentiiceps (Gould). Ramsay, t. c. p. 190; Gadow, t. c. p. 272. rt. c?. Port Darwin, Oct. 1881. j. 39. Philemon buceroides, Swains. Ramsay, t. c. p. 190 ; Gadotv, t. c. p. 272. a, $ . Thursday Island, Torres Straits, July 1881. 40. Philemon citreogularis (Gould). Ramsay, t. c. p, 190; Gadow, t. c. p. 277. a. c?. Port Curtis, Queensland, April 1881. b. 2 • Port Darwin, Oct, 1881. It would seem that the yellow throat is strictly peculiar to the young, and is accompanied by an absence of the white linear tufts to the breast-feathers. The latter are often assumed, however, before the yellow on the throat has disappeared. BIRU3. 21 41, Dicaeum hirundinaceum, Shaw. Ramsay, t. c. p. 191. a, b. (S ■ Thursday Island, July 1881. c. ? . Port Darwin, October 1881. 42. Petrochelidon nigricans ( F.). Hylochelidon uigricans, Ramsay, t. e. p. 179. a. (S ad. Port Molle, Queensland, May 1881. 43. Donacicola castaneothorax, Gould, Donacola castaneothorax, Ramsay, t. c. p. 187. a,h. S • Port Darwin, Nov. 1881. c. d . Port Darwin, Oct. 1881. d,e. $ . Port Darwin, Oct. 1881. /. c?. West Island, Oct. 1881. g. c? . Thursday Island, June 1881. h, i, h, I. Thursday Island, July 1881. 44. Artamus leucorhynchus (Z.). Artamus leucopygialis, Ramsay, t. c. p. 179. a. S • Port Denison, May 1881. 6. 5 . Port Darwin, Nov. 1881. Iris brown. 45. Pitta simillima, Gould. Ramsay, t.c. p. 187. a. S . West Island, Sept. 1881. 46. Merops ornatus, Lath. Ramsay, t, c. p. 179. a. $ . West Island, Oct. 1881. b. $ . Prince of Wales Island, Aug. 21, 1881. 47. Dacelo gigas (Bodd.). Ramsay, t.c. p. 179. a. S • Port Curtis, Queensland, April 1881. 48. Dacelo leacMi, Vig. Sf H. Ramsay, t. c. p. 179, a. 2 • Possession Island, Endeavour Strait, July 1881. Bill brown ; legs and feet grey ; iris red. 22 COLLECTIONS l^'ROM MELANESIA. This interesting specimen is not easy to determine, being in size like D. cervinus and in colour like D. leacliii. As I endeavour to show below, these species, however, run into each other so much that it is impossible to define the exact characters of each. Since I wrote my ' Monograph of the Kingfishers,' our knowledge of the great Laughing Jackasses of Australia has not been much increased. The range of true Daceh has been extended to South- eastern New Guinea, where Dacelo intermedins of Salvadori replaces D. cervinus of the Australian continent; but otherwise the number of species in Australia has remained the same as it was on the com- pletion of that work. A comparison, however, of the large series of Laughing King- fishers now in the British Museum raises great doubts in my mind as to the validity of some of the species admitted by me up to 1871 ; and I therefore add a few notes on the birds now before me. The chief difference between D. cervinus and D. leacliii is supposed to consist in the smaller size, the buif-coloured breast, and the blue outer web of the external tail-feather of the former. It seems to me now that this last is a character of no value ; for it is evident that the young males commence with a rufous tail like the old females, and that they gain their blue tails by the gradual expansion of the blue cross bands, which unite by degrees until the whole tail becomes uniform blue. Thus there arrives a time in the development of the tail when the outer web of the tail-feather has not cjuite lost its bars before becoming uniform, and thus the barring of the tail, con- sidered to be a specific difference between D. cervinus and D. leachii, is of very little importance. As regards the other characters, we shall see what they are worth ; and in order to trace the develop- ment of the species, I add a description of a young D. cervinus : — NestUnri. General colour above dark brown, with scarcely per- ceptible lighter brown edges to the feathers of the mantle and scapulars ; least wing-coverts brown like the back ; median and greater series brown, tipped with pale verditer-blue or light greenish cobalt ; bastard-wing brown, washed with blue ; primary-coverts blackish, externally greenish blue ; quills blackisb, externally deep blue, greener on the primaries, which are white near the bases of both webs ; the secondaries edged with white at the tips, the inner ones brown like the back ; lower back and rump pale silvery cobalt ; upper tail-coverts bright rufous, barred with black ; tail-feathers bright rufous, paler at the ends, barred with dark blue, these blue bands margined above and below with black, the bands broader near the base and narrower towards the ends ; the blue bands at the base of the middle feathers already coalescing into one uniform blue base ; head nearly uniform dark brown, the feathers broadly centred with blackish, the edges somewhat mottled with reddish-brown markings ; the nape lighter, the crest- feathers being whiter, with narrow dark-brown centres ; hind neck clear fulvous, with more or less distinct zigzag cross lines of brown ; lores tawny buff, as also the feathers below the eye, the latter with blackish BIRDS. 23 shaft-streaks ; ear-coverts dusky brown ; cheeks clear fulvous, with central streaks of light brown, breaking up into irregular cross lines on some of the feathers ; throat and fore neck white, with irregular zigzag cross lines of light brown ; remainder of under surface of body clear fulvous, crossed with zigzag lines of brown ; under tail-coverts uniform and deeper buff ; axillarics like the breast and barred across in the same manner; under wing-covcrts whiter and crossed distinctly with blackish bars, broader and forming a distinct patch on the median lower coverts near the edge of the wing. The above description is taken from a young male shot near Port Essington. An old bird, with more than half his tail-feathers blue, has his plumage very much abraded and the crest-feathers reduced to hair-like broAvn plumes. The blue ends to the wing-coverts are almost entirely worn off ; but on the breast he is replacing his faded plumage by a clean moult, the new feathers being very broadly centred with blackish ; the under surface of the body is dirty buff, with brown zigzag cross bars, becoming less distinct on the throat. Compared with young birds, the old D. cervina are very much paler buff below and less distinctly barred underneath, the collar round the hind neck is nearly uniform, with scarcely any remains of zigzag cross-barring, while the head and crest are white or buffy white, streaked with brown down the centre of the feathers ; but the whole head is distinctly streaked, instead of being uniform brown as in the young birds. The cobalt-blue on the shoulders is, of course, much more brilliant and more developed than in the young ones. The mode in which the barring on the under surface becomes less and the head more streaked is well shown in an immature male bird, which has the head losing its uniformity for the streaked stage, and yet retains the rufous upper tail-coverts of the immature stage, while the tail is only half overshaded with blue. The differences between the young and old specimens of Dacelo cervinus seem to me perfectly comprehensible ; but the relations of D. leacMi and D. occidentalis are not so clear. There is consider- able variation in length of wing throughout the whole series. All our specimens of D. leachii have more or less remains of their old rufous-barred tail, but they are all completing their change to the uniform blue tail, and consequently the outer feathers are in more or less irregularly blue-banded stages ; but every proof is fur- nished that the outer feather will become perfectly blue, like the corresponding stage in D. cervinus, so that the character of the barred outer tail-feather will not hold. Undoubtedly D. leachii is a larger and more powerful bird than D. cervinus. It is often similarly fulvous on the breast ; but the zigzag bars are coarser and are continued higher up on the throat, as well as being strongly developed on the collar round the hind neck. The older the bird becomes, however, it is evident that, as in D. cervinus, the cross-markings on these parts become more and more 24 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. obsolete, and there is no difference between the two species excepting the hxrger size and whiter under surface of D. leacJiii. The types of D. oecidentalls from the Gould Collection are now in the Museum ; and for the same reason that I dismissed the barred outer tail-feather as a character for separating Z>. leachii from D. ccrvinvs, so I must refuse to consider it a mark of distinction between D. cer^vinns and D. occidentalis. The nearly uniform colora- tion of the under surface is a much more peculiar feature ; but in the female there are some zigzag markings on the flanks. That this uniform under surface is somewhat accidental is proved by the fact that none of Dr. Elsey's specimens in the British Museum, procured in the same locality as Mr. Gregory's birds, are entirely without cross bars below. In the species from South-eastern New Guinea the appearance of cross bars on the under surface seems to be the exception and not the rule, the collar round the hind neck being also perfectly uni- form. As with the Australian species, the cross bars are a sign of immaturity, being accompanied by a more uniform brown head. It would appear therefore, from a consideration of the above series, that not one of the characters employed for the separation of these four Laughing Kingfishers is of permanent value. The barring of the tail-feathers must be set aside, being merely dependent upon age ; but taking D. cervinus as the central form or leading type of the blue-tailed Jackasses of Australia, we find that eastwards (in Queensland) it varies to the extent of becoming a larger bird, whiter underneath, and always more or less barred on the under surface, the throat included {D. leachii). In the western part of its range the bird has a tendency to become uniform underneath {D. occidentalis) ; but this may be due to the bleaching effect of the climate, and it is evident that D. intermedius can only be looked upon as another pale race, being led up to by the western specimens of D. cervinus. 49. Halcyon sanctns ( V. Sf H.). Ramsay, t. c. p. 179, a, 6. 2 . Thursday Island, Aug. 7, 1881. c. (S ■ Thursday Island, July 1, 1881. 50. Halcyon macleayi, J. 6,- S. Ramsay, t. c, p. 179. .a. (S . Thursday Island, Aug. 1881. 51. Halcyon sordidus {Gould). Ramsay, f. c. p. 179. a. ? . Port Darwin, Nov. 1881. BIRDS. 25 52. Centropus phasianus {Lath.). Ramsay, t. c. p. 192. a. 2 . Possession Island, Endeavour Strait, July 1881. h. 5 . Port Molle, Queensland, May 1881. 53. Cacatua galerita {Lath.). Gould, Ilandh. B. Austr. ii. p. 2. Plyctoloplius galerita, Itainsai/, t. c. p. 192. a. 2 ' Hammond Island, Torres Straits, Aug. 1881. 54. Trichoglossus novae hollandiae {Om.). Ramsaif, t. c. p. 194. a. S . Prince of Wales Island, July 1881. h. S • Port Molle, May 1881. 55. Triclioglossus chlorolepidotus (Kuhl). Ramsay, t. c. p. 195. a. $ ad. Port Curtis, Queensland, April 1881. 56. Macropygia phasianella, Temm. Ramsay, t. c. p. 190. a. $ . Port Molle, Queensland, May 1881. 57. Geopelia humeralis {Temm.). Erytbrauchena humeralis, Ramsay, t. c. p. 196. a. (S . Port Curtis, Queensland, April 1881. Iris bright yellow. h. c. S • Horn Island, Torres Straits. Iris red. d. J . Thursday Island, June 10, 1881. Cere purplish red. e. 2 . Friday Island, July 16, 1881. Iris yellow. 58. Geopelia tranquilla, Gould. Ramsay, t. c. p. 196. a. $ . Port Curtis, Queensland, April 1881. Iris dark. h. S • Port Darwin, Nov. 1881. 59. Ptilopus swainsoni, Gould. Got/Id, Ilandb. B. Austr. ii. p. 106 ; Ramsay, t. c. p. 195. a. (S ad. Port Molle, May 1881. Iris light yellow; bill green; legs and feet grey. 26 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. b. 5 imm. Port MoUe, May 1881. Legs and feet greenish grey. c. 2 juv. Port Molle, May 1881. Legs and feet red; bill black. d. Pull. Thursday Island, July 1881. Bill, legs, and feet black ; iris brown. e. S j^iv. Prince of Wales Island, Aug. 1881. Iris reddish orange; bill greenish black ; legs and feet olive-brown. /. S ad. Booby Island, Aug. 1881. Soft parts as in preceding. g. 6 juv. Booby Island, Aug. 1881. Legs and feet greenish grey. The very interesting series collected by Dr. Coppinger ranges from the tiny nestling to the fully adult bird. The age of a specimen is easily determined by its under tail-coverts, which are yellow in the immature birds and deepen into rich orange in the adult ones. It will be noticed that young birds were found, both in May and August, just beginning to put on the bright plumage of the breast ; those killed in August are getting the rose-coloured crown. This either shows that the breeding-times are not identical in Torres Straits and at Port Molle, or that more than one brood is reared in the year. 60. Megapodius duperreyi, Less. Oustalet, Bibl. Haiites Ehccles, xxii. p. 17 (1881). Megapodius assimilis, Masters ; Ramsay, t. c, p. 196. a. 5. Prince of Wales Island, Torres Straits, Aug. 1881. Bill reddish brown, with yellow edges ; legs bright orange ; iris light reddish brown ; scales of toes dark reddish brown. h. ines {Cuming); Arafura Sea, 32-36 fath. (Goppinger). MOLLTJSCA, 37 In form the specimen obtained by Dr, Coppinger agrees to a great extent with G. acnleiformis, Reeve, but almost entirely lacks the lateral inclination of the anterior narrowed extremity. The spiral sulci on the body-whorl are narrower, and exhibit a decidedly less amount of subpunctate sculpture caused by the impressed lines of growth. The raised interstices are markedly flatter and broader, and do not exhibit the brown dotting so characteristic of Reeve's species. These differences may probably be accounted for by the younger state of the single specimen from the Arafura Sea, which, being dredged in a dead condition, has in a great degree lost its coloration. The spire offers scarcely any differences, the propor- tionate height, the coronation of three or four whorls succeeding the smooth glossy nucleus, the smooth ridge immediately below the suture, the finer lira beneath it in the concavity of the whorls, and the elevated margin beneath this being precisely as in the larger shell described by Reeve, with the exception of the ridge beneath the suture, which is rather broader and more flattened. 3. Terebra exigua. Deshayes, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1859, p. 301 ; Reeve, Conch. Icon. pi. 26. fig. 84. Hah. Thursday Island, Torres Straits {Coppinger); East xiustra- livi'i Desha lies) ; Andaman Islands (Colonel Wihner in Brit. Mus.). The type of this species is described as having a length of 19 millimetres, but the single shell in the Cumingian collection is scarcely 15 long. One from the Andaman Islands measures 21 millimetres, and the one now recorded from Torres Straits exceeds that in length by four. 4. Pleurotoma (Drillia) torresiana. (Plate IV. figs. D-D 1.) Shell fusiform, strong, robust, longitudinally costate and spirally Urate, having the ribs white or yellow, stained either with bright red or brownish black in the interstices, and ornamented with two bands of the same colour upon the last whorl. Volutions 12, having a duplex wavy ridge above, beneath which they are excavated and then convex at the sides ; the concavity is rather deep and traversed by three or four spiral strioe. The costa3 are obsolete in the con- cavity, a trifle oblique, thickest above, attenuating inferior^, thirteen in number on the last two whorls, two of them on each being large swollen white varices. The ribs are crossed by spiral lime, there being seven or eight on the penultimate, and about twenty-four on the last whorl, besides one or more finer ones in the interstices between them. The columella is smooth, covered with a thin callus, developed into a tubercle at the upper part. Labral sinus deepishin the concavity above. Length 34 millim., width 10; aperture 13 long. Bah. Friday Island, Torres Straits, and Prince of Wales Channel, 7-9 fathoms. 38 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. This is a more robust species than P. varicosa of Reeve, is dif- ferently coloured, has more prominent spiral ridges, a larger number of costaj, fewer swollen varices, and a more undulating duplex ridge bordering the whorls above. These two, together with Drillia tiiberosa, Smith, from Japan, form a small group of species peculiar on account of the varicose ribs which strengthen the shell at intervals. * 5. Pleurotoma (Drillia) laterculata. (Plate IV. figs. E-E 1.) Pleurotoma laterculata, Sotverby, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1870, p. 253. Hab. China Seas (Soiverby) ; var. Port Molle, Queensland, 12-20 fms., rocky bottom {Goppinger). As the description given by Sowerby is altogether inadequate, I herewith append a more detailed one drawn up from the type specimen presented by Mrs. Lombc Taylor to the British Museum. Shell fusiform, whitish, much spotted and variegated with reddish brown, principally between the longitudinal ribs, with a light violet aperture. Whorls probably 11 ; two apical broken away ; the rest verj;- concave above, angulated at the middle, a little convex beneath and contracted towards the suture, strengthened with rather oblique costse (about 10 or 11 on the upper whorls), irre- gularly continuous up the spire, somewhat obsolete in the concavity of the whorls, which are also ornamented with two thread-like pale lirae round the middle forming a kind of double angle, con- tinuous between and upon the costce, where they become subacutely prominent ; beneath these, in the penultimate and the antepenulti- mate volutions, there is a third near the suture. Last whorl en- circled with a]iout thirteen similar pale liroe, besides intcrlying finer ones, and several at the extremity which are very oblique. Canal straight, feebly recurved, together with the aperture equalling less than half the whole length of the shell. Columella perpendicular, covered with a thin callosity, developed into a tubercle close to the upper extremity of the outer lip. The latter is thin at the margin, has a strong swollen varix behind, arcuately prominent at the middle, with a well-marked sinus above in the concavity. Length 80 millim., width 10 ; aperture with canal 14 long. Variety. Shell of similar form and with the same sculpture, but much less highly variegated. Of a dirty white colour, stained in the concavity of the whorls at the lower part next the suture and round the middle of the last between the ribs with pale olive-brown. Extremity of the body-whorl and the swollen varix suff'used with a reddish tint. Aperture pale lilac or whitish. The entire surface of this species is seen, by the aid of a lens, to be striated with minute spiral stri?e, crossed by lines of growth. The most striking feature is the two white fine lirations at the middle of the whorls : and although at times there may be one or two beneath them, none appear to be found in the concavity above. The two apical whorls are smooth, glossy, and convex. MOLLUSC A. 39 6. Pleurotoma (Glyphostoma) spurca. (Plate IV. figs. F-F 1.) Clavatula spurca, Himh, Voy, ' Sulphur,'' p. 17, pi. 5. fig. 14 ; Reeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 312. Pleurotoma rava, JReeve (non Hinds), Conch. Icon. fig. 250. Hab. Port Molle, Arafura Sea, N. Australia, 32-36 fms., and Port Darwin, N.W. Australia ( Coppinger). This interesting species is subject to considerable variation both in form and sculpture, but is nevertheless generally very easily recognized by the transverse plaits on the columella and the large deep and laterally directed sinus near the upper end of the much thickened labrum, which is armed within with five or six denticles or short limp not reaching the crenulated edge. The basal canal is contracted and a little recurved. The type has ten costoe upon the last whorl, but this number is sometimes exceeded by two more. The principal lirse are normalljr two in number upon the upper volutions, one being at the middle, the other below, nodulous upon the costse. Above these, occupying the upper part of the whorls, are a few uninterrupted thread-like lira3, about four upon the penultimate and antepenultimate whorls. The body-whorl has about fifteen principal spiral lirse, two of which pass above the extremity of the outer lip. Some varieties have three or even four subequal principal lirte on the lower half of the upper whorls, and twenty to twenty-four upon the last, but all agree in having the finer lines above, which also at times exceed the typical number. The largest specimen considerably exceeds the dimensions of Hinds's type. It is ] 8 millim. in length and 6 in width, measuring above the aperture, which is 8 long. Another smaller example is re- markable for the shortness of the mouth : it is 12 long, 4 broad, with an aperture 4| in length. 7. Pleurotoma ( ?) gracilenta, var. Pleurotoma gTacilenta, Reeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 114. Var. = PI. contracta, Reeve, I. c. fig. 116. Var. = PI. fusoides, Reeve, I. c. fig. 349. Hah. Arafura Sea, N". Australia, 32-36 fms. ; bottom — sand, mud, and shells {Coppinrjer); Philippine Islands (Cuminr/). This species does not conveniently fall into any of the recognized groups of Pleurotomidaj. In form it resembles some species of DajyJmelJa, but has not the minutely reticulated nuclear whorls of that section, and the labral notch is hardly at, but a trifle below, the suture. I fail to perceive any sufficient characters to separate specifically the three so-called species described by Keeve ; indeed PI. co)itracta and PL fnsoides are all but identical. The type of P. gracilenta is a trifle more attenuated than the other two, but scarcely differs in any other respect. All are longitudinally costate and spirally Urate, the costiB numbering about twelve on a whorl, attenuated above at the suture, and becoming obsolete upon the body-volution towards the narrowed anterior end ; the principal 40 COLLECTTONS FROM MELANESIA. transverse lirje are nodose on crossing the ribs, tliree in number npon the upper whorls, a fourth being present upon the lower part of the penultimate and sixteen to eighteen on the last. Another feature worth noticing is the presence of a finer thread-like line above the uppermost of the chief lirse, which runs in a slight con- cavity at the upper part of the whorls. The aperture is narrow, as is the shell itself, not greatly contracted at the canal, and occupies rather less than half the length of the shell. The columella is subperpendicular, a little tortuous and smooth, without lira; or tubercles. The outer lip is thickened with an exterior rib, but thin and sharp at the extreme margin. It is widely and semicircularly notched above just below the suture in the faint concavity of the whorl, and generally in adult shells bears a small tubercle within close to or just below the sinus, with which exception it is smooth. 8. Pleurotoma (Daphnella) axis. Plem'otoma axis, Reeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 311. Hah. Port Molle, 14 fms. (Copjyinger) ; Philippines (Cuming). The apical whorls of this, as in all the other species of the group Daphnella, are microscopically cancellated by oblique criss- cross lines. The four or five succeeding volutions are coarsely can- cellated by longitudinal costse and spiral ridges, the points of inter- section being subnodose. Beyond this the remaining whorls (about three in number) are destitute of the costse, exhibiting only spiral ridging of different degrees of fineness and intermediate finer striae crossed only by the lines of growth. One of these ridges towards the upper part of the whorls is especially prominent, giving them a somewhat shouldered appearauce, and between this and the upper thicl-ened margin there is a decided concavity. The aperture is elongate, contracted anteriorly into a distinct and somewhat recurving canal, together occupying a little less than half the total length of the shell. The labrum is a trifle thickened, presenting exteriorly a slightly swollen appearance, has a rather deep slit above at the suture, is smooth within, and crenu- lated finely along the edge. 9. Pleurotoma (Daphnella) arafurensis. (Plate IV. fig. G.) Shell fusiform, whitish, faintly banded with light brown, spirally ridged and striated and marked with the flcxuous lines of growth. Whorls 7 ; two apical globose, microscopically reticulated, but ap- pearing smooth under an ordinary lens, rather large ; the remain- ing five are convex, a little constricted beneath the suture, and spirally ridged and striated. The upper whorls have four or five principal linr, the uppermost falling just beneath the slight con- striction, and the others below at equal distances. The whorls are thickened at or immediately under the sut'jral line with an elevated MOLLtrsCA. 41 ridge, and between this and the first lira and in the interstices between the other lir;x) the surface is finely striated. The last whorl is elongate, has about thirty-one ridges in addition to the minute infcerstriation. The aperture is narrow, contracted ante- riorly into a short, broadish canal, together equalling almost half the total length of the shell. The columella is perpendicular, curving a little to the left in front, and coated with a very tliin callosity. The labrum is thickened exteriorly, arcuate in the middle, faintly sinuatcd towards the lower extremity, and rather deeply notched in the slight constriction of the whorl near but not at the suture. Length 15 millim., diam, of last whorl above the mouth 4g ; aperture 7 long, 2 wide. Hah. Arafura Sea, N". Australia, 32-36 fms. This species is peculiar on account of the absence of longitudinal costa?. The outer lip is smooth in the single specimen at hand, but in other and more mature shells it might be more or less dentate within. 10, Cythara cylindrica, var, (Plate IV. figs. H-H 1.) Mangelia cylindrica, JReeve, Conch. Icon. sp. 9. Var.=M. lyrica, Reeve, I. c. sp. 30. Hah. Port Curtis, 7 fms, {Coppinger) ; Philippine Islands {C^^m^ng\ This species differs from the typical Ci/tharce in having no trans- verse lirpe on the columella, in this respect agreeing with C. horn- heckii, Reeve, C. turricula, E,eeve, and G. vitiensis, Smith. The variety (C. lyrica) is a trifle larger than the normal form, and the riblets are rather stronger at the upper termination. With these feeble distinctions the differences end. In both forms a minute tubercle is sometimes, but not always, met with upon the upper part of the columella, and about fifteen fine lira3 may be counted within the exteriorly thickened labrum, which is shaUowly sinuated near the suture, and prominently arcuated when viewed laterally. The longitudinal costse number about fourteen on the penultimate whorl, and the principal transverse thread-like liraj about eight, but upon the last volution there are as many as twenty- six. The entire surface is beautifully cancellated with minute raised lines of growth and microscopic spiral lira;, a feature seen only in well-preserved shells and under a powerful lens. The sculptured whorls are six in number, the remaining two apical ones being smooth and glassy. The single specimen, in beautifnl condition, from Port Curtis, presents certain differences which it may be as well to mention. At the upper part the whorls exhibit a faint concavity a little beneath the suture, of which I perceive a trace in the type of the species, but not in the variety (C. lyrica), and the cost?e are rather more numerous, there being about 17 upon the penultimate whorl, 42 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. but the spiral lir?e are normal in this respect. The measurements are:- — • Type : length lOg millim., diameter 3. Var. from Port Curtis : length 12|, diam. 4. 11. Murex tenuispira. Lamarch; Kilsfer, Con.-Cab. p. 27, pi. 11. fig. 3, and pi. 20. fig. 3; Reeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 85; Kiener, pi. 7. fig. 1 ; Soioerby, Gen. Rec. 8f Foss. Shells, pi. 225. fig. 2 ; Thes. Conch, pi. 380. fig. 7. Hab. Torres Straits, 7-10 fms. {Coppinger) ; Darnley Islands, Torres Straits, 20-30 fms. (Brazier) ; Amboina (Qiioy df Gaimard); Moluccas (Kiener). 12. Murex coppingeri. (Plate V. fig. A.) Shell clavately fusiform, whitish, indistinctly banded with pale brown. Whorls 9-9|, three apical smooth, slightly convex, glassy ; the rest angulated near the middle, sloping above, somewhat con- tracted below at the suture, trivaricose, bicostate between the varices : the latter have a single upturned spine arising at the angle, which is marked by a prominent ridge. The ribs are rather obsolete above the angle, and a trifle oblique below it. The slope of the whorls is traversed by about four thread-like lirse, which are most strongly developed upon the upper part of the varices. The lower part of the whorls is ornamented with a few similar lirte. The three varices on the last whorl bear eight principal spines : of these the uppermost is longest and stoutest ; three rest upon the labrum, and five upon the right side of the canal. In addition to these are four or five secondary or smaller intermediary spines on the outer lip, and a small erect one between each of tliose ujjon the canal. The body-whorl is transversely Krato throughout, the lirse being unequal, the larger running parallel with the larger spines, which are somewhat acutely ridged behind and of a brownish tint. The aperture is white, exhibiting traces of three pale brownish zones. The outer lip is thin at the edge and denticulated. The canal is straight, curving a little to the right near the tip. Length 58 millim. ; aperture and canal 41 long. Hah. Arafura Sea, Dundas Straits, 17 fms. This may prove eventually a remarkable variety of M. 7iigrispi- nosa of Ileeve, the only species it is likely to be confounded with. That species, although attaining a larger size, consists of only eight whorls, whilst in M. coppingeri I count nine and a half. The nucleus of the latter consists of two and a half, which are a little convex, together forming a Idunt-topped cone. In the former species there are two nuclear volutions very convex, forming a glo- bose apex. Both species have three varices to a whorl ; but in the interstices in M. nigrispinosa three or even more nodose costae are met with, whilst in the present species there are but two, and these MOLLUSC A. 43 are not nodulous. The whorls in the latter are not so rounded, decidedly more angular above, much more finelj^ spirally ridged, and bear upon the varices shorter, thicker, and more curved spines, which are not purple-black tipped, but white, except along the back, where there is a slight ridge of pale brown. M. trihidus has a different apex, more convex whorls, different coloration, and much coarser and nodose spiral ridging. The number and position of the spines is seen to be very similar in all three species when closely and carefully compared. 13. Murex acanthostephes. (Plate V. fig. B.) Murex (Tribuliis) acanthostephes, Watson, Jqurn. Linn. Soc, Zool. vol. xvi. p. 596. Hah. Arafura Sea, N.W. Australia, in 32-36 fms. ; bottom — mud, sand, and shells. The ' Challenger ' specimen was dredged very near the same spot, in 28 fms. Shell in form and general aspect rather like M. tenuispinn, Lamarck, but with a shorter spire, fewer spines, and a non-canali- culate suture ; whitish, stained irregularly with light olive-brown. Whorls convex, subangular and carinated above the middle, with two or three fine spiral raised lines above the angle upon the sloping and somewhat flattened upper portion, and two or three similar lines below the angle. Varices three on a whorl, bearing five spines upon the convex part and six on the verj- straight beak, with three or four minute secondary ones reflesed and appressed to the surface. The uppermost of all, arising from the carina at the upper part of the whorls, is the longest, slightly curved, very erect, and almost parallel with the axis of the shell. The next, No. 2, is minute, jN^o. 3 a little shorter than No. 1 and arcuate, No. 4 much smaller, and No. 5 a little smaller than No. 3. The spines on the cauda are straighter than those above, hori- zontal, or at right angles to the axis, the third, counting from above, being a trifle the longest, the rest on each side becoming successively shorter. The body-whorl is transversely lirate through- out, the lira; varying in coarseness, the strongest corresponding to the longest spines, and being only slightly wavy, whilst some of the intermediary ones are almost subnodular. The three nuclear whorls arc light brown, glossy, and larger than those of M. tenidspina. The fourth whorl has about eleven short, open, and a little upturned spines, forming a very pretty coronation at a subcentral angle, and has no spiral lines above or below it, but a second series of hollow spines below at the suture, smaller than those above. Length 37millim. ; diameter 12, exclusive of spines. M. tenuisjjina, a near ally, has longer and more numerous spines, a longer and more pointed spire terminating in a smaller apex, a conspicuously channelled suture, and its sculpture is more pro- nounced, the spiral ridges being more granular and the lines of 44 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. growth more conspiciious. In M. acantliosteplies, at the base of the spines on the canal there is a small dark spot on one side, which is best seen when the sliell is wetted. 14. Murex macgillivrayi. (Plate V. fig. C.) Dohrn, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1862, p. 203. Murex macgillivrayi (Miirch !), Sowerbt/, Thes. Conch, vol. iv. p. 3, fig. 162 (wrongly coloured). Hah. Lizard Island {Maegillivray). Port Curtis, Queensland, 0-11 fms. ; Port Darwin, 8-12 fms. ; and Prince of "Wales Channel, Torres Straits, 7-9 fms. {Copj'^inger). The figure in Sowerby's ' Thesaurus ' gives no idea of the colour of this species. The specimens described by Dohrn are overcleaned, and much of the painting is removed. These were in consequence correctly characterized as " white, with yellowish lirse.'' The shells collected by Dr. Coppinger at Port Curtis are in fresh and perfect condition, and show the true colouring of the species. It is a yel- lowish shell, exhibiting throe purplish-brown bands on the body- whorl, of which the uppermost is the broadest, being situated around the broadest part of the volution. The central one is the narrowest in the four specimens under examination, and placed midway between the other two, the lowermost falling at the base of the convexity, or, in other words, immediately below the third spine on the varices. The spiral lirae are fine, reddish, in some examples more deeply coloured than in others, and terninate at the margin of the labrum in red dots, which fall between the lobe-like prolongations. Other larger examples from Port Darwin have the three purplish-brown bands less pronounced and the general tint paler. All have the canal blotched with brown in front belo.v the spine on the dextral margin. One of these blotches, situated between the second and third spines, is constantly the longest. Within the aperture the external banding is seen, and the cavity of the last varix, when not filled with callus, is almost black, forming a dark submarginal stripe. The canal is long and straight, tapering, and blotched with brown in two or three places. The specimens from Torres Straits are paler than the Port-Curtis examples, have but little trace of the bands, and have the uppermost spine longer, curved, and upturned. 15. Murex axicornis. Lamarck ; Kicnei-'s Coq. Viv. pi. 42. fig. 2 ; Reeve, Conch. Icon. pi. 15. fig. 37, pi. 10. fig. 37, var. ; Kiister's Con.- Cab. pi. 21. fig. 3 ; Sowerhy, Thes. Conch, pi. 382. fig. 31. Hah. Moluccas ; Philippines {Reeve) ; Prince of Wales Channel, 5-7 fms., and Thursday Island, Torres Straits, 4 fms. (Copj^inger); Palm Island, N.E. Australia (Brazier). MOLLFSCA, 45 This shell is remarkably prickly when in perfect condition, by reason of the scaly character of tlie transverse ridges. The single and rather young shell from Thursday Island has the spire of a deli- cate pink colour. A second example, from Prince of Wales Channel, belongs to the black-brown variety figured by Reeve (pi. x. fig. 37). IG. Murex cervicornis. Lamarck ; Kiener's Coq. Viv. pi. 20, fig. 2 ; Soiverhy, Oenera Rec. Foss. Shells, fig. 4; id. Then. Conch, pi. 382. fig. 30; lieeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 06; Kobelt, Conch.- Cab. pi. 31. figs. 5, 6. Hab. Thursday Island, 4 fms. ; Prince of Wales Channel ; Torres Straits, 7-9 fms.; Port Darwin, 8-12 fms.; and Clairmout Island, 11 fms. (Goppinger) ; Darnley Island, Torres Straits, 20-30 fms. (Brazier). One specimen obtained by Dr. Coppinger is peculiar on account of the unusual shortness of the canal, and the presence of one, instead of two, spines upon it. Another example is remarkable for its uniform rich brown tint, the ordinary colour of this interesting species being considerably paler. 17. Murex territus. Reeve, Conch. Icon. figs. 167 a, b ; Sowei-bi/, Thes. Con. pi. 9. tig. 77 (fronds on varices incorrect). M urex nubilus (= territus, fun.), Sowerhj, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1859, p. 428, pi. 49. fig. 4 ; Thes. Conch, fig. 71. Hah. Wide Bay and Port Curtis {Mus. Cuming) ; Port MoUe, 15 fms., and Port Curtis, 0-11 fms. {Ooppinger). Although the figures respectively representing the types of M. territus and M. nubilus would not lead one to consider them the same species, still on actual comparison such proves beyond a doubt to be the case. The shell described by Eceve is a tine specimen (alas ! like very many of Mr. Cuming's shells, terribly spoiled by acid in cleaning), with the frondose varices weU developed. The three brown bauds so conspicuous in the young shell {M. nubilus) are only visible on the varices in the adult. The canal is a little arcuate, nearly closed, and somewhat recurved, and bears three principal spines, as mentioned by Sowerby in his description of M. nubilus. Only two are seen in the figures of M. territus, a result due to a fi'acture of the third in the shell figured ; but the presence of it is seen on the penultimate varix in the same illustration. Although, ds a rule, there is but a single tubercle between the varices, yet in some spe- cimens a second smaller one is developed. The two nuclear whorls are smooth, convex, and reddish. 46 COLLECTIONS PEOM MELANESIA. 18. Murex monodon. Soioerby ; Heeve^s Conch. Icon. figs. 21 a,b ; Sowerbi/, Thes. Conch, iv. pi. 385. fio-s. 55, 56; Kiister, Con.-Cah. pi. 10. figs. 1, 2. Mui-ex aranea, Kiener, Coq. Vic. pi. 30. fig. 1. Hah. Albany Island, North Australia, 3-8 fms, {Ooppinger) ; Du- puch's Island, Torres Straits {Reeve). A single specimen from Albany Island belongs to the pale variety (fig. 21 «, Con. Icon.) with a reddish-pink peristome, and has a re- markable frond on the labrum, the second from the top, measuring 55 millimetres in length. The tooth on the labrum exhibits a remarkable development in this species. 19. Fusus hanleyi. Trophon hanleyi, Angas, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1807, p. 110, pL xiii. fig. 1. Fusus hanleyi (-£". Smith .'), Sowerby, Thes. Conch, p. 83, fig. 145. Hah. Port Jackson {Angas and Coppinger) ; Port Curtis {Oop- pinger). Mr. Sowerby erroneously attributes this species to me ; the coarse- ness of his figure renders it of but little use, that in the ' Proceedings' being far preferable. 20. Fusus heptagonalis. Reeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 2Qa,h; Soioerby, Thes, Conch, fig. 132. Hah. ? Port Molle, Queensland {Ooppinger). The colouring of Sowerby's figure is totally incorrect, and it is not nearly so accurate with regard to sculpture as that in the ' Coucho- logia Iconica.' This species is not always heptagonal, the number of ribs in three cases out of four being eight instead of seven. When in fine condition the spiral ridges of this species are finely imbri- cately scaled by the parallel wavy lines of growth. The only spe- cimen obtained by Dr. Coppinger is in a bad state of preservation, and of a considerably more dwarfed or stunted growth than the type and two other specimens in the Eritish Museum. It is, however, adult, exhibiting the thickened lip and eight lirao within of an adult shell. The canal, too, is short, and the last whorl has an inconspicuous pale zone around the middle, also observable in one of the other specimens above referred to. 21. Fusus cereus. (Plate V. fig. D.) Shell short, ovately fusiform, pale yellowish, ribbed, and trans- versely scabrously lirate. Whorls about 8, the remaining six thickened beneath the suture by a stout ridge, then obliquely slo- ping, angled at the middle and contracted at the base, strengthened with eight stout costa3, which are obliquely contiuuous up the spire, and crossed by four spiral squamose liraD, two of them aroiind the lower half of the whorls being twice as thick as the other two above, and particularly prominent upon the ribs. The last volution, in MOLLUSCA. 47 addition to these four, has about nine other equally stout liraj, exclu- sive of four or five finer ones upon the extremity ; all are prettily sealed. The aperture is ovate, contracted anteriorly into a short canal, which is much inclined to the left. The columella is smooth, covered with a thin callus, and the outer lip is armed within with about six coarsish liroe. Length 18 millim., width 8g millim. ; aper- ture and canal 9 millim. long, 3 millim. wide. Hah. Port Curtis, 7 fms, 22. Urosalpinx contracta. Buccinum contractum, Reeve, Conch. Ico)i. fig. 53. ? Buccinum funiculatum, Reeve, I. c. fig. 61. Var. = Urosalpinx iuuotabilis, Smith, Proc. Zool. 8oc. 1879, pi. xx. tig. 32. Hah. Prince of Wales Channel, 5-7 fms. {Goppinger) ; Philip- pine Islands {Reeve) ; Bombay ( W. T. Blanford) ; Japan for U. in- notahilis. The operculum of this species resembles that of Purpura. The species is rather variable in form, the number of costs), in colour, and the length of the basal or anterior canal. The typical form is rather longer, and has a more prolonged canal than the variety from Japan, has more brown colouring, and an additional longitudinal rib. All have from seven to eight elongate denticles or lira) within the labrum, which is thickened within and without, and acute and crenulated along the margin. 23. Tritonidea curtisiana. (Plate V. fig. E.) Shell ovate-fusiform, yellow, banded with white round the middle of the last whorl, with the ribs subaltern ately white also. Volutions about 8, obliquely coarsely costate, and spirally closely ridged, a trifle convex. Costse nine on a whorl, attenuated and produced almost to the base of the last. Sj)iral lira) prominent on the ribs, four in number on the upper whorls, and about sixteen on the last. A])erture small, ovate, narrowed anteriorly, bluish white. Lip thickened, furnished with about nine fine line reaching to the mar- gin, which is dotted with dark brown between them. Columella covered with a thin callosity, upon which rest eight or nine trans- verse tubercles, with brown dots between them. Length 14 millim., diam. G| millim. ; aperture with canal 7 millim. long. Hah. Port Curtis, 1-11 fms. {Coppnnger). This speciesis represented in the present collection by a single specimen : and it is remarkable on account of the peculiarity of its colour, its small size, and comparative solidity. 24. Columbella fulgurans, Lammxlc Hah. West Island, Prince of Wales Channel, Torres Straits {Cop- pinger). 48 COLLECTIONS PKOM MELANESIA. This species has also been recorded from several localities in North-cast Australia by Mr. Brazier in his account of the MoUusca of the ' Chevert ' expedition. 25. Columbella scripta, Lamarck. Hah. Port Molle, Queensland, and Prince of Wales Channel, 5-7 fms. C. versicolor, Sowerby, C. variegata, Menke, 0. hidentata, Menke, and C. tiyriaa, Duclos, appear to be synonymous with this species. 26. Colimihella pardalina. Lamarck; Duchs, Monog. pi. 2. figs. 13, 14 ; Kiener, pi. 4. fig. 3 ; Reeve, Conch. Icon. figs. 75a-c. Hah. Port Molle, on the reef (Coppinger) ; Philippine Islands (Cuming). A single specimen from Port Molle is somewhat narrower than specimens from the Philippines collected by Mr. Cuming. 27. Nassa coronata, Bruguiere. Hah. Port Molle, Queensland, on the beach. A single specimen from this locality is of a uniform light brown tint, with a blotch of a darker colour on the back of the body- whorl. 28. Nassa thersites, Bruguiere. Hah. Port Denison, on the beach. 29. Nassa algida, var. Reeve, Cdnch. Icon. pi. 22. figs. 145 «, 6. Hah. West Island, Prince of "Wales Channel, Torres Straits (Coj)- pinger). This pretty variety is not so broad a shell as the type, almost white, upon which colour the rows of squarish, light brownish spots appear more conspicuous than usual. There are nine whorls, of which the two apical are smooth and convex, the four succeeding ones strongly ribbed and transversely grooved a little beneath the suture, the furrow dividing the ribs into two unequal parts. The three last volutions are smooth, and a little more convex than the sculptured ones above. The length is 20 millim., and the dia- meter U millim. 30. Nassa unicolor. Buccinum laeve sinuatum, Chemnitz, Con.-Cab. iw. pp. 54, 59, pi. 125. figs. 1194, 1195. Buccinum uuicolorum, Kiener, Coq. llv. p. 60. Bucciuuui unicolor, id. I. c. pi, 19. fig. 69. MOLLUSCA. 49 Nassa (Alectrioii) uiiicolor, A. Adams, P. Z. S. \So\, p. 100. Nassa unicolorata, Reeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 1 7. Nassa rutilaiis, Reeve, I. c. p. 147. Nassa Isevis, If. 4' -4. Adams, Genera Mol. vol. i. pp. 110 & 119, pi. V2. fig._7. Nassa (Zeuxis) unicolora, Kiener, Adams, I.e. p. 119. Hah. Cape York, N, Australia {Juices) ; Torres Straits {Brazier); Port Curtis and Port Molle, Queensland, 12-20 fms, (Coppiiiijer); Sir C. Hardy's Island (Jukes). New Zealand, the locality given by Reeve for N. rutilans, is pro- bably incorrect. The operculum of this species is unguiculate, curved, with a ter- minal nucleus and simple unserrated edges. 31. Nassaria suturalis, var. Hindsia suturalis, A. Adams, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1853, p. 183 ; Sowerhy, Thes. Conch, iii. pi. 220. tigs. 15, IG ; Kobelt,in Kiisters Con.-Cab., Purpwacea, pi. 77. tigs. 11, 12. Iliudsia bitubercularis, A. Adams, P. Z. S. 1853, p. 183 j Soioerhy, I. c. tig. 5 ; Kubelt, I. c. tigs. 9, 10. Nassaria recurva, Soicerh/, I. c. tigs. 17, 18. Nassaria sinensis, Soiverbi/, Thesaurus, tigs. 8, 9; Kobelt, tig. 8. Hah. Port Darwin, North-west Australia, 8-12 fms. {Coppinger); China Sea, Philippine Islands, and Ceylon {Adams and Soiverby). A single sjiecimen from Port Darwin agrees precisely with the variety sinensis. After a careful examination of the so-called species which I have united above, I cannot detect any constant differences. The above variety I believe to be founded on non-adult shells for two reasons : — first, I find only six whorls, exclusive of the smooth apical ones, being one less than in the typical suturalis ; and, secondly, the aperture is larger, a result due to the less degree of thickening of the labrum and columella. It is true that the suture is less excavated, but this concavity is variable in specimens un- doubtedly normal. The number of costte is also inconstant, varying from nine to twelve on a whorl ; in the former case, as might be ex- pected, being thicker than in the latter. The tuberculation and liration on the columella depend for the amount of their develojiment upon age, adult shells having a larger quantity and a greater expan- sion of the free columellar caQosity than young specimens, but the lirae within the outer lip, wlien countable, are generally about nine iu number, 32. Phos scalaroides. A. Adams; Sowerhy'' s Thes. Conch, vul. iii. pi. 221. tig. 13. Hah. Prince of "Wales Channel, Torres Straits, 9 fms, i^Cop- pinr/er). This form 1 cannot separate satisfactorily from P. plicatus and P. textilis, both of A. Adams ; and I am of opinion that w ere tlie E 50 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. series before me larger, there would be little difficulty in showing the specific identit}'. The single specimen from Torres Straits is smaller than the type in the Cumingian collection, and consists of nine whorls, three of which form the smooth pinkish nucleus. The brown zone around the middle of the body-whorl is uninterrupted, and passes up the spire just above the suture, beneath which the whorls are also stained with the same colour. The columella is smooth, Avith the exception of one or two elongate tubercles at the upper part ; and the labrum is armed within with about fifteen fine lira?, running far within the aperture. 33. Phos senticosus, var. Murex senticosus, Linn. Var. = Phos muriculatus, Gould. Var. = Phos angulatus, Sowerby. Hah. West Island, Prince of Wales Channel, Torres Straits (Co2:>p{n(/er) ; Port Essington, 7 fms. {Juices in Brit. Mus.). The variety muricuUttus cannot, I think, be distiuguished from the well-known P. senticosus, of which it has the aspect of being a dwarfed form. The style of coloration is similar, and the dift'erence in sculpture is very slight indeed, not sufficient to warrant, in my opinion, a specific separation. In the British Museum I find a series graduating from the short stumpy form of P. muriculatus to the more graceful elongate outline of P. senticosus, the latter con- sisting of eight whorls, exclusive of the smooth apex, and the former of six, other specimens intermediate with regard to length having seven. P. angulatus appears to offer very slight differences beyond the absence in a greater or less degree of colour. 34. Purpura bitubercularis, var. Lamarck ; Kiener, Coq. Viv. pi. xi. fig. 32 ; Reeve, Conch. Lc. fig. 37 ; Kdster, Conch.-Cab. pi. 31 a. figs. 3-8. = Purpura kienerii, Deshnyes, Anim. sans Vert. vol. x. p. 101. Var. = Purpura undata, Heeve (? Lamarck), Conch. Leon. fig. 43. Hab. Philippine Islands (Cuming); Port Essington (Juhes); Arakan coast {Blanford) ; Pelew Islands (Dr. King) ; Port Molle, Uueensland ( Co^^pinger). This species varies considerably in the length and development of the tubercles. The two small specimens from Queensland have them short and obtuse, as represented in fig. 3 of Kiister. Some other forms, which have been described under various names, may eventually be considered conspecific with this : such are P. luteo- stoma, Chemnitz, P. alveolata, Heeve, P. clavigera, Kiister, and perhaps P. bronni, Dunker. I cannot, however, agree with Tryon that P. hippocastanum should also be classed with this species. I should here observe that the specimen figured by Eeeve as P. undata of Lamarck is unquestionably a variety of this species (bitubercularis), MOLLUSC A. 51 and appears to correspond with Kiener's idea of the Lamarckian shell (Coq. Viv. fol. 34, f. 81) and also with the specimen figured by Kiister (Con.-Cab. pi. 23. f. 5). But whether all or none of these figures delineate the true P. undata appears to me questionable. However, I do not believe that the West-Indian shell which has been assigned to it by d'Orbigny (Eamon de la Sagra's Hist. Cuba, vol. ii. p. 145) and those figured by Tryon (Man. Couch, f. 82, 100 103, and 109) can beyond a doubt be considered Lamarck's sj)ecies. The dimensions he gives, namely 22 lines in length, exceed those of the West-Indian examples; nor does the description of the colour, " albo et fusco-nigricante longitudinaliter undatimque picta,'' apply well to those shells, but admirably suits the specimens figured by Kiister, Reeve, and Kiener. The locality, " Monte Christi, West Columbia,'' given by Reeve for his shell is no doubt erroneous, and applies to two others on the same tablet, considered by Cuming the same species, but which on careful examination prove to be without doubt examples of P. biserialis, Elainville { = P. bicostalis. Reeve, ? of Lamarck). This species has a character not found in P. hitu- hercularis and its varieties, namely the oblique plications on the lower part of the columella ; and P. fasciata of Reeve, which is also conspecific with P. undata^ d'Orb. (non Lamk.), and P. forbesii, Dunker, also has on the columella a distinguishing character which has not been noticed, viz. a small brown stain, most observable in fresh specimens, at the inferior end, and an oblique mark of the same colour in a line with the raised ridge at the base of the body- whorl. 85. Purpura (Cronia) amygdala. Purpura amygdala, Kiener, Coq. Viv. p. 39, pi. 10. fig. 26 ; Chenu, Man. de Conch, fig. 807. Buccinum amygdala, Reeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 60. Hah. Port Denison, 4 fms. {Coppinger) ; Home Islands, off Cape Grenville, N.E. Australia, also Moretou Bay, Port Jackson, and Port Darwin (Brazier). The operculum of this species is normally Purpuroid, although the basal channel of the aperture is unusually narrower than in the genus. 36. Sistrum undatum, var. Ricinula fiscellum, Reeve (non Chenmitz), Conch. Icon. pi. 4. fig. 28. Hah. Port Darwin {Coppinger) ; Port Essington (Jiil-es in Brit. Mus.). This variety is ulso (juoted from the north coast of Australia by G. and H. Xevill (Journ. Asiatic Soc. Bengal, 1875, vol. xliv, pt. 2, p. 83). It differs from the typical form of this well-known s])ecies in its greater bi'eadth, in having fewer and larger nodose plications, and in the fineness and closeness of the transverse squamose ridges. E 2 52 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. 37. Sistrum tuberculatum. Purpura tubercxilatum, Blamville, Nonv. Arch, clu Mvs. vol. i. 1832, p. 204, pi. 9. fig. 3. Riciuula tuberculata, Heeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 11. Purpura tuberculata, Kiener, C'oq. Vh\ pi. 5. fig. 10. Purpura gi-auulata, Duclos, Ami. Sci. Nat. 1832, vol. xxvi. pi. 2. fig. 9. ? Purpura margiualba, Blamville, I. c. p. 212, pi. 10. fig. 6. Ifab. Lord Hood aud Elizabeth Islands (Cummg); Madagascar and Red Sea {Blainville) ; New Holland and the Friendly Islands {Kiener) ; Port Essington, Port Jackson, Brisbane, Japan, Stewart Island, and Lord Hood's Island (Bnt. 2Ins.) ; Port Molle and Port Curtis, Queensland {Copijincfer); Seychelles and Amirantes Islands (Dufo) ; Reunion (Deshayes) ; Mauritius (Martens). 38. Latirus angustus. (Plate Y. fig. F.) Shell narrow, fusiform, of a rich brown colour. Whorls llg ; the two apical ones smooth, forming a bluutish apex, the rest strongly ribbed and spirally ridged. liibs a little oblique, very broad, rounded, with scarcely any interstices, not reaching the upper boundary of the whorls. Transverse lirac or ridges strong : three principal ones on the upper whorls ; the uppermost, or that almost bounding the suture, a little wavy, scarcely afl:ected by the longi- tudinal costoe ; the two otbers situated round the middle of the whorls, prominent, and rather acute on the ribs ; between these are fine thread-like lirae, generally one in each interstice. Last whorl similarly lirated throughout with large and small ridges. The entire surface of the shell exhibits between the transverse lirje coarse lines of growth. Aperture small, subpyriformly ovate, brownish white within, with about four slender white lirse not reaching to the margin of the labrum, which is crenulated and dotted with brown at the ends of the exterior ridge. Columella covered with a promi- nent brownish callosity bearing two fine transverse plaits, one at the middle and the other below it. Canal almost straight and nearly closed. Length 38 millim., diameter 9. Hab. Eitzroy Island, Queensland ( (7opjw;(/fr) ; Andaman Islands (teste G. B. Sowerby,jun.). This species may be recognized by its slender form, in which respect it somewhat resembles L. lancea. Viewed with the un- assisted eye, the wborls appear to bo encircled by three transverse prominent liroe, of which the uppermost is nearly simple, whilst the two inferior ones are undulate upon aud between the ribs. The specimen said to have come from the Andaman Islands, appa- rently adult, is smaller than that from Queensland, being 20 millim. long and 6^ broad, but in other respects similar. MOLLUSCA. 63 39. Turbinella (Tudicula) armigera. (Plate V. fig. G.) Tudicla armigera, A. Adams, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1855, p. 221 ; Kobelt, Conch.-Cali., Furpuracea, ii'i. p. 20 ; Tri/on, Man. Conch, vol. iii. p. 144, pi. 58. fig. 411. Hab. Moreton Bay {Strange) ; Port Curtis, 0-11 fms., and Port MoUe, 14 fms. {Coppinger). As the Latiu diagnosis given by Adams is defective in several important points, I here give a more ample description of this remarkable species. Shell clavately fusiform, whitish, longitudinally streaked with reddish brown, clothed with a rather thin, somewhat fibrous, yellowish ejndcrmis. Spire short, concavely conical, obtuse and mamillated at the apex. Whorls G ; the two nuclear ones smooth, convex ; the three following nearly flat or a little concave and sloping, angled at the lower part near the suture, bearing at the angle a series of upturned, slightly recurved hollow spines, orna- mented with fine wavy spiral lirations both above and below the angle. Last whorl like the three preceding at the upper part, but having the spines, about nine in number, much longer, increasing in length with the growth of tlie shell ; body of whorl a trifle convex, indistinctly variced or costate beneath each spine, bearing three to five lirse armed with numerous short hollow spines, the interstices being ornamented with two or three thread-like lirations ; lower part of the whorl prolonged into a straight canal occupying about half the length of the entire shell, bearing two obli(iue rows of spines, those of the upper series being considerably longest : a third row is also indicated at the lower part, and the entire rostrum is obliquely lirated throughout. Aperture ovate, white or pinkish white. Outer lip thickened, crenulated at the margin, with about eight lirse within. Columella covered with a large erect spreading callosity extending from the upper extremity of the labrura to i.he lower end of the aperture, armed with three plaits, of which the lowermost is the thickest. Operculum ovate, acute at the nucleus, which is terminal, brown. Length G5 millim., greatest diam. 30. This beautiful shell was originally placed in Tudicla, one of those non-admissible divisions of Bolton, and subsequently a new genus, Tudicula, was proposed by H. and A. Adams (P. Z. S. 1863, p. 429) for the reception of this and a second species, T.spinosa, also from Port Curtis. A third form, T. inermis, has more recently been described by Mr. G. P. Angas, presumed to have come from Singa- pore. All of these species have the plaits on the columella, the mamillated apex, and the largely developed and prominent callosity on the inner lip as in the typical forms of Turbinella., e. g. T.pyrum and T. rapa., and differ mainly in the greater length of the canal. The operculum, too, is essentially the same ; and therefore the utility of this generic division becomes very questionable. 54 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. 40. Turbinella (Tudicula) spinosa. (Plate V. fig. H.) Tudicla (Tudicula) spinosa, H. <^- A. Adams, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1863, p. 4:29. Hab. Port Curtis {Coll. Cuming) ; Prince of Wales Channel, Torres Straits, 9 fms. {Coppinger). This species is not entirely white as originally described, but has an interrupted zone of pale brown around the last whorl immediately beneath the crown of short hollow spines at the angle towards the upper part of the whorl. The spines correspond in number and position with the longitudinal rounded plicte (usually averaging about eleven or twelve on the last whorl), are directed obliquely upwards and a little backward, and increase in length with the growth of the shell, but do not attain any thing like the dimensions of some in the preceding species. Messrs. x\.dams give the number of folds on the columella as three ; whilst in three out of four speci- mens before me I find four, of which the two lowermost are very close together and might be regarded as constituting one duplex plait. In the typo specimen this feature is less conspicuous, still a slight groove subdivides it. The second or central fold is the most prominent in every example. The lirae within the aperture ai'e fine, ten or eleven in number, and extend into the interior as far as the eye can reach. The columellar callosity is free, prominent, and joins the upper extremity of the labrum. The canal is remarkably straight, nearly closed, and occupies considerably more than half the total length of the shell. The type is 38 millim. long and 16 broad at the periphery ; but another specimen is 21 wide, and probably, if perfect, would have a length of 50. Mr. Tryon's supposition that this species (Man. Con. vol. iii. p. 144) is " probably identical with T. armigcra " and that T. inermis (wrongly attributed to Sowerby instead of Angas) " is simply a depauperated specimen of tlie same species," is altogether wrong, all three being undoubtedly distinct. 41. Mitra proscissa, var. (Plate V. fig. I.) Heeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 177; Soiverhy, Thes. Conch, pi. 355. fig. 264, and pi. 356. fig. 282. Shell ovately fusiform, acuminate at the apex, olive-brown, irregularly spotted and streaked in a longitudinal direction with white, and encircled round the middle of the last whorl with a zone of the same colour. Volutions about 10 ; the upper ones flat at the sides, separated by a deep subcanaliculate suture, strengthened with three strong spiral costoe, of which the uppermost is a trifle the thickest and situated immediately beneath the suture ; the two others are equidistant, the lowermost leaving a furrow between it and the suture beneath. The iuterstices are rather strongly sculp- tured by elevated lines of growth. Upon a portion of the penulti- mate and uj)on the body- whorl the two lower of these three ridges become double, each being divided by a shallow groove, and the uppermost is bipartite. In addition to these the last whorl, which is convex at the sides, is encircled by a fourth duplex costa, and MOLLrSCA. 65 again below this by about seventeen others, having the furrows between them sculptured like those of the spire. The aperture is narrow, brownish within, about half as long as the shell. The columella is four-plaited, and the outer lip crenulated at the edges. Length 37 millim., diam. 13. Hah. Port Curtis, Queensland {Coppinger) ; island of Ticao, Philippines {Cuming). The above description has been drawn up from two specimens differing in certain particulars from the type, one from each of the above localities. In the British Museum thei'e are two examples of the typical form from Kurrachee and Bombay, presented by W. T. Blanford, Esq., by whom they were collected. The variety differs in having the spire ungradated, a feature giving the outline a very different form, and in having some of the upper liraa upon the last and preceding whorls double ; both forms have that immediately beneath the suture more or less tripartite on the last volution, but in the variety this peculiarity extends to the penultimate whorl. 42. Mitrai peasei. Dohrn, Proc. Soc. Zool. 1800, p. 366; Soxcerby, Thes. Conch, iv. pi. 357. fig. 76. Hah. Port MoUe {Coppinger) ; Australia (Dohrn). The figure in Mr. Sowerby's work of this species represents the spire too suddenly tapering, the aperture too wide, and the plaits on the columella should be less equal in size and five in number instead of four. The specimen from Port MoUe is not absolutely identical with the type described by Dohrn ; it is rather shorter, yellowish, with a white zone at the upper part of the whorls, and another round the middle of the body-whorl. But the principal difference lies in the greater coarseness of the spiral ridges : of these the upper volutions have three, the penultimate four, and the last about twenty-four ; the uppermost beneath the suture is a duplex one, and those upon the body-whorl become gradually finer towards the anterior end. The five plaits on the columella gradually diminish in size until the lowermost is almost obsolete, indeed in one specimen in the Cumingian collection it is entirely wanting. The grooves between the ridges are crenulated by elevated lines of growth, which in the specimen from Port Molle are particularly strongly developed. 43. Mitra (Turricula) corrugata. Mitra corrugata, Lamarck ; Reeve, Conch. Icon. figs. 57 a, b ; Kiener, Coq. Viv. Yil 22. tig. 67; Sowerby, Tlies. Conch, vol. iv. pi. 354. figs. 41, 42. Hah. Port !Molle, on the beach. A specimen from the above locality, of immature growth, is peculiar in wanting the fourth small lowermost fold on the columella* usually met with in this species, in other respects according very closely with the form depicted by Reeve's figure 57 h. 5G COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. 44. Voluta volva, var. (Plate V. fig. K.) {Chemnitz ?), Reeve, Coneh. Icon. fig. 24. Yoluta pallida, Grai/, Kiener, Coq. Viv. pi. 48. Hah. Thursday Island, Torres Straits, 3-4 fathoms. Typical specimens of V. volva should be uniformly of a fleshy buff tint, exhibiting the slightest indication of two bands of a somewhat darker colour across the body-whorl ; the normal volutions should be spotted with dark brown immediately beneath the suture, and stained with yellowish brown above it, and the aperture at a short distance from the margin of the lip should be of a lighter brown. Two specimens from Swan River, presented to the British Museum by Capt. Mangles, E.N., possess the above characteristics, but in addition have numerous, more or less wavj'^ and zigzag pale brownish lines, most conspicuous upon the two indistinct transverse zones, extending downwards from the suture, but not reticulating in a longitudinal direction. The only specimen obtained by Dr. Coppinger, although having the labrum much broken away, still possesses considerable interest in that it resembles the specimens just mentioned, but with all the tints much darkened, in which respect it approximates more closely to V. reticulata, Reeve ; indeed the group of Volutes from North, North-west, and West Australia includes a number of species which appear to have several charac- ters in common, and present considerable difficulty of distinction : such are, in addition to those previously mentioned, V. tarneri, Gray, V. pra^texta. Reeve, and V. ellioti, Sowerby. 45. Ranella rana. Murex rana, Linn., Hanley, Ipsa Linn. Conch, p. 284. Eanella albivaricosa, Reeve, Conch. Icon, fig. 2; Kohelt, Con.-Cab, p. 183 pi. 38. figs. 4, 6, 8, 9. Bursa sueusonii, Morch, Cat. Yoldi, p. 106. Var. = Ranella subgranosa, Beck, Reeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 1 ; Soiverbi/y Co7ich. III. fig. 18; Kobelf, Con.- Cab. p. 135, pi. 39. fig. 2. = Ranella beckii, Kiener, Coq. Viv. p. 5, pi. 4. fig. 1. Hub. Port Molle, Queensland, 14 fms., rock. Other localities attributed to this species are China and Ceylon (albivaricosa) ; Philippine Islands and China (subgranosa) ; Nicobar Islands {suensonii). 46. Eanella pulchella. Forbes, Voyaeje of the ' Rattlesnake; vol. ii. (1852), p. 382, pi. 3. figs. 6 alb. Ranella jucunda, A. Adams, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1853, p. 70. ffccb. North Australia (Adams); dredged in 8 to 11 fms. water, on a bottom of sand and shells, between Cumberland Island and Point Slade (lat. 21° S., long. 149° 20' E.) (Forbes) ; Port Curtis, MOLLUSCA. 57 11 fms., and Port Molle, 14 fms. {Coppinger) ; Palm Island, Cape York, Cape Grenville, Darnley Island, &;c. (Brazier). "The two embryonic whorls of this pretty species are smooth, glossy, and very convex. The colour of the fresh specimen from Port Curtis is light yellowish brown, with a dark brown band at the upper part of the whorls immediately beneath the suture. The operculum is ovate, rather acuminated below, concentrically striated, with the nucleus near, but not at, the lower extremity. 47. Natica (Lunatia) plumbea. Natica plumbea, Lamarck, Philippi in Kilster^s Con.-Cab. p. 61, pi. 8. figs. 3, 4 ; Reeve, Conch. Icon. figs. 34 a, b. Natica strangei, Reeve, I. c. figs. 81 a, h. Exemplum distortura= Natica leucophaea, Reeve, I, c. figs. 51 a, b. Hah. Port Denison, Queensland, on the shore {Coppinger) ; Cape Upstart, and from north of Cape Hillsboro', N.E. Australia, crawl- ing on sand- or mud-banks at low-water mark {J. B. Jukes in Brit. Mus.) ; Port Essiugton (Capt. Wiclcham, E.N.) ; Brisbane Water (Strange) ; New South Wales (Angas), &c. 48. Natica limpida. (Plate V. fig. L.) Shell subglobose, thinnish, semitransparent, whitish, somewhat narrowly unbilicated, glossy, sculptured with fine lines of growth. Spire small, culminating in an obtuse apex. Whorls 3|, very convex, rapidly increasing, separated by a simple linear suture, beneath which there is a narrow opaque-white margin. Aperture rather more than semicircular, narrower above than at the lower part. Columella slightly oblique, straightish or only feebly arcuate, a little thickened, somewhat expanded at the upper part, and joined to the extremity of the outer lip by a thin callosity. Outer lip (viewed laterally) a trifle oblique, and exhibiting near the suture a small shallow sinuation. Umbilicus rather narrow, without any internal ridge. Operculum unknown. Length 8 millim. ; greatest diameter i), smallest 6^. Hah. West Island, Prince of Wales Channel, Torres Straits, 7 fms. This may prove eventually to be the young state of the species, a supposition partly based upon the larger size of the nuclear whorls and partly upon the thin semitransparent character of the shell. 49. Natica (Mamma) columnaris. Natica columnaris, Rech(z, Reeve, Conch. Icon. figs. 19 a, b. Hah. Prince of Wales Channel, 9 fms. (Coppinger) ; Philippine Islands (Cuming) ; Ceylon (E. W. H. Holdsworth iji Brit. Mus.). 58 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. 50. Natica (Mamma) cumingiana. Natica cumingiana, Eecluz, Reeve, Conch. Icon. figs. 13 fi, h ; Philippi, Con. -Cab. p. 47, pi. 7. fig. 5. Var. = Natica powisiana, Itechtz, Reeve, I. c. figs. 22 a, b; Fhilippi, I. c. p. 4G, pi. 7. fig. 4. Var.=Natica draparnaudi, Recluz, Journ. de Conch, vol. ii. pi. 5. fig. 11 ; Reeve, I. c. figs. 44 a, b. Hah. Port Molle, Queensland. The only specimen from this locality is half-grown, white, with a broad and gradually enlarging band of a rich brown colour round the body-whorl, with another narrower yellowish one beneath the suture, and a third, also of a yellowish tint, bordering the carina circumscribing the umbilicus ; this is less open than in the adult shell figured by Reeve. 51. Eulima martinii, var. A. Adams, Thes. Conch, pi. 109. fig. 5; Sotverby, Conch. Icon. fig. 6. Shell elongate-pyramidal, slightly recurved and laterally flexuous towards the apex, white, rather transparent behind the varices (perhaps due to the youth of the specimen), which are in a single oblique series from the labrum upwards. Whorls very slightly convex, eleven remaining in the single shell under examination, which may not be full-grown ; apical ones broken off. Outlines of the spire for the most part rectilinear, but a little contracted near the summit, thus giving the shell a somewhat club-shaped appear- ance. Last whorl broad, indistinctly obtusely angled at the peri- phery. Aperture pyriform, oblique. Outer lip prominent near the middle, feebly sinuated above. Columella arcuate, thickened with a reflexed callosity which joins the upper termination of the labrum. Length 19 millim., diam. 7 ; aperture h\ long, 3^ wide. Hah. Warrior Reef, Torres Straits, on a bottom of pearl-shells (Avieida marr/aritifera) {Coppinger); China Sea (^Adams); Darnley Island, Torres Straits {Brazier). This is as broad a shell as E. martinii of A. Adams, and is solely distinguished by the greater height of the whorls. Having but one specimen (and that probably not adult) to base an opinion upon, it would be unwise to hold it distinct on account of this single difference. Sowerby gives the locality of this species " St. Helena," which is unsupported by any authority and almost cer- tainly a mistake. 52. Strombus campbelli. Gray, Griffith's An. Kim/., Moll. pi. 25. fig. C ; Sotverby, Thes. Conch, pi. 6. figs. 22, 23 ; Reeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 45 ; Chenu, Manuel, tig. 1600. Hah. Port Denisou (4 fms,). Port Molle, and Friday Island, MOLLUSCA. 69 Torres Straits ( Coppinger) ; Cape Grenville, North-east Australia (15 fms.), and Long Island, Torres Straits {Brazier). The operculum is narrow, deeply and acutely serrate on one margin, smooth on the other, and has a raised ridge running from the smaller end almost to the opposite extremity. 53. Terebellum suhulatum, Lamardc. Hah. Flinders Is., Clairmont Is., North-east Australia, 11 fms. {Copjjinge^-), 54. C3rpr£ea arabica, Linn. Hah. Port Molle coral-reef. 55. Cyprasa lynx, Linn. Hab. Port Molle coral-reef. 56. Cyprasa annulus, Linn. Hah. Port Molle coral-reef. 57. Cypraea errones, Linn. Hah. Port Molle, Queensland (Ooppinger) ; New South Wales, rare ! {Angus) . The only example of this species from the above locality is of unusually small size. It is only 19 millim. in length and 10 i wide. 58. Cypraea walkeri. Gray, Reeve, Conch. Icon. figs. 50 a, b, &c. Hab. Flinders Is., Clairmont Is., North-east Australia, 11 fms., sand and mud {Coppinger); Philippine Islands {Sowerby, Thes.) ; Palm Island and Cape Grenville, North-east Australia, also Darnley Island, Torres Straits {Brazier). 59. Ovnla (Radius) angasi. Ovulum angasi, Adams, Reeve, Conch. Icon. figs. 43 a, b. Volva angasi, Angas, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1807, p. 207, Hab. Port Curtis, 11 fms., sand and shell bottom {Coppitiger) ; Port Curtis {Reeve) ; Watson's Bay, New South AVales, on a branch of red Gorgonia, amongst the rocks at extreme low water {Angas). In the brief description in the ' Conchologia Iconica ' one or two important characters are not noticed. The dorsal surface of the shell towards both ends is very prettily sculptured in an oblique direction with fine wavy strife, as indicated in the figure in the above work, the waviness being due to the fine transverse lines of growth. The colour is white, more or less transparent. 60 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. with the extreme tips tinged with orange or pink. The ventral surface is peculiarly humpy near the middle, owing to a consider- able deposit of callus. Figure 43 a represents the dextral outline rather too prominent, and both this and fig. 43 b delineate the shell too broad and the outer lip too thick. 60. Littorina scabra. Linn., Philippi's Ahbild. vol. ii. p. 221, pi. 5. figs. 3-7 ; Reeve, Conch. Icon. figs. 21 a-d. Hob. Thursday Island, Torres Straits, in mangrove-swamps. 61. Littorina filosa. Soioerly, Genera Rcc. 8f Foss. Shells, fig. 5 ; Heere, Co7ich. Syst. pi. 212. fig. 5 ; Conch. Icon. figs. 24 a-c; Philippi, Ahhild. vol. iii. pp. 46 & 55, pi. 6. fig. 4, and pi. 7. figs. 1, 2. Hah. Eoko Island, Endeavour Strait, North Australia, in man- grove-swamps. 62. Littorina mauritiana, Lamarclc (Var, diemenensis.) Hah. Port Jackson {Ooppinrjer). This species is very variable in size, the difi^erence in this respect being the only distinction between the typical form and the variety named L. diemenensis by Quoy and Gaimard {vide Philippi's excel- lent monograph of this genus in the ' Abbild. und Beschreib. neuer Conch.' vol. ii. p. 195). L. antipodum of Philippi (?. c. pi. 4. fig. 2) and L. acuta of Menke are also small varieties. The European L. neritoides of Linn. ( = Turho cceridescens of Lamarck) is considered the same species by Mr, Tenison- Woods (Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, vol. iii. pp. 65-72) ; but this determination, I think, requires still further substantiation, and I rather incline with Philippi to retain that form as distinct. Littorina siczac is a well-known West-Indian species, but is also recorded from the Ked Sea and Kangaroo Island, South Australia, by Philippi, who remarks that it is scarcely separable from L. mauritiana, with the exception of colour and, in most cases, a slight difference in the transverse stria- tion (?. c. p. 165). Mr. Tenison-Woods believes it to be only a variety, but at the same time is not prepared to assert this posi- tively. He also fails to see any specific difference between this shell and L. africayia (Krauss), Philippi. I should here point out that the shell figured by Keeve (Conch. Icon. figs. 37 a, b) is not the true Philippian species, but merely L. mauritiana ; and consequently if Mr. Tenison-Woods based his opinion upon that figure he is certainly correct. L. africana is compared by its author with L. neritoides, from which it is said to differ in sculpture, form, and the columella. MOLLUSCA. 61 The L. Jcevls of Reeve is also L. viaiir'itiana, and quite distinct from the L. Icevis of Philippi (?. c. vol. iii. p. 10, pi, 6. fig. 6), which is also from the Mauritius. L. unduJata of Gray is also considered a variety of L. mauritiana by Mr. Tenison-Woods (l. c. p. 72) ; but here I think he overstrains the power of variation. Besides the difference in form and colour, the violet columella and sculpture readily distinguish that shell. In adopting the Lamarckian name L. ccfndescens, even supposing the Mediterranean and Australian shells were the same species, I think Mr. Tenison-Woods is wrong, considering what is said upon this point by Philippi (op. cit. vol. ii. p. 166), Hanley ('Ipsa Linnsei Conchylia,' p. 326), Jeffreys, and others. 63. Risella lutea. Trochus luteus, Quo)/ Sf Gaimard, Voij. ^Astrolabe,'' vol. iii. p. 271, pi. 62. figs. 8-11 ; 'Kiener, Coq. Viv. pi. 38. fig. 2. Trochus cicatricosus, Jonas, rhilipprs Ahbild. pi. 2. fig. 2. Bembiciiim hiteum, Philippi, Zeitsch. Mnl. 1846, p. 132. Risella lutea, Philippi, Kiider's Con.-Cah. p. 4, pi. 1. figs. ], 2. Risella kielmannseggi, Zelehor, J^erhandl. zool.-botan. Gesellsch. Wien, 1866, vol. xvi. p. 913 ; Voy. ' Novara,' pi. xi. figs. 11 a-d. Hah. Port Jackson, Port Denison, Port Curtis, and Port Molle (Coppinger). This genus has been suppressed by Mr. Tenison-Woods (Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, 1879, vol. iii. p. 61); but, in my judgment, it may be retained with advantage as distinct from Littorina. The Trochoid form and flattened base of the species is not approached in that genus, and the character of the columella is very different. According to Mr. Tenison-Woods there is but one species ot Risella in Australia (H. melanostoma of Gmelin), under which name he includes fifteen varieties or species, which have been named and described by Lamarck, Quoy, Gray, Philippi, and others. Although the separation of many species or constant local forms seems impossible, we must not therefore ignore their existence. Riaella bruni is a South-Australian shell, and does not attain any thing like the size of several of the other species, e. g. R. nana, R. mdanostoma, and R. imhricata. Although it might be possible to get together an immense series of specimens which would unite step by step the two most extreme forms, nevertheless the R. hruni would still remain the small species from South Australia, and the other, the R. imhricata from Sydney, Port Stephens, &c., would also be recognizable as such. I am far from admitting the validity of all the described species ; but there are some, I think, which may be retained, at all events, with conv.'nience. It is not my intention now to discuss this subject further, but, in conclusion, will call attention to Philippi's mono- graph of the genus, w^hich has been altogether overlooked by Crosse (Journ. de Conch. 1864) aud by Tenison-Woods ; it was published in 1853 in Kiister's ' Conchylien-Cabinet,' and contains the following 62 - COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. species, not mentioned by the above authors : — R. Jimbriata, JR. flavescens, R. grisea, and R. plicatula. Another species which has also escaped attention is the Trochus melanostoma of Reeve (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1842, p. 185 ; Conch. Sjst. vol. ii. pi. 218. fig. IG). This is the same as RiseJla fimbriata of Philippi, which I think should be regarded as a large form of R. melanostoma, Gmelin ; and with this species I would also unite R. fiavescens and R. pUcatida of Philippi. Dunker has also described a species from Sydney under the name of R. crassa, which appears to be remarkable on account of a thickened channelled lip (Mai. Bliit. 1861, vol. viii. p. 42). R. Jcielmannseggl, Zelebor, is the R. lutea, Quoy, of which R. imbricata may be a variety. The two following species resemble Risella in form, but have the concentric multispiral operculum of Ti'ocJms, from which they are distinguished by their non-pearly apertures — Trochus tantillus, Gould, and Risclla isseli, Semper. The Tectarhis luteus of Gould, Risella infracostata, Issel, R. par- vula, Dunker (? = tantillus), and Trochus conoidaUs of Pease will probably have similar opercula ; these four species differ from Risella not only in the operculum, but in being narrowly per- forated. The statement with regard to Risella aurata being the male of R. nana (although both are hermaphrodite) made by Mr. Tenison- Woods (Proc. Linn, Soc. N. S. Wales, vol. i. p. 244), and that " cdl breed freely with one another," seems to me to re- quire some further corroboration. He himself hesitates to assert positively that either of these two forms are incapable of repro- ducing their own kind, " for there are many places on the coast where no species can be found except the variety now known as R. aurata." This, in my judgment, proves that that species at all events is self-propagating ; yet Mr. Tenison- Woods says that specimens of this species kept in glass jars for a few weeks did not become fertile. Experiments miide for so short a time are far from conclusive, especially when made under such artificial conditions. 64. Eissoina clathrata. A. Adams, Proc. Zool. Soc. 18-51, p. 265; Schwartz von Muhrenstern, Denkschrift. Akad. Wissenschaft. Wien, 1861, vol. xix. pt. 2, p. 154, pi. vi. tig. 49 ; S^nith, Journ. Linn. Soc. vol. xii. p. 553. Hab. Prince of Wales Channel, 7 fms. {Coppinger) ; Philippine Islands {^Cuming) ; var. minor, from the Caroline Islands (J. Brazier) . The specimen obtained by Dr. Coppinger is of a yellow-wax colour, faintly tinged with rose towards the apex and at the aper- ture. It has the upper whorls broken off, the remaining four and a half measuring 10 miUim. in length. The figures in KUster'a ' Conchylieu-Cabinet,' pi. iv. figs. 12, 13, do not give the faintest idea of this species, and probably represent another. MOLLUSCA. 03 65. Rissoina curtisi. (Plaie Y. fig. M.) Shell elongate, thick, white, very coarsely cancellated. Number ' of whorls unknown, the apex being broken off ; the remaining four are obliquely sloping at the upper part, and, with the exception of the last, biangulated at the sides, the angles being caused by the prominence of two spiral liraj upon the longitudinal costse. A third lira is seen at the base of the whorls at the suture. The costoe are about fourteen on a whorl, about as thick as the transverse ridges, and nodulous at the points of intersection. The body-whorl has five spiral lir?e, the lowermost being separated from those above by a broad smooth furrow, in which the costas are almost obsolete. Aperture obliquely subovate, rather widely channelled in front. Columella oblique, covered with a thin callosity, which at the base forms the sinistral side of the canal. Labrum much thickened ex- teriorly, acute at the margin, and (viewed laterally) is produced to the left at the front part. Probable length about 7 millira. ; actual length of remaining four whorls 5| millim., width 2g. Hah. Port Curtis, 7 fms. This species might be considered a dwarfed, strongly cancellated form of 11. clathrata ; it is less slender, has fewer and stouter costse, and the spiral lirte are also thicker and two in number upon the upper whorls exclusive of those at the suture, whilst in the species referred to there are three. The outer lip is much thickened and the aperture rather more contracted. 66. Cerithium morus. Lamarck, Am'ni. suits Vert, ed, 2, vol. ix. p. 302 ; Kiciier, Coq. Viv. p. 52, pi. 15. fig. 1 ; Soiverby, Thes. Conch, figs. 159-161 ; id. Conch. Icon. tig. 42. Var. ^ Cerithium moniliferum, Dvfresne, Kiener, Coq. Viv. p. 49, pi. 16. fig. 3; Sowerhy, Thes. figs. 163, 165 ; id. Conch. Ic. fig. 20. Var. = Cerithium carbonarium, Sowerhy (non Philippi), Conch. Icon. fig. 59. Uab. Philippine Islands (Cttminr/) ; Samoa Islands (Hev. S. J. Whitmee in Brit. Mus.) ; Port Jackson, 7 fms. ; Friday Island, Roko Island, Endeavour Strait, and West Island, Prince of Wales Channel, Torres Straits (Coj>2ringer) ; Dungeness Island, Torres Straits (Brazier) ; Hall Sound, New Guinea {Brazier). The small group of species to which C. moms belongs, including C. tuherculatum of Linnaeus as defined by Hanley (' Ipsa Linna^i Conchylia,' p. 276, pi. iv, fig. 4), C lemniscatum, C. breve, and C. variegatam, Quoy and Gaimard, O. petrosum and 0. riigosum of Wood (non Lamarck) =G.patiens, Bayle, C. moniliferurii,~K\ei\cr, G. gemma, C. purpurascens, C. bifasciatum, C. pupa, and C. nigro- fasciatum of Sowerby, is very perplexing, owing to the great simi- larity in sculpture of the various species. 1. C. tuherculatum, to which I unite as varieties C. variegatam, 64 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. C. pupa, and C. petrosum, may be recognized in all its forms by the oblique varix on the back of the body-whorl, a feature not found in C. morns and C.patiens ( = 7-iif/osum). The typical form and the variety G. variegatum are pupit'orm, having the sjiire acutely conical towards the apex and the last whorl scarcely broader than the preceding one. The granulations appear to be never in more than three rows on the upper whorls, but on the penultimate a fourth is frequently, but not always, observable adjoining the lower suture. The bodj'-whorl has normally seven principal series of granules ; bub in many instances the minor or intermediate series attain as large a size as the principal ones, when the number of rows may be nine to a dozen or even more. The variations in colour are consider- able : normal specimens are whitish varied with black, brown, and white tubercles. The var. variegatuyn is irregularly blotched with light or dark brown, and some specimens are almost entirely of a uniform dark brown (Couch. Icon. fig. 41 a). Another has a light brown band im- mediately beneath the suture and a second broader one at the base of the body-whorl, as in C. p?«//, i)"«//. U.S. Nat. Mas. i. p. 81, fig. 40 (dentition). JIab. Port Jackson {Angas and Coppinger). The single specimen before me, preserved in spirit, shows the girdle to be of a pale buff colour, thick, fleshy, the outer margin being delicately ciliated with a minute fringe of white spicules. The tufts of spicules arc seven in number along each side, and four surrounding the front valve. The middle of the central valves is occupied by a raised, transversely substriated flattened ridge, on each side of which the surface is granulated or rather squamose, the scales being flat, imbricating, rather large, and disposed in rather regular series. The lateral areas are well defined by a raised keel. The front valve has five radiating costte, and apparently the same number of slits in the thin lamina of insertion, of which the three central are quite distinct, and the two outer ones only feebly indi- cated. The single notch on each side the intermediate valves is also very slight. The posterior valve has a raised, somewhat ex- centric and pointed mucro, from which six more or less distinct radiating ridges descend to the margin, beneath which the lamina of insertion is scalloped by a similar number of notches. 116. Chiton (Acanthochiton) ashestoides. (Plate VI. fig. G.) Shell small, greyish brown, with a pale line on each side the middle of the central valves, slightly converging behind, leaving a dark wedge-shaped space between them. Surface covered with a coarsish granulation, the granules being somewhat flattened, and those at the vertex of the central valves rather smaller than the rest. The lateral areas are not defined in these valves ; the posterior curved margins are produced in the middle, at times almost forming a right angle ; their insertion-plates are large, thin, produced ante- riorly, with a very slight notch quite close to the hinder margin on each side ; the sinus between them in front is deep and arcuate. The first valve has a straighter posterior margin than the succeed- ing ones, and a semicircular outline in front ; the lamina of inser- tion is rather deep, thin, feebly striated exteriorly, and interrupted by five very small subequidistant notches. The last valve is con- spicuously small, transversely subovate, depressed-conical, with a nearly central mucro ; insertion- plate very large, laterally produced, with only two notches behind. Interior of the valves bluish. Mantle very minutely spinulose, bearing very conspicuous compact tufts of silky spicules along the sides, not at all unlike in their fibrous texture that of asbestos. Length 15 millim., width of the broadest central valve 5|. Hah. Flinders Island, Bass's Straits {Joseph MiUlgdn); Port Molle, Queensland [Coppint/cr). g2 84 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA, The single specimen from the latter locality is rather more coarsely granulated than those from Flinders Island, which have been exa- mined by the late Dr. P. P. Carpenter, and bear his manuscript name ashestoides. 117. Chiton (Tonicia) fortiliratus. Chiton fortiliratus, Reeve, Couch. Icon. fig. 112. Hub. Port Darwin, 8-10 fms., sand and mud {Copping er) ; Raines Island, Torres Straits {Reeve). The single specimen collected by Dr. Coppinger is of a greyish- pink colour, copiously blotched with black along the sides of some of the valves. The head-plate is regularly well-curved forward, rather high, the posterior margin being obtusely angled in the middle. The inserted edge is much thickened, coarsely striated exteriorly and on the broad margin, and divided into nine unequal parts by eight short narrow slits. The exterior surface is coarsely subsquamately granulated throughout, and exhibits numerous minute black raised dots, disposed in rather irregular radiating series. The second valve is long in comparison with those which follow, feebly peaked behind ; the fourth, fifth, and sixth plates are about equal in width and a trifle broader than the third and seventh. All the inter- mediate valves are \ery coarsely ridged and sulcated on the central areas, and coarsely grained and minutely black-dotted at the sides. The ridges are flat-topped, clean-cut, nearly smooth, attenuated posteriorly, wavy, converge on each side towards the front, and the intervening grooves are finely punctate. All have the hinder margin nearly straight, and but very feebly pointed at the posterior apex. The laminaD of insertion of these valves are thin, narrow at the sides, moderately deeply sinuated in front, strongly striated above in rear of and for a short distance in froijt of the single minute lateral slit on each side. The posterior valve is strong and thick, obtusely mucronated at the centre, very coarsely striated and ser- rated iipon the thickened inserted margin, which is subdivided by about ten distinct notches. The interior of the valves is light livid bluish, with a reddish stain along the middle of all, with the excep- tion of the last. The mantle, as described by Reeve, is simply " horny." Length without girdle IS millim., diameter of fifth valve 9. The type is a larger specimen, being 24 millim. long, with an ex- treme width of 13. 118. Chiton (Chitonellus) striatus. Cbitonellus striatus, Lamarck, An. s. Vert. ed. 2, vol. vii. p. 481 ; Sowerbif, Gen. fig. 4 ; id. Conch. III. tig. 62 ; Reeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 4; Conch. Syst. pi. 135. fig. 1. Chitonellus oculatus, Reeve (? of QuoiJ), 1. c. figs. 7 a, b. Var. = Chitonelkis gunuii, Reeve, fig. 5. Chitonellus rostratus, Reeve, tig. 6. MOLLUSC A. Cryptoplax striata, frunnii, rostrata, Adams, Genera, Angas, Proc. Zool. Sue. 18G7, pp. 224, 225. '-T^tk T?QiTi£»a Tala-nrl HPrwroc ftfvoifc / 7?/j/?irz3 fnT* f) 85 vol. i. p. 434 ; Hab. Raines Island, Torres Straits (Beeve, for C. rostratus and C. striatus), Port Lincoln (J. B. Harvey), Newcastle {Dr. Dieffen- bach), Port Jackson {Coppinger, Richardson, Juhes, King) — all in Brit. Mus. ; Hinders Island (./. MilJigan) ; Tasmania {Reeve, C. gunnii) ; Tasmania {Mucgillivray and Gunn, in Brit. Mus.). The variety gunnii, from South Australia and Tasmania, may be recognized by the valves being narrower, with the exception of the first two. This form also appears to attain a larger size than speci- mens from New South Wales and other localities further north. A specimen in spirit, from the mouth of the river Tamar, Tasmania, presented to the British Museiim by J. Macgillivray, exceeds four inches in length. The mantle of the southern form also appears to be rather less densely covered with the minute conical spines. The number of gills on each side varies with age, and even in individual specimens : I have found 30 or 31 on each side in specimens of equal size from both regions — that is, north and south ; and in the largest specimen before referred to there are 37 on the right side and 34 on the left, and there is no appearance of any having been removed. The plates of insertion offer no distinctions, each having three slits in the front valve and none in the rest, as is the case in all Chitonelli. The colour both of the valves and mantle seems to agree very closely in all the varieties, The 0. rostratus of Reeve I cannot in any way distinguish from the shells figured by him as Lamarck's C. striatus, and the same observation also applies to his notion of Quoy's 0. oculatus. What the latter may in reality be is an uncertainty to me at present, for I cannot identify any specimen in the British Museum with it. 119. CMton (Chitonellus) burrowi. Chitonellus larvseformis, Reeve {non Burrmv), Conch. Icon. fig. 3. Hab. Port Molle {Coppinger) ; Port Adelaide {Reeve). This curious species is known by the small size of the valves, the remoteness from one another of the fourth, fifth, and sixth, and the excessively short and densely packed spines on the mantle. The single specimen in spirit, from Port Molle, is of a buff colour, copiously mottled with green : this accords with a specimen (also in spirit) mentioned by Reeve, collected by Capt. Belcher in the Straits of Macassar. The dried specimens are greyish, more or less rose-tinted. The sculpture of the valves is very like that of 0. striatus, consist- ing of a central smoothish ridge, with two or three finer and more or less wrinkled ones on each side, the front valve of course being wrinkled throughout and lacking the central smooth ridge. They are yellowish at the mucro or posteriorly, and pinkish red in front. The plates of insertion are like those of C. striatus, and of a pale greenish colour. 86 COLLF.CTI0NS FROIT MELANESTA, C. larvcpformis (Blainville), in Burrow's ' Elements of Concho- logy' (1815), p. 191, pi. 28. figs. 2, 3, 4, is not this species as supposed by Reeve, but is beyond question the same as G. fasciatus of Qnoy, = G. ernfciformis, Sowerby (Genera Hec. & Foss. Shells, fig. 5),= C Icevis, Lamarck, 1819 (Anim. sans Vert. toI. vi. p. 317). The crude figure of G. larvcfformis in Blainville's ' Malacologie ' (1827), pi. 87. fig. 6, is probably also merely a young specimen of the same species, judging from the sculpture and form of the detached valves. In the drawing of them m situ on the back of the animal, the anterior ones are rather narrow. The valves figured by Burrow are still preserved in the British Museum ; but I caunot find the dried animals or that in spirit which he mentions. Blainville's figure represents the mantle as clothed with compara- tively longish spines, and the gills extend nearly halfway up the side of the foot. In G. burrowi, on the contrary, the gills are very short, do not occupy a third of the length, and are only 22 in number. G. oculatus of Quoy and Gaimard I believe to be a young state of their G. fasciatus. In the British Museum there are some small specimens of this species which answer very closely to the descrip- tion ; they have the two dark bands meeting over the back, the posterior valves narrow and separated, and the three anterior ones pale greenish and surrounded by a border of short black spines with a pale zone outside it. The other spines on the mantle in the smallest specimen are a trifle longer than usual and very closely packed. The gills are said to number twenty on each side in G. oculatus, being three less than in G. fasciatus, a discrepancy accounted for by age ; for in adult specimens of C. striatus I find a few more than in the young. 120. Tornatella solidula. Linn. ; Reeve, Conch. Icon. figs. 3 a, b. V^ar.=T. coccinata, Reeve, I. c. figs. 1 a-c. Hah. Friday Island, Torres Straits, on the beach ; also Port Jackson. This species has a wide geographical range, having been recorded from many localities in the Indian and Pacific oceans. The so- called species T. afjinis, A. Adams, should, I think, be regarded as a small form of T. solichda. 121. Cylichiia aracMs. Bulla arachis, Quoy 8f Gaimard, Voy. Astrolabe, Zool. vol. ii. p. 361, pi. 26. figs. 28-30 ; A. Adams, Thes. Conch, vol. ii. p. 590, pi. 125. tig. 134. Hab. Port Jackson (Gopjnnger and Angas) ; Port King George {Q. 4' G.) ; Tasmania, Stewart Island, New Zealand {Brit. Mus.). 122. Atys naucum. Linn. ; Reeve, Conch. Icon. iigs. 1--1 c. Hah. Friday Island, Torres Straits {Goppinger) ; also recorded MOLLFSCA. 87 fi'oni Torres Straits, New Irehuid, New Britain, and Solomon Islands bj' Brazier. 123. Haminea cuticulifera. (Plate VI. fig. H.) Smith, Ann. ^ May. Nat. Hist. 1872, ix. p. 350. Hah. Port Jackson and New Zealand. Dr. Coppinger dredged this species at the first locality in 7 fathoms. It must not be confused with //. hrevis, Quoy, which is a shorter shell with more convex outlines. I would here call atten- tion to a few inaccuracies in Professor Hutton's English translation of the original Latin diagnosis (' Manual of New-Zealand MoUusca,' p. 122). The epidermis was described by me as whitish, not " white," and I did not say it was " shining near the vertex." The word shining applied to the whole of the surface, and is followed by a comma which disconnects it from the words " verticem basimque versus luteo tincto " which succeed. " Incrementi lineis et superius basique transversim subdistanter striata " is thus ren- dered — " transversely subdistantly striated with lines of growth, both above and below." Capt. Hutton makes the labrum " thin, thickened in the middle," whilst no such thing is said in the diagnosis. The words are " labrum tenue, verticis medio junctum et ibi in- crassatum." 124. Akera soluta. Hah. Port Jackson {Coppinger); Philii)pines, North Australia, Zanzibar, Mauritius, Ceylon. In addition to the other synonyms of this species, I would add A. tenuis of A. Adams (Thes. Conch, vol. ii. p. 573, pi. 121. fig. 45 ; and Conch. Icon. figs. 7 a, 7 b). I have carefully scrutinized the type and can see no distinction. Angas (P. Z. 8. 1867, p. 227) comes to a similar conclusion. The more slender form referred to by Sowerby in the ' Conch. Icon.' is altogether a variable character in this shell; the elevation of the spire above or its depression beneath the body- whorl is likewise an unreliable characteristic. 125. Doridium marmoratum. (Plate VI. figs. I-1 4.) Animal (in spirit) blackish, copiously mottled with a dirty buff colour. Cephalic disk longer than wide, rather narrower in front than behind, with a thicliened twofold margin anteriorly and at the sides, more expanded and simple posteriorly. Hinder dorsal disk a little shorter than the front one, lobed posteriorly on each side, with an intermediate sinus, with a free margin at the sides, but not in front, where it is covered by the hinder free extension of the cephalic disk. Viewed posteriori)'', the animal is truncate, terminating in a curved expansion of the dorsal disk on each side, which conceal the gills beneatli them. Foot (extending the whole length of the animal, with a duplex margin in front below tlie 88 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. mouth and for a short distance along the sides, and then simple and gradually increasing in the width of the expansion towards the end, where it is very wide beneath the brauchia ; it is stained with black on the inside of the edge. Branchial plume posterior, concealed between the foot and the hinder lobes of the dorsal disk. Head presenting exteriorly a small lobe on each side the oral opening. Shell internal, situated at the hinder extremity above the branchia, white, calcareous, uncoiled, consisting of one or two volutions, thickened at the free " sutural line," convex externally and concave within, cup-shaped at the commencement, with the outer edge extended by a broadish membranous expansion. Total length 33 millim. ; cephalic disk 18 long and 16 wide at the broadest part ; shell with a greatest diameter of 8 millim., and about 2 in height. Hah. Thursday Island, Torres Straits, 4-5 fathoms, on a sandy bottom. The only species which appears to have been recorded from the Australian coasts is Ar/laia lineolata, figured by H. & A. Adams in the ' Genera of Eecent Mollusca,' vol. iii. pi. 58. fig. 4. This differs, however, in the form of the anterior dorsal disk and its small size in proportion to the hind part of the animal, in addition to which the colour and markings appear to be quite distinct. Aglaia giglioUi, from Japan, described by Tapparone-Canefri (Voj*. Magenta, p. 110, pi. l.fig. 18), may be distinguished by the posterior lobation of the cephalic disk, different colour, and apparent different position of the branchial plume. Doridium ct/aneum, D. nir/riim, and D. guttatum, described by Dr. Von Martens from the Indian Ocean, have not yet been figured. Until all these exotic species have either been compared or much more amply described and illustrated, there will remain much un- certainty respecting the identification of all or any one of them. 126. Pleurohranchus angasi. (Plate VI. figs. K, K 1.) Animal (in spirit) uniformly pale buff, elongate ovate. Mantle probably smooth in life, wrinkled by contraction, not very widely produced at the free margin. Foot broad, tapering behind, roundly subtruncate in front, where there is a thickening forming a double margin beneath the proboscis. The frontal veil is straight in front, angular at the sides, which are grooved. Tentacles shortish, slit at the outer side, with the minute eye-specks at their base behind. Branchial plume consisting of about sixteen leaflets. Penis spine- like, very acute, and slightly curved at the tip. Shell placed well forward, the pale apex being posterior. It is browii in front, glossy, and beautifully iridescent on the exterior. It consists of about a whorl and a half, the nucleus being spiral and hollow within. The last whorl is much prolonged by additional strongly defined concentric layers, and also ornamented with fine yet distinct transverse striae. The columella is arcuate, and has an umbilical groove parallel with it. MOLLFSCA. 89 Length of animal 17 millim., diam. 7 ; length of shell, from nucleus to opposite end, 4|. Hah. Port Jackson (Coppiur/er). This may be the P deJicatus of Pease, but there appear to be certain differences in the shells of the two forms which may be of specific value. 127. Dolabella rumpMi. Olivier, Ann. du Mus. v. p. 437, pi. 29. fig. 1, Hah. N.E. Australia (Co/j/){»(7(?r) ; Moluccas (i?«n!p7mfs) ; Timor (Perou) ; Waigiou {Qkoij and (Jaimard) ; Mauritius {Rang and von Martens). There is no indication of any caudal prolongation in the specimen before me, the hinder end being (in spirit) very broad and obtusely curved. The shell agrees with the figure given by Eang (Hist. Nat. des Aplysiens, pi. 1). 128. Aplysia sparsinotata. Animal of a pale colour in spirit, varied with a few dark distant dots along the sides, caudate posteriorly. Middle of back between the mantle-lobes in front of the shell, also the inner surface of the anterior portion of the lobes themselves, exhibiting irregular brown- ish patches. Lobes commencing a short distance behind the dorsal tentacles, and tei'minating behind at about the same distance from the end of the body. Oral tentacles moderately large and long ; posterior conical, acuminate, not far apart. Shell elongate, rather beaked behind, sharply arcuate in front, 15 millim. long, 10 broad. Animal about 45 in length. Hah. Same as A. injierata. 129. Aplysia piperata. Animal (in spirit) olivaceous, minutely and closely dotted every- where, with the exception of the foot, with black ; hinder third part of the body sometimes paler than the rest, from which it is marked off by a blackish band passing right round the animal. Lobes of the mantle narrowish in front, where they arise quite close to the posterior tentacles, considerably dilated behind. Oral ten- tacles large, long, and pointed ; posterior small, close together, conical. Shell white, concave within, subquadrate. Length 27 millim., width 22. Animal about 80 long. Hah. Thursday Island, Torres Straits, 4-5 fms., sandy bottom. Peculiar on account of the position of the posterior tentacles, close to the origin of the mantle-lobes. 130. Aplysia denisoni. Body (in spirit) high, exhibiting a distinct pedal disk, produced posteriorly into a caudal termination. The entire surface wrinkled, 90 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. dirty whitish, black-veined in the wrinkles (? stains only). Mantle- lobes moderately large, commencing in front some distance behind the posterior tentacles and terminating a little in advance of the Cauda. Anterior tentacles large, compressed, much dilated. Pos- terior tentacles large, cylindrical, with the apical slit not extending halfway down the outer side, placed a little nearer the oral tentacles than the beginning of the mantle-lobes. Eyes minute, situated near the outer anterior base of tentacles. Shell very thin, straw-colour, 30 millim. long and 27 broad. Animal about three inches in length in its contracted state. Hah. Port Denison, Queensland. This species is remarkable for the large size of the oral tentacles. 131. Stylocheilus, sp. Hah. Thursday Island, Torres Straits, 4-5 fms., on a sandy bottom. There are four specimens from the above locality evidently belong- ing to the genus Sti/loeheiJus, which, having lost all colour and being in rather poor condition, I refrain from describing. One of them, tlie smallest, differs from the rest in having a decidedly larger branchial opening in the mantle, which is not, I am of opinion, due to any contraction in the other three. All present a feature not mentioned by Gould in his description of the genus, viz. a duplicature of the anterior margin of the foot. In the figure, however, of S. quercintis (Wilkes's Explor. Exjicd., Atlas, MoUusca, pi. 16. f. 271) this peculiarity is indicated, of which a better idea is given in Savigny's figure of Aplysia sauigm/iana, Atlas to the Explorations in Egy]3t, pi. 2. figs. 2 2, also copied in Bang's Hist. jSTat. des Aplysiens, pi. 20. f. 2. 132. Miamira nobilis. £erf/h, Joiirn. Mus. Oodeffroy, 1874, Heft vi. pi. 1. fig. 5; 1875, Heft viii. p. 53, pi. 8. figs. 1-30, pi. 9. figs. 1-4 ; tScmper, Reisen Philip- pinen, Bd. ii. pi. 33. fig. 2 ; Beryh in Semper's lieisen, vol. ii. Heft 10, p. 411. Hah. Port Denison, Queensland, 4 fms. (Coppinger). Only a single specimen of this beautiful Nudibranch was obtained by Dr. Coppinger. It still retains in spirit the vivid orange spots, which in time will probably disappear. Dr. Semper found this species at the Philippines, and it has also been met with at Amboina (Martens) and the Samoa Islands. 133. Ceratosoma tenue. Abraham, Ann. 8f Mag. Nat. Hist. 1876, vol. xviii. p. 141, pi. 7. figs. 5-5 6 ; Proc. Zool. Soc. 1877, p. 234. Hah. Thursday Island, Torres Straits, 4-5 fms. This species and (J. cahdonicuvi of Fischer (Journ. de Conch. 18 76, p. 92) may eventually prove to be identical, in which case MOLLTTSCA. 91 tho latter name should be retained, having a few months' priority of publication. The single specimen from Torres Straits agrees with the excellent description given by Mr. Abraham except in respect of the greater proportional length of the caudal portion of the body, which equals halt the entire length of the animal, and the greater breadth of the foot, two differences probably due to the various degrees of con- traction at death. 134. Doris (Platydoris) infrapicta. Body flattened, elongate oval. Mantle softish, fleshy, finely granular above, smooth beneath the widely expanded border. Foot broad, rounded at both ends, widely spreading all round except beneath the mouth, where it is more narrowly expanded, and has a narrow lamina above, which is notched in the middle and is pro- duced a little in advance of the edge of the foot itself. Oral ten- tacles compressed, curving forward. Ehinophores short, with com- paratively few lamina?, pointed at the apex. Branchial plume six- lobed, each lobe trifurcate above, surrounding the small central yellow six (■?)-lobed anus. Colour pale buff, variegated with a dirty brownish tint above. Beneath, the mantle-expansion is copiously stained and blotched with dark chocolate-brown, except near the border, which is pale and unspotted. Foot spotted with the same colour, especially towards the centre, the margin being pale and destitute of markings. Length 50 millim., width 3'2 ; foot 43 long, 18 broad. Uab. Queensland, 4 fms. This species appears to be closely related to D. inframaculata, Abraham, from Amboina. It differs in coloration somewhat, the greater width of the foot, which is not " truncate in front," the softer character of the mantle, and the coarser granulation, of its dorsal surface. 135. Plocamophorus insignis. (Plate VI. figs. L, L 1.) Body elongate, ending posteriorly in a laterally compressed and obliquely truncate termination ; (in spirit) of a pale colour, dotted with black along the sides close to the foot, on the oblique carinate margin of the posterior end, and on the sides of this caudal extremity, which also exhibits a few small rounded tubercles. Branchial plume a little posterior to the middle of the back, trilobed, one lobe central, anterior, the other two lateral, one on each side, bifurcate, all branching above. Anus stellate, situated between the lateral lobes. On the back, a little behind the branchiae, is situated a single black-spotted elongate papilla on each side. Foot elongate, with a double margin in front, finely tuberculated in the groove between the two edges, much attenuating posteriorly. Head with the frontal margin black- dotted, bearing a fringe of about eight slender prolongations ; beneath this and between it and the mouth is a 92 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. narrow lamella, which on each side becomes rather broader, forming a small lappet of supraoral tentacles. Rhiuophores rather lateral, far apart, conical, acute at the tips, cariuate on the outside, concentri- cally lamcllato-striated. Length 27 millim. Hah. North Australia, Albany Island, 4 fms. 13G. Bornella digitata. Adams ^- Reeve, l^oy. ' Samarang^ p. 67, pi. 19. fig. 1 ; Alder 8r Han- cock, Trans. Zool. Soc. vol. v. p. 140, pi. 33. figs. 8, 9 ; Beryh in Semper s Eeisen Arch. Philijjpiiien, vol. ii. p. 301, pi. 37. tigs. 14-19, & pi. 38. ligs. 13-22. Ifab. Port Denison, Queensland, 4 fms. {Coppinger). I have three specimens before me, which offer certain differences in the number of lobes on the branchial papillte and even in the number of the papillte themselves. All these have the four anterior pairs branchiferous, and in each case the two foremost pairs have two branchial tufts at the inner base (in contraction), but the two hindmost pairs exhibit considerable variation. In specimen No. 1 both pairs are provided with three tufts, of which the central one is very small. Specimen 2 has three tufts adjoining each of the third pair and two to each of the fourth. Example 3 has three tufts at the base of the left papilla of third pair, and two at the base of the opposite one of the same pair ; of the fourth pair the right papilla is provided with three plumes or tufts and the left with two. The annexed table will best illustrate the variation in the lobation of the papilla : — First pair. Second. Third. Fourth. Fifth. Sixth. No. 1 3 lobes. 2 2 1 1* 1 „ 2 3 „ 3 2 2 1 1* ,,3 3 „ 2 2 1 1 1* The number of the frontal lobes is also very variable. In speci- men No. 1 there are eighteen in both groups, in No. 2 twelve on the left and eleven on the right, and in No. 3 the left consists of sixteen and the right group of twelve. Consideinng these variations, it appears to me very probable that B. arhorescens of Pease is only a variety of this species. The original account by Pease differs considerably from that given by Bergh. The number of lobes on the six pairs of papillre according to these authors varies, and even the number which are gill-bearing. 137. Oncidium (Peronia) punctatum? Onchidium punctatum, Quoy i^ Gaimard, Voy. de V Astrolabe, Zoologie, vol. ii. p. 215. Hah. Albany Island and Thursday Island, N. coast of Australia (^Copping er). * These are not in pairs, but consist of a single simple papilla on the central dorsal line. MOLLUSCA. 93 Four specimens from the above localities appear to agree fairly with the superficial description given by the zoologists of the ' Astrolabe,' whose examples were obtained at Port Dorey in jN^ew Guinea. III. CONCHIFERA. 1. Teredo (Xylotrya) antarctica ? (Plate VII, figs. E-E 2.) Hzitton, Cat. Marine Moll. New Zealand, 1873, p. 59 ; Journ. de Conch. 1878, vol. xxvi. p. 43 ; Man. N. Z. Moll. 1880, p. 133. Hah. Auckland to Duuedin (Hution) ; Port Denison, Queensland (Co/ipim/er). The specimens from Port Denison, which may belong to this species, are very like T. norveyicus and T. palmulata externally. The sculpture is similar, but the notch or angle in the anterior side is not quite so deep as in the former. The interior of the valves has not a distinct ridge marking off the posterior lobe. The pallets, wanting in the specimens before me, are said to be " elongate, slightly curved, penniform." 2. Saxicava arctica. Mya arctica, Linn. Hah. Port Jackson (^Copping e)"). Four specimens from the above locality and others in the British Museum, also from New 8outh Wales, I am unable to separate from this northern form. Dr. Gwyn Jeffreys and others have also failed to distiuguish Australian from Arctic examples. 3. Venus lamellaris. Antigoua lamellaris, Schumacher, JEssai, p. 1.5o, pi. 14. fig. 2. Venus lamarckii {Graj/), Reeve, Conch. Icon. figs. 39 «, b. Venus lamellaris, Pfeijfer in lulster^s Con.-Cab. p. 142, pi. 8. figs. 10, Var.= Venus nodulosa, Soiccrhy, Thes. Conch, pi. 153. fig. 16. Hah. Friday Island, Torres Straits. A single valve from this locality is rather longer than usual, having a length of 53 millim. and a height of 38. 4. Venus toreuma. Gonld, Wilkes's Explor. Exped. p. 419, figs. 537, 637a ; Reeve, Conch. Icon. figs. 64 a, h. Vemis iukesi, Deshaijes, Cat. Brit. Mus. p. 100; Pfeiffer, Con.-Cab. p. 217, pi. 35. figs. 7-9. Venus sculpta, Deshaijes, Reeve, I. c. fig. 5. Hah. Port Molle, Queensland, 14 fms., on a rocky bottom {Cop- pinger) ; Port Essington {Jalcci for V. jukesi) \ mudflats at Facing Island, Port Curtis (Brit. Mus.); Sooloo Sea {Gould). A specimen from the last locality but one is almost globular and 94 COLLECTIONS FUOJI MKLANESIA. has a remarkably deeply sunken lunule ; it is 34 millim. long, 31 high, and '28 in diameter. 5. Venus torresiana. (Plate VI. figs. M-M 2.) Shell suhovate, moderately thick, nearly equilateral, concentri- cally finely ridged and radiately sulcated, white, irregularly rayed, streaked, and spotted with lightish brown. Anterior and posterior ends subequal, obtusely rounded, the latter rather the narrower ; ventral margin broadly arcuate. Posterior dorsal slope straightish, rather more oblique than in front. Luuule narrowly cordate, gene- rally of a chocolate-brown colour, partly so or merely whitish. Umbones small, red at the tip. Concentric ridges somewhat flat- tened, crowded, and subnodulous anteriorly through being crossed by the radiating stride, thin and lamellar behind. Striae less distinct on the central portion of the valves than at the extremities, and finer and closer together down the posterior side than elsewhere. Interior more or less pinkish, finely crenulated at the margin. Pallial sinus moderate, sharply rounded. Length 16 millim., height 12^, diameter 8. Hub. West Island, Prince of Wales Channel, and Thursday Island, Torres Straits, 4 fms. {Go^ypinger). This species is somewhat like V. (Chione) mesodesma, Quoy and Gaimard, but is distinguished by its greater length and diff'orence of colour in the interior. It is also not so high, the concentric riblets are thin and lamellar posteriorly ; and the presence of radiating striae at once separates it from the Xew-Zealand form. There are several specimens from the above localities, all having a rosy tip to the beaks, the lunules more or less dark-coloured, the ridges thin posteriorly, and the striae in the same region finer and more numerous than elsewhere. 6. Venus gladstonensis. Angus, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1872, p. 612, pi. 42. fig. 8. Hah. Port Curtis (Anr/as and Coppinger). This species is remarkable for the fineness of the concentric lamellae, which exhibit the radiating slender lirae on the outer side as is the case with other species. The crenulation of the inner margin of the valves is also excessively fine, and the pallial sinus is of moderate size and not very aciite. 7. Venus subnodulosa. Hanley, Cat. Bivalve Shells, p. 300, pi. 16. fig. 19 ; Reeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 102 ; Deshayes, Cat. Conch. Biv. p. 143, as Chione. Bah. Philippine Islands (Hanlei/) ; Moreton Bay {Strange in coll. Cuming); Port Curtis (Cojijyinger). This s])ecics is remarkable for the stoutness of the concentric ribs, which are rendered more or less subnodosc by fine radiating MOLLUSCA. 95 sulci cutting across them. The margiu of the valves within is den- ticulate everywhere except down the posterior dorsal slope, the denticles on the edge of the lunulc heing tiner and closer together than elsewhere. The pallial hne is posteriorly nearly straight, or even a little inmrved just helbre the commencement of the sinus, which is rather deep. The interior is generally somewhat rosy, especially towards the heaks. 8. Cytherea (Caryatis) coxeni. (Plate VII. figs. A-A2.) Shell small, inequilateral, subtrigonally oval, white, variegated with pale zigzag brown or reddish lines forming an irregular broken- up network. Anterior dorsal margin straightish, much descending, sharply curving at the end into the upturned ventral outline. Posterior slope much loTiger, somewhat arcuate and less oblique than the anterior. Hinder extremity produced, roundly acuminated. Lower margin widely curved, about equally ascending at both ends. Umbones small, well curved over towards the front. Lunule long- ish heart-shaped, a little sunken, slightly elevated along the middle, and defined bj- an impressed line. Area indistinct. Surface of the valves finely sulcate-striated, the intervening lir<© being somewhat rounded, much crowded at the sides, some of them not extending quite to the lateral outlines, especially postei'iorly. Central cardinal tooth of the left valve thick, triangular, the two others slender and lamellar ; posterior in the right valve elongate, the central erect, conical, free. Posterior muscular scar nearly circular, the anterior narrower, ovate. Pallial sinus moderately deep, rather wide, squarely truncated at the end. Length 13 millim., height 10^, diameter 7. Hub. Port Molle, Queensland, 14 fms. This species I am unable to identify as the young stage of any known larger species. It apparently becomes more pointed behind as it increases : so that if it be the early growth of the species, the adult form will be much produced at that part. C. minuta, Koch, has no coloured pattern and a different pallial sinus. The form of this species resembles very closely that of C. pura^ Dcshayes, a species found at Callao in South America. It is, how- ever, more strongly concentricall}^ lirate, is ornamented with pale brown zigzag lines and dots, and the form of the pallial sinus is (]uite different. 9. Cytherea (Caryatis) albina. Lamarck ? ; Romei', Monogr. Venus, Novitat. Conch, p. 87, pi. 23. ligs. 5-5 b. Bab. Port Molle, Queensland {Coppimjer). The shell from the above locality agrees with Rcimcr's detcrmi- ruition of this species ; and two specimens from Cape York in the ^Museum, named Z>. buUata of Sowerby by Deshayes (Cat. Conch. Biv. p. 70), are also referable to it, for they have not the straightish ventral margin of that species. 96 COLLECTIOIfS FROM MELANESIA. 10. Dosinia histrio (var. allja). Gmelin ; Romer, Monoyr. Dosiuia, Novitat. Conch, p. 33, pi. 6. figs. 2 & 3. Artemis variegata {Chenii), Reeve, Conch. Icon. figs. 33 a-c. Hah. Clairmont Island, N.E. Australia {Cojjpwger). A fine specimen from the above locality is entirely white, with the exception of the extreme tips of the beaks, which are of a pale rose tint, a feature apparently common in most white examples of the species. The specimen in question is STg millim. in length, the same in height, and 20 in diameter. In this species the dorsal area is very distinct and smooth in the left valve, but sculptured with the terminations of the concentric lamellae in the right; On the contrary, the half of the lunule in the latter valve is generally greater than the remainder of it in the left. 11. Dosinia desliayesii. A. Adams ; Romer, 3Ionoffr. Dosinia, Nooitat, Conch, p. 55. Hah. Prince of Wales Channel, Torres Straits, 9 fms. {Copiiinger); North Australia (Cuminc/). 12. Circe pectinata. Venus pectinata, Linn. Hah. Thursday Island and West Island, Torres Straits (Cop- finger). 13. Circe australis. Soioerhy, Thes. Conch, ii. pi. 137. figs. 10, 17; Reeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 19. Hah. Friday Island, Torres Straits, on the beach (Copijinger) ; N.E. coast of Australia {Brit. Mus.). One specimen from Friday Island is peculiar on account of the unusual style of its coloration. It is white, with a large orange- brown patch covering the greater part of the surface, and exhibits a total absence of colour within. 14. Circe (Lioconcha) castrensis. Linn., vide Romer's Monograph, Novitat. Conch, pi. 44. Hah. Port Denison, Queensland, 4 fms. The variety of this well-known species from the above locality is very closely depicted by the second figure from the top on the left side of Homer's plate. 15. Tapes hiantina. Venus hiantina, Lamarck ; Delessert, Recueil, pi. 10. fig. 8 ; Philippi, Ablild. vol. iii. p. 21, pi. 8. fig. 1. Tapes hiantina, Rcimer, Monoc/r. Tapes, Novitat. Conch, p. 99, pi. 34. fig. 1 ; Reeve, Conch. Icon. figs. 28 a, b. Hah. Friday Island, Torres Straits. MOLLirSCA. y7 16. Tapes malabarica. Chemnitz; Romer, Monog. Tapes, Novitat. Conch, p. 34, pi. 10. figs. 3-3 d. Hah. Port MoUe, 14 fms. {Coppinger); Malabar, Molucca and Philippine Islands (Eomer). 17. Tapes variegata. Soioerhj ; Romer, I. c. suprh, p. 78, pi. 27. figs. 2-2 e. Hah. Port Curtis, 7 fms. ( Coppinger) ; Philippine Islands and Japan {Romer). 18. Tapes araneosa. Venus araneosa, Philippi, Ahbild. vol. iii. p. 25, pi. 7. fig. 6. Tapes araneosa, Romeros Monoyr., Novitat, Conch, p, 53, pi. 19. fig. 1. Hah. Port Darwin, N.W. Australia, 8-12 fms. The locality of this species I believe has not hitherto been re- corded. In the single specimen before me the umboncs are all but terminal, so that the anterior end is even more perpendicular than as represented by Dr. Eomer's figures. T. deshayesii is not ujilike this species as regards its general form ; but the anterior end is hardly so short, and the concentric sculpture decidedly coarser. 19. Tapes (Textrix) textrix. Venus textrix, Chemnitz. Hah. Port Jackson (Coppinger). Two young examples of this well-known species are of a buff colour, mottled with bluish white at the umbones, and spotted with red- brown on the dorsal margins. 20. Venerupis crenata. Lamarch; Delessert, Recueil, pi. o. fig. 2; Pfeifer, Con.- Cab. pi. 31. figs. 22, 23 ; Sowerhj, Conch, Icon. tig. 3 ; Reeve, Conch, Icon, fig. 5 {as Cypricardia serrata). Hah. Port Jackson {Coppinger). 21. Trapezium vellicatum, var. Cypricardia vellicata, Reeve, Conch. Icon. pi. 2. fig. 7. Hah. Port Darwin, 8-12 fms., bottom mud and sand {Coppinger): Philippine Islands {Ouming). The A^orth-Australian variety of this species is peculiar on account of the absence of the coloured rays which distinguish the typical form. 98 COLLECTIONS PKOM MELANDSLA.. 22. Petricola lapicida. Venus lapicida, Chemnitz, Con.-Cab. x. p. 356, figs. 1664-5 ; Soiverhy, Conch. Icon. (I'etricola) figs. 22, 24 ; Martens in Von der Deckeri's Heisen in Ost-Afrika, vol. iii. p. 66, pi. 3, figs. 3 a, b. Hah. West Indies {Chemnitz, cVOrhigny, Sfc); North Australia (/. B. Elsey in Brit. Mus.) ; West Island, Prince of Wales Channel, Torres Straits {Copping cr) ; Zanzibar {Peters, teste Martens). This and the Venus divaricata of Chemnitz I regard as one species, and from his description of the former it seems probable that he had before him specimens which to a great extent had lost the fine zigzag sculpture mentioned in his description of the latter. The raised oblique ridges from the umbones down the posterior slope have various degrees of development in different specimens, in some existing onty near the posterior margin of the valves, whilst in others they extend the whole distance from the beaks downwards, and, again, in young shells they may be altogether wanting. These ridges are easily removed, and seem to be superimposed upon the zigzag sculp- ture beneath. After a careful examination of Austrahau specimens and others from the West Indies, I cannot detect any material specific difi"erences. The example figured by Dr. E. von Martens as P. divaricata is unsually peaked at the umbones. 23. Psammobia modesta. Deshayes, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1854, p. 319 ; Peeve, Conch. Icon. tig. 3. Hah. Port Jackson {Coppinger) ; Moreton Bay {DesJiayes). The single specimen before me is rather narrower than that figured in the ' Conchologia Iconica.' is purplish lilac within for the most part, yellowish near the muscular scars, and exibits the j^inkish rays on the ventral margin. The epidermis is brightish yellow. Oblique striae are sometimes present at the central portion of the valves, but are not conspicuous. 24. Psammobia gracilenta. (Plate VII. figs. B-B 2.) Shell concentrically striated, transversely elongate, very inequi- lateral, almost twice as long as high, not very compressed, dirty whitish with a few diaphanous zones and several light reddish narrow rays beneath a thin pale yellowish-olive epidermis, very narrowly gaping at both ends. Anterior dorsal margin of the valves about twice as long as the posterior, subrectilinear, and nearly parallel with the ventral. Hinder dorsal edge oblique, a little arcuate. Lower margin straightish, obliquely curving upward in front and more sharply turning at the opposite extremity. Interior bluish white, iridescent, exhibiting the reddish rays. Beaks small, adjacent, posteriorly inclined. Ligament short, but prominent, placed on a conspicuous ligamental plate in each valve behind the umbones. A second minute ligament exists immediately in front of them and MOlLtrSCA. 99 is partly enclosed when the valves are shut. Cardinal teeth two in each valve, those of the right most prominent. Front dorsal margin of right valve narrowly grooved just within, simple in the left. Corselet linear. Posterior muscular impression rotund-pyriform, anterior more elongate. Pallial sinus moderate, extending forward beyond the middle of the valve. Length 19| millim., height 10, diam. 5. Hob. Prince of "Wales Channel, 9 fms. A very elongate narrow species, recalling to mind certain slender forms of the geniis Donax. 25. Tellina semen. Hanley, Thesaurus, vol. i. p. 249, pi. 56. fig. 8 ; (? Sowerby, Conch. Icon. vol. xvii. fig. 232, bad !). Hah. Thursday Island, Torres Straits, in 5-7 fms. Among the specimens from this locality is one of a purplish-rose tint, the rest being white like the type. The hinge of this species is composed of two cardinal teeth in the right valve (the posterior one larger and bifid, with one lateral tooth on each side aud a gropve between it and the margin), and of a single bifid cardinal in the left valve with a marginal lateral tooth or prominence on each side. The pallial sinus is very large, almost reaching to the anterior scar. The form of this species is very similar to that of T. obtusalis, Deshayes, which is the same as T. malaccana, Sowerby (Con. Icon, figs. 2Sla and 125). The posterior end, however, is not so obtuse and the form is not so like that of a Donax, In T. obtusalis the concentric striae are rather coarser than in the present species, and become very much finer anteriorly, so that in that part the shell is more glossy and comparatively smooth, which is not the case in T. semen. Another form, T. semitecta, Sowerby, from New South Wales, is very closely related to the present species, and is mainly distinguished by its rather more elongate form, and finer aud less elevated sculpture at the hinder extremity. 26. Syndosmya elliptica. (Plate VII. figs. C, C 1.) Tellina elliptica, Soioerhy, Conch. Icon. fig. 223 (bad!). Hub. Port Jackson (Angas and Coppinger). The type and a second specimen of this sjiecies were presented to the British Museum by Mr. Angas in 1871. Neither of these nor a third collected by Dr. Coppinger exhibit the sinuation at the pos- terior end of the ventral margin depicted in Sowerby's figure. His words " concentrically ridged behind the angle " are scarcely appli- cable, for in the first place there is only the feeblest indication of an angle and the sculpture behind it consists of mere concentric stria- tion. The hinge-characters show this species to belong to the genus tSynclosmya, and Tellina simplex of the same author (Conch. Icon, sp. 240) requires a similar location. The hinge of the present species consists of two cardinal teeth in the right valve, the posterior larger h2 100 COLLECTIONS FROM MELAjnESIi.. and bifid, and two in the left, of which the anterior is the larger and bifid. A single lateral tooth occurs in the right valve on each side not far from the cardinals, with a groove between them and the margin. Left valve with a slight tooth-like projection on the mar- gin on each side fitting into the grooves in the other valve. The paUial sinus is large and deep. Internal cartilage minute, narrow, oblique, posterior to the cardinal teeth. External ligament small. The largest specimen measures 13 millim. by 9g. T. alba of Wood is somewhat like this species, but is more acute posteriorly, the detail of its dentition is different, and the cartilage larger. 27. Mactra eximia. {Deshayes) ; Reeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 31 (rayed variety). Hah. Port Denison, Queensland ( Coj^pmr/er) ; Port Curtis, More- ton Bay {coU. Gaming) ; JN".E. coast of Australia {Brit. Mus.). There are altogether eight specimens of this species in the Museum, three of them being ornamented with numerous reddish rays, and the remaining five uniformly white beneath the greyish and yellowish epidermis. 28. Mactra producta, var. Spisula producta, Anyas, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1867, p. 900, pi. 44. tig. 7. Hab. Port Jackson (Angas and Coppinger). The three shells dredged by Dr. Coppinger are probably a variety of this species. They are all small, apparently immature, and difter from the types presented to the Museum by Mr. Angas in being less produced posteriorly. They are proportionally longer from the umbones to the ventral margin, which exhibits a very faint incurva- tion near the hinder extremity, and the posterior dorsal slope is a trifle more arcuate. 29. Mactra (Oxyperas) coppingeri. (Plate VII. figs. D-D 2.) Shell transversely elongate, triangular, a little inequilateral, rather compressed, thinnish, narrowly gaping posteriorly, smooth towards the beaks, concentrically plicately ridged elsewhere, white, covered with a pale yellowish epidermis, spotted somewhat sparsely throughout with brownish dots, and ornamented on the dorsal areas with cross lines of a deeper brown, and with a large patch of the same colour on the hinder slope of each valve. Umbones moderately acute, not large, inclining towards and situated a trifle in advance of the centre. Lunule sunken, not circumscribed by acute edges, extending more than halfway down the anterior slope. Posterior area as deep as the lunule and a trifle longer, smoothish, not much afi^ected by the terminations of the concentric ridges. Two lateral teeth on each side in the right valve, separated by a deep groove quite approximated to the cardinal teeth in front and the cartilage- pit behind. The latter is large, deep, and located posterior to the beak. The cardinal tooth is small, insignificant, bounds the ligament, and has a cross piece above it immediately beneath the apex of the MOLLtrSCA. 101 umbo. In the left valve, the single lateral tooth on each side is elongate, narrow, and erect. Only one cardinal tooth (unless the front raised edge of the ligamental fossa be considered a tooth), which is elongate, but little raised, situated between the pit and edge of the lunule. Muscular scars pj'riform, the front one elongate, the posterior more rounded. Pallial sinus extending halfway across the valves, sharply rounded at the end. A second sinuation within the other, and consequently shorter and less acutely curved, is a remarkable feature in both valves of the single perfect shell before me ; in a separate valve this is not noticeable, but may have been obliterated, as the specimen is somewhat sea-worn. The inner sur- face of this species is glossy and radiately substriated, one impres«'ed ray from the umbones to the end of the mantle-siniis being especially conspicuous. Length 36| millim., height 24, diameter 12, Hah. Thursday Island, Torres Straits, 4-6 fms. This very interesting species bears a rather close relationship to Mactra trianr/idans of Lamarck ; it is, however, quite distinct. It is a trifle shorter, . less angular, not so strongly concentrically costato, has an excavated lunule and a simken area not defined by carinate edges, and the dorsal margins not prominent, forming a keel on each side ; the umbones as in M. trianr/uJaris. M. aspersa, Sowerby, is a more finely sculptured shell, more rounded posteriorly, with a shallower lunule and a narrower dorsal area. The pallial sinus in the present species reaches halfway across the valve, whilst in M. aspersa it has a further extension and lacks the duplex feature described previously, 30. Mactrinula angulifera. Mactra angulifera, Deshayes, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1854, p. 70; Reeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 83. Hah. Island of Ticao, Philippine Islands {Cuming); Port Curtis ( Coppinger). Behind the conspicuous keel which marks off the posterior area, about midway between it and the margin, there are one or two minor ridges. In the Cumingian collection there is a second specimen, somewhat larger than that figured by Reeve, having a length of 32 millim. and a width of 47. 31. Cardium reevianum. Dunker, Novitates Conch, p. 2"2, pi. 6. figs. Q, 7, 8. Hah. Port Darwin, 8-12 fms., bottom mud and sand (Coppinger) ; Port Essington (Mus. Cuming). Cardium vertehratum, Jonas (Zeitschr. fiir Malak. 1844, p. 33), from West Australia, is apparently closely related to the present species. 32, Cardium hystrix. Reeve, Conch. Icon. figs. 40 a, b ; Romer, Conch.-Cab. p, 112. Hah. Corrigidor, Philippines {Cuming) ; Flinders and Clairmont Islands, N,E. Australia {Coppinger). 102 ' COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. 33. Cardium, sp. jun. Hob. Port Curtis, Queensland {Coppinger). The two young shells from the above locality are closely allied to C unicolor, Sowerby. 34. Chama divaricata. Reeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 20. Hah. Torres Straits, 10 fms., sand and shell bottom {Coi^pinger) ; island of Samar, Philippine Islands {Cuming). 35. Chama pulcliella. Reeve, Conch. Icon. figs. 10 a, b. Hob. Port MoUe, Queensland, 12 fms. (Ooppinger) ; Cape Upstart (Juhes). The posterior brown ray is generally rather deeply sunken in this species. 36. Cardium maculosum, var. Wood, General Conch, p. 218, pi. 52. fig. 3 ; Reeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 76 ; var., Sorcerhy, Conch. 111. fig. G8. Cardium multistriatum, Sowcrhj, Conch. III. fig. 59. Cardium areuicolum, Reeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 78, Hah. Port MoUe, Queensland, 14 fms. (Coppinger) ; Ceylon (Holdsworth in Brit. Mus.) ; Molucca and Philippine Islands {Cuming); ? (TFooc?). A single shell from Port Molle, nearly an inch long, differs from all specimens of this species which I have examined in having fewer ribs, separated by broader intervening sulci, especially down the anterior side, and in being yellowish with less and paler blotching with reddish purple except within the valves, where, on account of not being concealed by a deposit of callus, it is especially vivid. The number of cost^e in this specimen is forty, and in typical ex- amples there are usually about ten more. Cardium modestum of Philippi is also an allied species, with still fewer and stouter ribs, numbering altogether about thirty-iive or thirty-six. C. imdti- striatum was originally described by Sowerby in the Proc. Zool. Soc. without a locality, and subsequently was stated by him to come from St. Elena, West Colombia ; but this, I am inclined to tliink, requires corroboration. 37. Cardium multispinosum. Soiverhy ; Reeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 10; Riimer in Kiister's Con.-Cab. p. 07, pi. 12. figs. ],2. Hah. Port Molle, Queensland, 14 fms. {Copping er) ; China (/. Reeves in Erit. Mus.); Philippine Islands {Cuming). The number of ribs in this species may vary from thirty-one to MOLLUSC A. 103 thirty-seven, the latter number being attained by the only small specimen (about a quarter the size of the adult shell) from Port MoIIo. 38. Cardium (Hemicardium) unedo. Cardium unedo, Linn. Hah. Port MoUe, Queensland, on the beach. This species has a wide distribution, having been recorded from the Mauritius, Ceylon, Philippine Islands, Cochin China, Cambodja, West Australia, and it has also been met with at the Solomon, Piji, and other islands in the Pacific. 39. Corbula tunicata. Hinds, Reeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 5. Hnh. Port Molle, 14 fms. ; Prince of "Wales Channel, Torres Straits, 5-7 fms. ; Arafura Sea, N.W. coast of Australia, 32-3G fms., and Port Darwin, 8-12 fms. {Coppinger) ; Philippine Islands {Gaming) ; South Africa (Hinds) ; Port Jackson (Angus). 40. Corbula fortisulcata. Smith, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1878, p. 819, pi. 50. figs. 23-23 b. Hah. Port Darwin, N.W. Australia, 8-12 fms., sand and mud bottom ( Coppinger) ; Port Essington (Juices) ; and Andaman Islands ( Wilmer). 41. Corbula scaphoides. Hinds, Proc. Zool, Soc. 1843, p. 56 ; Reeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 24. Hah. Port Molle, Queensland, 14 fms. (Coppinger) ; Cape York, N. Australia, in 5 fms., muddy sand and sea-mud (./. Macgillivray in Brit. Mus.) ; Singapore and Philippine Islands (Hinds). The specimens described by Hinds were only half the length of the adult shells collected by Dr. Coppinger and Mr. Macgillivray. 42. Lucina (Divaricella) ornata. Lucina ornata, Reeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 48. Lucina (Divaricella) angodifera, Martens, Moll. Mauritius, p. 321. pi. 22. fig. 14. Hah. Friday Island, Torres Straits (Coppinger); Port Jackson (./. B. Jukes in Brit. Mus.); coast of Africa (East or West?) (Capt. Owen, B.N., in Brit. Mus.) ; Mauritius (Rohillard) ; ? (Reeve). This species should, I think, be separated from the W^est-Indian L. dentata, Wood ( = L. divaricata. Lam. non Linn., = Z. senrda, d'Orb.), to which it has been united by Pfeiffer in the ' Conchjdien- Cabinct,' ed. 2, Yeneracea, p. 2G9. The incised lines are deeper, and form a more acute angle at the point of divarication. The type specimen is somewhat abnormal 104 COLLECTIONS PKOM MELAITESIA. in form, the more usual outline being represented by Reeve's fig. 47 h, which he wrongly ascribes to the West-Indian species. The difference in the angle of divarication of the ridges is at once seen by comparing the two figures 47a and 47 h. 43. Diplodonta subcrassa. (Plate VII. figs. I, II.) Shell roundly subquadrangular, only moderately inflated, thickish, decidedly inequilateral, dirty white, not glossy. Anterior side shorter than the posterior, somewhat pointed at the extremity ; hinder side very broad, squarish, yet rounded. Posterior dorsal margin straightish, only a trifle oblique ; anterior a little concave near the beaks, then feebly curved and suddenly descending. Ventral outline arcuate, considerably upcurving in front. Surface concentrically finely striated, somewhat uneven through periodic interruptions of growth. Umbones small, contiguous, incurved, pellucid, located in advance of the median line. Hinge-teeth rather strong, posterior of the right valve and anterior in the left stout, subequal, bifid, and the anterior in the former is rather thicker than the hinder in the latter, which is sublamellar. Muscular scars somewhat small, deepish, subequal. Interior of the valves not very glossy, roughish. Length 15 millim., height 14, diameter 8|. Hab. West Island, Prince of Wales Channel, Torres Straits, 7 fms. This is rather a solid species and peculiarly acuminated at the extremity in front, with rather conspicuous lines indicating periodic growth. 44. Diplodonta sublateralis. (Plate VII. fig. K.) Shell very inequilateral, much broader behind than in front, scarcely longer than high, moderately infiated, white, finely concen- trically sculptured with the lines of growth. Posterior dorsal margin nearly horizontal, straight at first, then gradually curving into the broadly arcuate lateral outline. Front dorsal edge some- what oblique, scarcely recurved near the beak, but afterwards rounding into the side margin, which is very mu.ch more suddenly curvate than at the opposite end. Ventral margin more sharply arched than the posterior, but less so than the anterior. Umbones small, acute, only slightly elevated, situated far in advance of the centre. Hinge-plate narrow in the right valve, conspicuously grooved in front of the two cardinal teeth ; of these the anterior is very small, lamellar, and falls perpendicularly beneath the beak, the posterior being about three times as thick and deeply bisected. The ligamental furrow is narrow and 5| millim. in length. The muscular scars are subequal, the posterior a trifle broader. Length 19| millim., beight 18|^, diameter 10. Hah. Torres Straits, 7-10 fms. Only a right valve of this species was obtained by Dr. Coppinger, which, however, is apparently distinct in form, the chief distin- MOLLXTSCA. 105 guishing character in species of this genus. It recalls to mind D. lateralis, mihi, from the island of Rodriguez, although it is sutficiently distinct in form. The anterior side is longer, the beaks less lateral, and the height of the shell in proportion to the length is greater. 45. Kellia jacksoniana. (Plate VII. figs. F, F 1.) Shell obliquely and subquadrately rounded, rather convex, pale grey, a little transparent towards the umbones, inequilateral ; ante- rior end, or that toward which the beaks incline, much shorter than the posterior. Front margin obliquely curved ; base straightish, but little arcuate. Hinder extremity produced somewhat at the lower part. Surface a little glossy, concentrically striated, some of the striae towards the margin more pronounced than those nearer the umbones. The latter a trifle prominent above the hinge-line, approximated, terminating in an incurved vitreous glossy apex. Teeth strong ; in the right valve one immediately beneath the umbo and another posterior to the ligament ; the left valve has two be- neath the umbo and one posterior to the ligament. Muscular scars large, placed high up, the anterior subpyriform, the posterior longer. Pallial impression joining the scars high up on their outer margin. Length 7 millim., width 8i, diam. of closed valves nearly 5. Hab. Port Jackson {Coppinger). K. rotunda, Deshayes, and K. soUda, Angas, are also Port-Jackson species and the nearest allies of the present one. The former is almost as long as broad, nearly equilateral, of a thinner growth, and has slighter teeth ; the latter is more solid, more transverse, rather more equilateral, is opaque white, highly glossy, has the interior thickened and subpuuctate, and the pallial impression appears to join the lower extremity of the muscular scars. 46. Scintilla ciivieri. Deshmjes, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1S55, p. 174 ; Soioerhy, Tlies. Conch, vol. iii. p. 180, pi. 23.5. figs. 59, 60 ; id. Conch. Icon. figs. 15 a, b. ? Var. =S. flavida, Deshayes, I. c. p. 175 ; Sowerby, Thes. fig. 64; Conch. Icon. fig. 24? Hah. Port Molle, Queensland {Coppinger) ; Baclayon, island of Bohol, Philippines {Cuming) ; Basay, island of Samar (Cuming, for yar. flavida). The figures of this species in the ' Conch. Icon.' are most inaccu- rate, and that in the ' Thesaurus,' although much better, is not quite correct. The umbones are smaller, more acute, and incline anteriorly, and the colour is not nearly so bright as depicted in the figure. The representation of the var. flavida, fig, 64, is still more unfaithful ; the hinder margin is not obliquely truncate, but curved. I cannot discover any material distinction in this variety. It is smaller, which may be a matter of age, and the type is slightly narrower than the type of S. eavieri ; but of both forms I have 106 COLLECTIONS FROM MELAjSHESIA. before me gradations in respect to lengtli and breadth, Botb are slightly narrower in front than behind, sculptured with fine con- centric strico and more or less indistinct shallow radiating markings, a feature unnoticed by Deshayes. Although the dentition is described by that author as somewhat different, I am bound to say, after a most careful examination, that both the number and position of the teeth are absolutely similar. In the left valve I find three teeth, the anterior one being very small at the termination of the inner margin of the hinge-plate, which is grooved on both sides of the beak. The central tooth is large, prominent, situated imme- diately beneath the point of the umbo, and the third is insignificant and posterior to the narrow oblique ligament. The right valve has a large prominent tooth a little in front of the apex of the umbo, and generally the extremity of the inner edge of the grooved hinge- plate is raised into a tooth-like prominence behind the ligament, which extends not only within the valves, but also along the hinge- line just above the teeth. The single specimen from Port MoUe and one in the Cumingian collection are peculiar in having two or three of the shallow radiating impressions towards the hinder ventral ex- tremity deeper, thus producing a wavy margin to the valves at that particular spot. 47, Scintilla aurantiaca. (Plate VII. figs. H, H 1.) Beslimjes, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1855, p. 179 ; Soiuerby, Thes. Conch, vol. iii. p. 176, pi. 234. fig. 5. Hah. North Australia, under stones at low water (Jul-es) ; island of Nairai, Fiji, at low water (Brit. Mas.) ; Port MoUe, Queensland (Coppinger). The specimens from Port Molle agree precisely with the types of S. aurantiaca in the national museum. There are some other species which I cannot distinguish from it; these are S. faha, Desh., S. Forhesii, Dash., S. pallidula, Desh., S. amhir/iia, Desh., S. borneensis, Desh., and S. adamsi, Desh. The last and S. faha are placed by Sowerby in the group of " species with no hiatus " in the ventral margin. This location is incorrect, for both gape slightly, and in fact Deshayes, in his description of the latter, says " margine infe- riore angustissme hiante." This opening appears to be subject to variation in shells which are unquestionably the same specifically ; and therefore I believe it probable that all the above-mentioned so-called species will prove to be variations of Lamarck's Psam- mohia aurantia, which, according to Sowerby's figure (Conch. Icon, fig. 20, S. maiiritiana), has an extremely wide gape beneath. The latter species is said to be synonymous with S. aurantia by Deshayes (Anim. sans Vert. vol. vi. p. 180, GaJeomma aurantia), and von Martens expresses a similar opinion (Miibius, ' Meeresfauna Mauritius &c.,' p. 322). Deshayes (P. Z. 8. 1855, p. 167) says that the La- marckian shell is a Galeomma. The animal of Dr. Coppinger's shells agrees with the description MOLLUSCA. 107 given bjr Quoy and Gaimard of their Psammohia vitrea and with the figure in Mobius's work above referred to, pi. xxi, figs. 10 a, h. The foot protrudes at the narrower end of the shell ; it is small when retracted, of a boot-like form, roundly carinate at the base, pointed at the tip, and furnished with what is probably a byssiferous process at the posterior end (" talon," Q. & G.) ; this is of an opaque white colour. The mantle is open in front and the anterior half of the ventral margin for the passage of the foot, and united along the rest of the basal and hinder margins, where there is a minute siphonal perforation. The surface of the mantle beneath is covered with papillae, and the membranous marginal expansion in life pro- bably covers nearly the entire surface of the shell, for even in spirit specimens it still extends halfway up the valves. There are two labial palpi on each side. From this description the close relation- ship with Galeomma is very apparent. The dentition of this species, according to my observation, does not agree with the description given by Deshayes. In the right valve I find a prominent tooth a little in front of the beak, and a second more remote behind it ; the left valve has two teeth, of which the anterior is the smaller, just beneath the umbo, and a third a little behind it. The ligament is externally visible, being attached to the hinge-line above the teeth, a portion of it being internal above and between the teeth. 48. Scintilla alberti. (Plate VII. figs. G, G 1.) Shell small, pellucid, milky white, considerably inequilateral, transversely oblong, shorter and narrower in front of the iimbones than behind them, moderately swollen. Lateral and dorsal mar- gins curved, ventral rather rectilinear. Surface glossy, exhibiting (under the lens) distinct concentric lines of growth and also minute radiating and somewhat interrupted striaj, visible oulj^ under a compound microscope. Ilmbones small, slightly elevated above the hinge-margin, not quite adjacent, the valves being closed. Cardinal teeth insignificant, consisting of a single subumboual denticular slight obtuse prominence, which is more distinct in the left than in the right valve. Ligament small, visible externally, extending on both cides of the apices of the beaks, but further posteriorly than in front. Height 5^ millim., width -i, length 7f. Hah. West Island, Prince of Wales Channel, Torres Straits ( Coppinger). S. liydatina, Deshayes, appears to be more closely related to this species than to any other in the genus. It is, however, higher, more equilateral, flatter, with more equal sides and a curved ventral margin. 49. Crassatella pulchra. Reeve, Conch. Icon. fig. IG. Hah. Thursday Island, Torres Straits, 3-4 fms. (Oopjnnger) ; Port Essington {Capt. WicMiam, li.N., in Brit. Mus.). 108 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA, This so-called species, also C. donacina, Lamarck, 0. ciimmgii, A. Adams, 0. castanea, Reeve, C. errones, Reeve, and O. decipiens, Reeve, I believe to be mere variations of one and the same form, namely C. Jcimpcola, Lamarck, The composition of the hinge is the same in all, and the peculiar colouring of the interior is similar (vide Reeve, fig. 16, and Delessert, pi, iv. fig, 1 b). The variation in form is partly due to age ; for instance, a young 0. decipiens has the form of donacina, and it is only towards maturity that the posterior end becomes markedly produced ; and the same observation applies to G. errones. The amount of concentric ribbing is not constant ; but all intermediate forms are met with, from 0. castanea and C. donacina (type), which have least, to 0. pidchra, which has most, being cos- tate throughout, except at the posterior extremity. The pallial line in every specimen examined does not appear to be parallel with the margin of the valve, but becomes gradually more remote anteriorly, the space between it and the margin being radiately shallowly subsulcate, seen better in some lights than others. The epidermis scarcely varies at all : in some examples it appears to have lost the dull bloom which covers others ; but this defect is the result of fric- tion, for a dull specimen in perfect condition is easily rendered glossy by merely being rubbed with a wet cloth, the bloom disap- pearing as it does from fruit under similar circumstances. Judging from the specimens in the British Museum with reliable localities attached to them, it appears that the species ranges from Queensland on the east side of Australia, along the north coast to Swan River on the west, I find a specimen of the variety cmningii from Port Curtis and another from Sandy Cape on the north-east coast ; var. ptdcJira from Port Essington; vars. decipiens and castanea from Swan River. 50. Modiola, sp. Hah. Port Molle. A single distorted specimen only is before me, remarkably like the European M. barbata. 51. Modiola glaberrima. Dunher ; Reeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 48. Hcd). Sydney {Dunher) ; Port Jackson (Coppinger and Angus). 52. Modiolaria miranda. (Plate VII. fig. N.) Shell transversely elongate, highest at the middle, of pale greenish tint, varied with a few indistinct light reddish irregular markings, not glossy, rather strongly radiately ridged at both ends and very finely on the central portion of the valves. Whole surface concen- trically striated, producing a subgranose appearance upon the cos- tulse ; the anterior are about ten in number, the posterior about MOLLtJSCA. 109 twice as many, and produce a denticulate margin to the valves. Interior slightly iridescent. Umbones small, glossy, not radiately sculptured like the rest of the shell. Length 6 millim., height 3-|, diam. 3. Hah. Dundas Straits. This is a very prettily sculptured species, approaching, as regards outline, M. varicosa. It is, however, quite distinguishable by the greater coarseness and subgranular character of the radiating ante- rior and posterior ridges. The single specimen described above may not be full-grown ; but I conjecture it never attains a much larger size. 53. Modiolaria varicosa. (Plate VII. figs. M, M 1.) Goidd, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. 1861, vol. viii. ; Otia Conch, p. 176. Hah. Port Jackson ( Coj929iHfjrer) ; Sydney (&'o?tZ(:^). This pretty little species was figured by Reeve (Conch. Icon. fig. 83) as the young of Modiola str'igata, Hanley ; and this must have in- duced Gould to observe that it '' is marked like " that species, for in reality there is very little resemblance in the painting of the two shells. The radiating sculpture is faintly indicated in the above figure by means of scratched lines, but these are only noticeable under a lens. 54. Lithodomus teres. Modiola teres, Philipjn, Abbild. vol. ii. p. 148, pi. 1. fig. 3. Lithodomus teres, Peeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 13. Hab. Pacific Ocean (Phil.): Philippine Islands (Cuming); Port Deuison, Queensland (Coppinger). The anterior perpendicular strise are rather coarse in this species ; the raised interstices between them are very conspicuous at the margin, and gradually become finer as they ascend the valves, some- times furcating at one or more of the concentric lines of growth. The interior is pinkish or bluish, and more or less iridescent. 55. Area navicularis. Bruguiere; P/nlijjpi, Abbild. vol. ii. pi. 3. fig. 2; Peeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 70 ; Wood, Index Test. pi. 9. fig. 5. Var. =Arca linter, Jonas, Philippi, I. c. fig. 1. Var.=Arca subquadrangiila, Dimker, Philippi, I. c. fig. 3. Var. = Area cvmiingii, Dunker (MS. in coll. Cuming) ; Adams, Genera Moll. ii. p. 533. Hah. Port MoUe, Queensland (Copjjzn^er) ; Port Phillip, China, Cape Capricorn, Amboina (Brit. Miis.). The varieties respectively called A. linter and A. suhquadrangula are distinguished only by very variable characters, such as form and the amount of ligament, which in this group of Arks are of little value. 110 COLLECTIONS PEOM MELANESIA. 56. ? Area imbricata. Bnu/uih'e ; Reeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 73. Hah. Port Molle, Queensland, 12 fms. {Coppinger) ; Geelong, Port Philip {Mus. Cuming) ; Port Essington and N.E. Australia {Brit. Mus.). The specimens from the above localities belong to one species, and so closely resemble, with the exception of colour, West-Indian examples of this species, that I hesitate to separate them specifi- cally, I fail to discover any good distinctions between A. cunealis, Eeeve, A. kraussi, Philippi, and A. imbricata = A. umbonata, Lamarck, except that the two former generally, but not always, have more rhomboidal grooves on the ligament. 57. Area (Barbatia) lima. Area lima, Heeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 101. Hob. Port MoUc, 14 fms., and Thursday Island, 2-6 fms. ( Cop- pinger) ; Burias and Corrigidor, Philippines ( Cuming). " Light brown, stained with brown, spotted with brown, pos- teriorly covered with a thin, very fine bristly epidermis." Such is the erroneous description given by Eeeve of this sj)ecies. It is, in fact, a purely white shell throughout, and all the brown stains and spots are merely the remains of the epidermis. The entire surface is ornamented with very numerous close-set fine radiating riblets, which are finely granular, the granules so placed as to form con- centric series. About half a dozen of the costfe down the posterior side and a few at the anterior end are thicker than the rest on the central portion of the valve, aud consequently have larger granules, those behind being further apart also. The few ribs towards the middle being duplicate, as stated by Reeve, is an individual rather than a specific character. The interior is white, and the margin crenulated, the crenulation corresponding in coarseness with the radiating costa3. 58, Area (Barbatia) tenebrica. Area teuebrica, Reeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 105. Hah. Samar, Philippines ( Cuming) ; Port Essington ( Capt. Wiclc- Jiam in Brit. Mus.) ; Port Curtis {Dr. Coppinger) ; Bombay {Mus. Cuming). The surface of this species is minutely reticulated with exces- sively fine radiating and concentric liroe, of which the former are the coarser, subgranular, and generally alternating finer aud coarser. The valves exhibit an indication of a faint depression down the middle, from the umbo to the centre of the ventral margin, which in some specimens is slightly incurved or siiuiatcd at that part. It is also thickened within, smooth, and rounded. The interior is bluish white aud radiately striated, the striie being MOLLUSCA. Ill particularly conspicuous at the pallial line, where they terminate. The muscular scars are large, well defiued by a line radiating from the umbones. Hinge-teeth rather numerous, minute in the centre, considerably larger at both ends. In the type there are forty, and a specimen about half-grown has thirty-five. The ligament is narrow, but very coarsely striated transversely. The epidermis is thinnish and somewhat fibrous near the margins, especially pos- teriorly. 59. Area (Barlbatia) symmetrica. Area symmetrica, Reeve, Conch. Icon, sp, 117, and fig. 120. ? Var. = Area zebuensis, Reeve, I. c. fig. 117, sp. 120. Hah. Port Molle, Queensland, 12-20 fms. (Copjpinger) ; Bay of Manila {Cuminy). In the ' Conchologia Iconica ' the numbers of the figures 120 and 117 should be reversed. The specimens of A. symmetrica which were described by Reeve are of a greenish tint, and not so oblique as' A. zebuensis. The sculpture in both consists of fine radiating lirse, rendered minutely granular by the concentric lines of growth. The liras vary but little in thickness, with the excep- tion of a few finer intermediate ones here and there and those on the posterior extremity, which are a trifle stouter. A. zebuensis differs, in addition to its extra obliquity before referred to, resulting from the less central position of the umbones, in being a trifle more finely lirate. One of the specimens from Port Molle is somewhat intermediate in form, being more oblique than A. symmetrica and less so than A. zebuensis. The measurements of two specimens will indicate to what extent the form and proportions may vai'y : — No. 1. Height 7^ millim., length 11, diameter 8, No, 2, „ 6i „ „ 11, „ 6|. 60, Area (Trisis) tortuosa. Area tortuosa, Linn. Hah. Singapore and Malacca {^Cuming'); North-west Australia {Du Boiday) and China {Beeves), in Brit, Mus, ; Port Curtis in 11 fms., sand and shell bottom (Cojjjnnyer). The right valve of this well-known and remarkable shell always appears to retain more of the epidermis than the left. The foot and mouth of the animal, as might be expected, are at the narrow end of the shell. The foot (in spirit) is small, narrow, and grooved beneath, retaining a small byssus. 61. Leda darwini. (Plate VII. figs. L-L2.) Shell a little inequilateral, rather convex, transversely irregularly ovate, acuminate posteriorly, thinnish, glossy, moderately coarsely concentrically ridged and sulcate throughout, except upon the lunule and area, the ridges being finer and the sulci broader on a slightly depressed portion of the surface down the posterior side, which is of 112 COLLECTIOl^S FROM MELANESIA. a transparent white colour, and not pale olive-green like the rest of the surface. At the anterior end a few oblique lines, commencing at the ridge which borders the luuide, fall across the concentric sculpture, but are only noticeable in certain lights. The dorsal margin is very faintly arcuate in front and scarcely descending, a trifle more oblique behind, and rectilinear except near the extremity, where there is a very feeble sinuation. The lower outline is broadly arcuate, considerably upcurvingin front, and at its junction with the - dorsal edge forms an obtuse or rounded angle ; at the posterior end it ascends more gently (the curve being indistinctly interrupted by a very faint prominence which defines the portion of the surface upon which the concentric ridges are finer than elsewhere), pro- ducing with the dorsal slope a sharpish rostrate end. The umbones are rather large and prominent, coarsely concentrically sculptured, situated a little posterior to the centre, and incline somewhat towards the hinder side. The dorsal areas are distinctly defined by elevated margins, and the posterior is broader than the anterior or lunule. Teeth about 43 in number, whereof about 16 are on the posterior side, and the vest in front. The interior of the valves is transparent milky white, and the margin is acute and smooth. The pallial sinus is deep, narrow, and rounded at the end. Length 17g millim., height Og, diameter 7. • Hab. Port Darwin, 8-12 fms., mud and sand bottom. This species is very closely related to L. confusa, Hanley. It is, however, thinner, not so equilateral, more coarsely sculptured, has more prominent umbones, and the margin of the valves is not minutely crenulated within. 62. Malleus legtiinen. Beeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 2. Rah. Philippine Islands (Cuming); Port Curtis {Coppinger). The interior of this species is waxy white, except the upper part of the nacreous portion beneath the ligament, where there is a large dark purplish spot. The non-nacreous portion exhibits a raised sub- central ridge extending from the margin of the pearly lining nearly to the lower extremity. 63. Avicula lata. Gray, 1845, Ap^wndix to Eyre's Central Australia, p. 435, pi. 6. fig. 1 ; lieeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 5. Avicula serrulata, Dunker, Zeitschr. f. Malak. 1848, p. 178 ; Conch.- Cah. ed. 2, p. 18, pi. 5. figs. 1, 2. Hah. West Island, Torres Straits, in 7 fms., sand {Coppinger); Port Essington (/. B. Jiikes in Brit. Mus.) ; Raino's Island, Torres Straits (Lieut. Ince, B.N., in Mus. Cuming) ; Moluccas (DunJctr). Eeeve and Dunker appear to have been unaware that this species was both figured and described by Gray. Apparently, as a rule, it is longer than cither of the specimens figured in the ' Conch. Icon.' or MOLLUSCA. 113 ' Conch.-Cab.' That collected by Dr. Coppinger has the auricle pre- cisely like that of Bunker's specimen, this form of it being, judging from the series before me, more usual than that figured by Reeve. 64. Avicula rufa. Dihnkcr, Conch.-Cab. p. 58, pi. 19. figs. 7, 8. Hah. Java {Danker); West Island, Priuce of Wales Channel, Torres Straits, 7 fms., sandy bottom {Coppinjer). All three specimens from the latter locality exhibit several white radiating lines on both valves, as indicated in the figure 8 referred to. The presence of these rays appears to have been rather exc(^p- tional iu the Javan specimens examined by Dunker. 05. Avicula smaragdina. Reeve, Coiicli. Icon. fig. 45. Hah. Moluccas? {Reeve) ; N.E. Queensland {Ooppinger). The young stage of this species has not the very prolonged oblique form of the adult. The figure in Reeve's wox'k is much too vividly coloured, nor does it indicate any rays of spots of a darker tint which generally adorn both valves. The ear of the left valve is coarsely concentrically wrinkled and extends a little within the valve. This species may be the Mytllus meleagridis of Chemnitz (Conch.-Cab. viii. p. 143, fig. 726). QQ. Avicula zebra. Reeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 36; Dunker, Conch.-Cah. p. 60, pi. 21. fig. 3. Hah. Moreton Bay {Reeve) ; Port Denison, Queensland, 3-4 fms. (Coppinger). The two specimens obtained at the latter locality were attached to a species of Polyzoa, and in a similar position to the types as figured in the ' Conchologia Iconica,' namely with the umbones directed downwards. 67. Melina cumingii. Perna cumingii, Reeve, Conch. Icon. xi. fig. 3. Hah. Australia {Reeve) ; Port Curtis (Coj^pinger). The specimen figured by Reeve is higher than long, but another in the Cumingian collection has these proportions reversed. 68. Crenatula nigrina. Lamarck ; Reeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 1 a. Hah. Red Sea {Reeve) ; Albany Island, west coast of Australia {Coppinger). This species, also C. hicosfalis and C. mytiloides, as determined by Reeve, are probably slight variations of one and the same form. I 114 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. GO. Spondylus multisetosus. Reeve, Conch. Icon, fig. 11. Hah. Philippine Islands {Cuming); AVarrior lleef, Torres Straits (^Coppiwjer). The principal ridges which support the largest spines are about twelve in number on the upper valve, pale or yellowish between the spines, at the base of which they are stained with a dark san- guineous colour. The interior of the valves is margined with pur- plish brown, and the straight hinge-line is fiuely striated within transversely ; the flat hinge-area of the lower valve is also fiuely striated across. 70. Spondylus victoriae. Sowerbif, Proc. Zool Soc. 1859, p. 428, pi. 49. fig. 8. Var. = Spondylus wrightianus, Crosse, Journ. de Conck.1872, vol.xx. p. 360, vol. xxi. p. 253, pi. 9. figs. 1, la. Mab. New Caledonia {Mas. Cuming) ; Flinders and Clairmont, Islands N.E. Australia, 11 fms., sand and mud bottom, and Port MoUe, 10 fms. {Copphiger); Nichol Eay, Australia {Crosse fide Wright). The description of this species given by Sowerby is very insuffi- cient, and his locality, " Gulf of California," incorrect. He describes the number of largecostfe as four ; but as a rule there are five, which even appear in his own figure. In the lower or attached valve the number of large spine-bearing ridges in the three specimens before me is seven ; these spines are generally straighter than those on the upper valve, and channelled on the uppersidc. Sowcrby's figure exaggerates the wavy character and breadth of the upper spines. The surface of the valves and the hinge-area agree with Crosse's description of the variety ivrightlanas, which has the spines on the upper valve straighter, and less spreading at the extremities. The single specimen dredged by Dr. Coppinger has the spines of a pinkish- buff colour, whilst those in the type are pure white. 71. Pecten leopardus. Reeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 145. Var. = Pecten kuhnholtzi, Bcrnardi, Journ. de Conch. 1863, vol. viii. p. 378, pi. 13. fig. 1. Var. = Pecten Solaris, Soicerhy {non Born), Thes. Conch, pi. 12. fig. 22 ; Dunkerin Philippi''s Abbild. vol. i. pL 2. fig. 2; Reeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 92. llab. Moreton Bay, Queensland {Reeve) ; Arafura Sea, Dundas Strait {Coppinger) ; New Caledonia {Bernardi) ; Amhoina. {Danker, for var. Solaris). It is not surprising that M. Bcrnardi did not recognize his shell in F. leopardas, considering how inadequate a description is given by Ileeve. I have carefully compared red-rayed specimens from MOLLTJSCA. 115 New Caledonia with, the type from Moreton Bay, and am convinced that they constitute but a single species. The sculpture is the same in both, and the blood-red stain within the valves of a crescent form, leaving the centre and margin white, is present in adult specimens of each, bub not always in the young. The only distinction appears to be a little variation of colouring on the upper valve, which in the typical form is white, with the ridges stained and blotched with " fulvous rust," whilst the variety has the costa3 more uniformly tinted with. " red " or pinkish brown, some of them being much paler than others ; but I do not ever find them alternately white and red. The darker ones are usually in pairs, but just on the right of the centre three dark rays come together. In other words, the shell may be described as having four rays, three of them tinting two ad- jacent costae each, the fourth covering three. This same distribution of pale and darker rays holds good in the typical form and is faintly indicated in Reeve's figure ; and in the handsomer variety, P. solans, the same peculiarity is met with and is well portrayed in Philippi's work. This charming form has the interior similarly stained with blood-red as in the two other varieties. This cannot, I consider, be the species described by Born as Ostrea solans, which differs greatly in form, especially with regard to the auricles. The only shell having similar small ones, as far as I can discover, is P. superlms, Sowerby ; this is not, however, " orange "-coloured, has unequal dorsal slopes, narrower costa?, and deeper grooves, Bern's figure, however, is unreliable, for it represents a shell 40 millim. in length from the hinge-line to the opposite margin, and nearly 42 miUim. across, whilst his measurements, given in the text, are — length 39 millim., width 30| millim. 72. Pecten singaporiims. Soiverhy, Thcs. Conch, vol. i. p. 74, pi. 13. fig. 55, pi. 14. fig. 71 ; Reeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 74. Pecten pica, Reeve, Conch. Icon. figs. 115 a, h. Pecten cumingii, Reeve, I. c. figs. 140 a, b. Hah. Singapore (Soivh.) ; New Zealand {Reeve, for pica) ; Port Curtis {Coppinger) ; Moreton Bay {Reeve, for cumingii). I cannot discover any distinction between P. pica and this species. The anterior auricle of the right valve is destitute of colour, and the serrated margin beneath it is also white. P. cumingii is a fine growth of the same, having the peculiarities above mentioned, but with the costoe slightly stouter. 73. Pecten dringi. Reeve, Conch. Icon. figs. 152 a, b. Hah. Port Molle, Queensland, 14 fms. {Coppinger) ; Bathursfc Island, N.W. Australia {Reeve) ; Cape Capricorn, E. Australia {Brit. AIus.). Purplish and brownish-purple forms of this species appear to I 2 116 COLLECTIONS FEOM MELANESIA. be more common than the variety figured by Reeve (fig, 152a), which does not represent the full dimensions of the species. The largest specimen in the Museum is 45 millim. high and 40 millim. in width. 74. Pecten funebris. Reeve, Conch. Icon. fig. 85. Hah. Bathurst, Australia {Reeve) ; Swan River and Port Essing- ton (Brit. Mas.) ; Port Curtis, Queensland (Goppinr/er). The sculpture of this species resembles that of the young of P. asperrimus, consisting of numerous fine costas bordered on each side by a much finer and less elevated one, and all bearing prickly scales. The interior is pale olive, with paler radiating grooves and a purplish border all round. 75. Amussium pleuronectes. Ilab. EHnders and Clairmont Islands, N.E. Australia (Copplnr/er) ; China. 76. Lima (Mantellum) fragilis. Chemnitz ; Sowerby, Thes. Conch, vol. i. p. 80, pi. 22. figs. 34-36 ; id. Conch. Icon. figs. 18 a, b. Hah. Port Molle, Queensland (Coz-y^mr/e/ ) ; Mauritius (Martens) ; Torres Straits (Jul-es) ; Philippine Islands ( Camiwj) ; Port Essing- toD, Oomaga Reef, Fiji Islands (Brit. Mus.). 77. Placuna lobata, var. Soioerby, Conch. Icon. pi. iv. fig. 4«, pi. v. fig. 4 J, var. Placenta planicostata, Dunker, Journ. de Conch. 1879, vol. xxvii. p. 214, pi. 9. tig. 2. Hah. Port Essington (Brit. Mus.) ; Torres Straits (Coppinger). The colouring of Sowerby's figure is ridiculous, the yellow ground- colour being purely imaginary. The type is whitish towards the umbones, but light purplish red elsewhere, rayed with a much darker tint, the rays being narrower than as depicted in the figure. The single specimen from Torres Straits has the ground-colour light purplish red like the type, but the slightly elevated rays are white instead of being darker. 117 ECHINODERMATA. F. JEFFllEY BELL. The chief points of interest attached to the ' Alert ' collection of Echinoderms may be indicated as follows : — Though there are no new Echinoidea, there are some very pre- cious series of some species, Maretia platwlata being notably well represented. Similarly the series of some of the Asterids has given us evidence of a variability that would be almost incredible but for the careful registration of the localities of the species. Eare and new forms of Ophiurids and Asterids will, on inspection of the suc- ceeding systematic list, be found to be well represented : OpMotlirix has a large number of forms, the exact delimitation and definition of which has been to me a matter of just as much anxiety and doubt as it has been to my predecessors ; but a study of the collection has led me to a somewhat important conclusion, in that I have been compelled by the evidence to attach much less weight than some have done to the characters of the coloration *. The question of coloration of forms has taken on almost a new aspect since the publication by Mr. Seebohm of his views as to the value of the pattern of colour in the Turdinse (Cat. Birds B.M. v. p. viii) ; while, on the other hand, the recent statements of such ex- perienced entomologists as Butler, who thinks that in time it will be impossible to decide, without rearing from the egg, whether any form is a species, a hybrid, or a variety (Trans. Ent. Soc. 1880, p. 200), and Elwes, in whose opinion {I. c. p. 134) climate, food, and conditions of life will more than account for the change in tint of certain representative species, seem to indicate that in the group of the Lepidoptera, where coloration has been so much attended to, those who are among the most experienced are learning to doubt its value, and to recognize, as the professed students of ichthyology (see Giinther's ' Study of Fishes,' pp. 176-182) would seem to have done, that in coloration there is great variation. It would be a matter for regret if, when the views of others are advancing, the describer and systematist of Echinoderms should make a backward * Liitken, "Le systeme general de coloration constitue un caractere impor- tant qu'il ne faut pas negliger dans la distinction des Ophiothrix" (Vid. Selsfc Skr. (5) Bd. 8, ii. p. 104) ; and compare the descriptions of all writers on the genus. 118 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. step. Coloration can only be safelj' used when tho hypothesis that the genus or group is of so late an origin as not to have yet deve- loped definite structural characters by which its species may be discriminated is not controverted by any one species ; where it is, the character must be less freely used, probably to disappear more and more, not so much with the increased evolution of the genus as with our increased knowledge of it. The succeeding pages contain an account of, or the names of, 124 species, very fairlj' divided among the 5 orders. Of these there are 30 new species, 15 of which lielong to the Crinoids and the other 15 to the remaining orders. There is no new Echinid ; but I have had to suggest a new name for the form which by some has been regarded as Salmacis globator. ECHINOIDEA. 1. Phyllacantlius annulifera. A. Agassiz, Rev. Ech. p. 387 *. A most valuable and important series for exhibiting the variation of this species. Thursday Island ; Port Molle (14 fms.) ; Port Curtis ; Prince of "Wales Channel ; Albany Island ; Port Darwin. 2. Diadema setosum. A. Agassiz, Rev. Ech. p. 274. Port Molle ; coral-reef. 3. Salmacis bicolor. A. Agassiz, Rev. Ech. p. 471. A good series, with spines well preserved on most from Port MoHe. 4. Salmacis sulcata. A. Agassiz, Rev. Ech. p. 476. Port Denison (4 fms.) ; Port MoUe (14 fms.). 5, Salmacis alexandri, Salmacis globator, Alex. Agassiz {not L. Agassiz), Rev. Ech. p. 473 ; '•ChaUenqer' Reports, iii. p. 113. Salmacis globator, form a, Bell, P. Z. S. 1880, p. 433, pi. xli. fig. 1. In the third part of my " Observations on the Characters of the * As a rule, I shall give only one bibliographical reference, and that to the ' Bevision of the Echini ' of Prof. Alex. Agassiz. ECHINODERMATA. 119 Echinoidea," I directed attention to the marked discrepancies which obtained between the descriptions given by Louis and Alexander Agassiz respectively of the species known as JS. globator. I then figured and gave careful descriptions of the tests of two forms which I distinguished as form a and form /3. I adopted that course in the hope that Prof. Alexander Agassiz would explain the reasons which had led him to omit any notice of the species referred to by his father. In the 'Challenger' lieport the species is merely recorded, and reference made to the ' Catal. Eaisonne' of Agassiz and Desor ; fortunately the specimens are uow in the liritish Museum collection, and an inspection of them is, of course, siifficient to show the characters of the form which Mr. Alex. Agassiz looks upon as being S. globator. I lind them to be examples of what I have called form a, or, in other words, they are not representatives of L. Agassiz's species gJohator. As the species reappears in the ' Alert ' collection, it has been necessary to direct attention to the various points and to propose a name for the species. No appellation will, I think, be more suit- able than that of alexandri ; and, at the time of giving a definite name, one is also able to have the pleasure of adding a definite locality. West Island, Prince of Wales Channel. (j. Temnopleurus toreumaticus. A. Agassiz, Eev. Ech. p. 463. One of the specimens (diameter 18"5 millim.) has all the spines which are preserved on it perfectl}' white, without any bands what- ever. Smaller specimens in the British Museum collection have a number of, but not one has all, its spines thus totally white. Port Denison (4 fms.) ; Prince of Wales Channel. 7. Temnopleurus granulosus. Toreumatica granulosa, Gray, P. Z. S. 1855, p. 39. Temnopleurus granulosus, Bell, P. Z. S. 1880, p. 425. A good series, with the general colour of the spines dark, and not light, ringed with red as in the specimens from the Japanese seas. Port Denison. 8. Temnopleurus bothryoides. Pleureehinus bothryoides, A. Ac/assiz, ' Challenger ' Pep. iii. p. 108. This is one of the most important of Dr. Coppinger's finds, for with the exception of a single, though perfect, test in the collection of the British Museum, which was obtained by 8ir E. Belcher off Borneo, and presented by the Admiralty in 1844, no complete example had ever been examined till the return of the ' Challenger.' The largest specimen taken by Dr. Coppinger is a little larger than 120 COLLECTIONS FEOM MELANESIA. any one of the three collected by the officials of that great circum- navigating expedition. Though the term Plturechhins is due to L. Agassiz, and the specific name hothryoides to his incomplete comprehension of the Cidaris hotlinjoides of Klein and Leske, I have confined my " synonymy " to Alexander Agassiz's Report on the ' Challenger ' specimens, as it is there only that any such definite information is given as would enable a zoologist to recognize examples of the species. The result to which my own study of the specimens and of the definitions has led me has, I think, been essentially confirmed by the investigation into the structure of the test which, at my suggestion, Prof. Martin Duncan was allowed to make *. Looking, first of all, at the general form of the test, the observer is struck by its greater proportional height ; thus we find speci- mens with an absolute diam(!ter of 20, 18, or 17 millim. respec- tively having a proportional height of 58-5, 66-6, and 60. In no known examples of any other species of Temnopleurus is the proportional height more than 03-63 millim. f, and this is a rare case, which obtains with a specimen only 11 millim. wide. The examination of the dental apparatus did not shov/ any real point of difference between this species and T. hardwicl-ii. As in other species of this genus, the abactinal area is much more prominent in younger than in older specimens, while the characters of the furrows between the plates is only intermediate between the ex- treme condition presented by T. toreumaticus and that which is Been in the species just mentioned. As to the minute construction of the test. Dr. Duncan finds that " there is a generic relation between Temnopleurus and Pleurechmns, and the only important distinction is the absence of crenulation in the last-named type." To this crenulation or its absence Dr. Duncan attaches more importance than do many naturalists who have devoted themselves to this group, and he finds in consequence that " the classificatory position assigned by A. Agassiz to Plmrechinus in the ' Eevision ' must be conceded, and it is a subgenus or section of Temnopleurus r Notwithstanding the weight of the authority of Agassiz and Dimcan, I am bound to say that I feel still the im- portance of the objections long ago urged by D'Archiac and HaimeJ, " Quant aux crenelures des tubcrcules, on sait que cette particularite n'a cgalement qu'une valeur tres-secondaire, puisqu'on la voit deja disparaitre dans une certaine portion du genre Cidaris, sans qu'on puisse decouvrir chez les especes a tubercules lisses aucune autre difference concomitante; " and that being so, I can find no reason which will justify the retention of a genus never very accurately defined. The largest specimen in the ' Alert ' collection has a diameter * Journ. Linn. Soc. (Zool.) xvi. p. 447. t P. Z. S. 1880, p. 424. X Anim. f■o^s. de I'lnde, p. 202 (ISr^S). The student should be reminded that Prof. Martin (Notes Leyd. Mus. ii. p. 75) accepts the genus Plcurcchinus. ECHINODEEMATA. 121 of 20*5 millim. and is 12 millim. high ; the abactinal area is 4-5 and the anal area is 2 millim. in diameter. The short primary spines, which, as in the other specimens, have two or three short bands of bright red on their white surface, have the neighbouring suckers of a purplish-slate colour, and these give a deeper and richer appear- ance than ordinary to the test. The abactinal area is not so con- spicuous as in the smaller specimens, and only one of the genital plates has more than three tubercles. Thursday Island ; Prince of Wales Channel. 9. Echinus angulosus. A. Agassiz, Rev. Ech. p. 489. With a little hesitation I refer to this species three specimens from Thursday Island, and one from Prince of Wales Channel. The species is a wide-ranging one, and apparently presents a good deal of variation. 10. Echinus darnleyensis. J. E. Tenison-WvodsjProc. Linn. Soc. N'. S. W. ii. p. 165. In accepting this species, I should like to do so only provisionally, as a systematic revision of the exceedingly troublesome genus to which it belongs may show it to be only part of one of the very variable species which are associated under the emended genus Echinus. Thursday Island (4 fms.) and Prince of Wales Channel. 11. Tripneustes angulosus. Hippouoe variegata, A. Ayassiz, Rev. Ech. p. 501. Tripneustes angulosus, BeU, P. Z. S. 1879, p. 657. The coloration of this specimen is more marked than any I have yet had the opportunity of examining ; the short white sjjines are found either on white areas, the middle of which is occupied by a black patch, or on broad black bands, rather more than half as wide as the white areas at the ambitus. The single small specimen collected was found at Levuka, Fiji. 12. Strongylccentrotus erythrogrammus, Vol. Strongylocentrotus eui-ythrogrammus, A. Agassiz, Rev. Ech. p. 441. It may perhaps be pointed out that the spelling of the specific name as here adopted is not only that which is etymologically correct, but is the very same as that which was proposed by Valen- ciennes (' Voy. Venus,' Zoophyt. pi. vii. fig, 1), and adopted by Liitken and Verrill : it is true that in the ' Catal. Eaisonne ' of L. Agassiz and Desor (1846) we find the spelling euryihroyrammus. 122 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. and that the last-named naturalists were followed by Dujardin and Hupe. I am led to make these remarks from the fact that through- out the ' Eevision of the Echini ' the mode of spelling which is both etymologically and historically incorrect is not only adopted, but is ascribed to Valenciennes, to Liitken, and to Verrill, and is, curiously enough, carried on into the lately published Keport on the Echi- noidea collected by the ' Challenger ' Expedition. Port Jackson. 13. Echinometra lucunter. A. Agassiz, Rev. JEch. p. 431, Port MoUe (beach) ; Lcvuka, Fiji, 14. Fibularia volva. A. Agassiz, Rev. Ech. p. 509. Prince of Wales Channel. 15. Cljrpeaster humiUs. A. Agassiz, Rev. Ech. p. 510. Port MoUe (4 fms.). 16. Laganum depressum. A. Agassiz, Rev. Ech. p. 518. Torres Straits ; Prince of Wales Channel. The British Museum contains specimens collected by H.M.S. ' Challenger ' in the Arafura Sea. 17. Laganum decagonale. Peronella decagonalis, A. Agassiz, Rev. Ech. p. 520. Laganum decagonale, Bell, Ann. 8^- Mag. N. II. (5) xi. p. 130. The investigations which I have been able to make into the value of the generic and specific characters of the Laganidae (Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (5) xi. p. 130) have led me to the conclusion that no valid grounds exist for the generic or subgeneric separation of " Peronella " from Lar/anum. Prince of Wales Channel ; Thursday Island. This appears to be one of those species around which misappre- hensions have collected ; the earlier and not ungraceful method of registration which induced De Blainville* to associate with this species the name of the naturalist to whom he owed his specimen has, no doubt in haste, been regarded by Professor Alexander Agassiz t as indicating Lesson to be the author of the species. * Diet. Sci. Nat. vol. xlviii. p. 229; Man. d'Act. p. 215. t Rev. Ech. p. 47, and much less accurately on p. 148. ECniNODERMATA. 123 Strangely enough, De Blainville himself is not free from error in the matter, for after Lesson's name he places the words " Voyage de rUranie," a voyage with which Lesson had not the close relation that he had with that of the ' Coquille,' and in the account of which no Echinoderms are described or figured. 18. Echinoneus cyclostomus. A. Agassiz, Eev. Ech. p. 550. A very small specimen from Prince of \Yales Channel. 19. Maretia planulata. A, Agassiz, Rev. Ech. p. 570. A very fine series in spirit from Flinders, Clairmont, and dried specimens from Clairmont Island. 20, Lovenia elongata. Agassiz, Rev. Ech. p. 575. Thursday Island ; Torres Straits. ^1. Breynia australasise. A. Agassiz, Rev. Ech. p. 578. An excellent series from Port Denison, Thursday Island, and Prince of Wales Channel. 22. Echinocardium australe. A. Agassiz, Rev. Ech. p. 580. Port Jackson ; Flinders, Clairmont; Port Darwin (12 fms., mud and sand). ASTEROIDEA. 1. Asterias calamaria. Perrier, p. 43*. Port Jackson. The two specimens are very different in appear- ance : one has eleven arms, of Avhich none are remarkably smaller than the rest ; the other, which has five arms left, and appears to have had six, has one arm much longer than the others, and has three small subequal arms. * For the majority of the Asteroiclea I shall give only one reference, and that to Perrier's ' Revision des Stellerides ' (Paris, 1875), following its pagination as a sej)arate work. 124 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. 2. Asterias polyplax. Perrier, p, 63. A small specimen with two long, two short and stout, and four shorter and more delicate arms. Port Jackson, March 1881. 3. Echinaster purpureus. Othilia purpurea, Gray, Ann. 8f Mag. N. H. (1) vi. p. 282. Echinaster fallax, Mull. Sf Trosch. Syst. Asterid. p. 23 ; Perrier, p. 106. While some have six and another five arms, not markedly differing in length, another has one very long arm, with a madreporite on either side of its base, and four shorter arms, of which one is very much shorter than the rest ; it bears, however, indications of injury and subsequent repair. Port MoUe ; Port Denison ; Thursday Island, 4-6 fms. 4. Metrodira suhulata. Gray, Ann. Sf Mag. N. II. (1) vi. p. 282. Plinders, Clairmont ; Alert Island, 7 fms. 5. Linckia Isevigata. Pei-rier, p. 137. A dried specimen still retains very well its blue coloration. Clairmont Island. 6. Linckia nodosa. 153. There is not, I think, any doubt that the four specimens from the Arafura Sea (32-36 fms.) and Prince of "Wales Channel (7 fms.) are representatives of this species, of which Prof. Perrier has given an admirable description ; the specimens, however, on which that description is based bore no indication of any locality. The specimens are very much finer than those measured by M, Perrier, R being equal to 213, 118, and 104 millim., with r 23, 18, and 13. The disk with 18 millim. radius has apparently received some injury ; but it may be that, in this species, there is a difference in the sexes, and that the specimen in question is in a different condition of generative maturity to the others ; it is impossible, however, to settle the question, as the example has been dried. ECHINODERMATA, 125 7. LincMa marmorata. Ophidiaster marmoratus, Michelin,Mag. Zuol. 1845, Zooph. p. 21, pi. 10. Liuckia marmorata, Perrier, p. 13o. If I am correct in referring to this species a series of specimens from Port Molle and Fitzroy Island, it will be easy to understand how it is that M. Michelin's species was never again recognized till the Paris Museum came into the possession of his type ; that would appear to be the only example that they possess, and, as M. Perrier points out, the " typo " is obviously young. The specimens before me are clearly enough all representatives of the same species ; but were any one of them described it is quite possible that from the description alone of that single specimen it would be easy to regard some others of the series as belonging to another form. In the first place, though all the specimens are provided with the intermediate plate that connects into a pentagon the terminal one of the " ranges de plaques qui occupe la ligne mediane dorsale de chaque bras," the extent to which this is evident varies a good deal, and one would hardly think it worthy of especial note in the largest example were not attention directed to it by the better-marked characters of some of the smaller. Secondly, the smallest specimen has the dorsal plates covered with coarse granulations ; of some of these, at any rate, it would be appropriate to say (again quoting Perrier) " les granules voisins de leur centre sent un peu plus gros que les autres;" on the other hand, one, two, or more granules near the centre acquire, in the larger specimens, a much greater predominance, and give a somewhat different appearance to the creature ; in the largest specimen these again have disappeared, and the whole surface of the plates is more uniformly granular. Thirdly, the dorsal plates may lose the regularity of outline which is so well marked (if not exaggerated ?) in Michelin's figure, and which is expressed by M. Perrier in the words " sensiblement carree," and become narrower at the angles at which the pores are placed ; this is perhaps due to the greater development in the number of pores, of which as many as seven may in some cases be found within the limits of one area. Lastly, it is only in the smallest specimens that we find a double row of tubercles fringing the adambulacral spines ; in aU the larger specimens the row is single, or, in other words, one row of tubercles ceases to grow proportionately, and becomes ob- scured in the general granulation of the actinal surface. The only considerable point of difference between these specimens and that figured by Michelin lies in the remarkable coloration of his specimen ; if, however, M. Desjardin's example from the island of Mauritius was immediately dried, it might have retained its colour : while Dr. Coppinger's specimens, which were placed in spirit, might very possibly have had part of their colouring-matter dissolved out. The largest example has E equal to 50 miUim. Prince of Wales Channel, 7 fms. 126 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. 8. Linckia pauciforis. Martens, Arch.f. Nat. xxxii. (1866), p. 69. In only one example is one of the arms otherwise than perfect ; but this does not seem to have been budded out in place of one cast off, but to have been bitten or broken off not far from its tip. Three dry specimens from Bird Island, N.E. Australia; coral- reef. 9. Linckia megaloplax. Arms five. R=67, r=9, or Il=7'5 r about. Adambulacral spines flattened, one for each plate, with blunted end ; externally to and alternating with these are somewhat shorter papilliform spines ; the general granulation of the actinal surface of the disk extends between these latter; externally to them there is a row of larger spines, the distribution of which is extremely irregular, for while at some points they are almost as closely packed as those of the more internal row, they are at others separated from one another by the distance of three or four of the inner spines. The rest of the abactinal siirface is closely covered with subequal gra- nules of some size. The abactinal surface is traversed very regu- larly by six rows of poriferous spaces, which are comparatively large and markedly rectangular ; the smallest spaces are found in the lowest row on either side ; a short distance from the tip of each arm the spaces completely disappear, and the granulation becomes a little more prominent, and there is here, as in some allied species, a large specially modified plate with one or more large tubercles upon it. The disk itself is covered with large pore-areas, and the only noticeable character is the large and distinct, though not pro- jecting, madrcporic plate. The pore-areas are about 2 milhm. wide, and the length of the madreporic plate, around which the granules are very distinct, may be -1 millim. The colour of the abactinal sur- face is deep brown or black, whilst that of the actinal surface is lighter. In a specimen smaller than that which has formed the chief basis of this description the two surfaces arc, towards the free end of the arm, distinguished from one another by the development of some short marginal spines. In another, dried, specimen, intermediate in size between these two, the spines at the upper and lower mar- gins of the sides of the arm, though insignificant, are both larger and more numerous. The idea that the younger forms would have a larger supply of spines is opposed by the fact that in a still smaller specimen these spines are altogether absent *, while the skeletal plates are stouter than in the specimens which bear the spines. The question now arises as to whether there are three stages — («) one in which the ossicles are so stout that no defensive spines are needed in addition ; (h) one in which growth has proceeded so rapidly that the bars of * Cf. Ann. & Mag. N. H. (5) viii. p. 441. F.CHINODEKMATA. 127 the ossicles have diminished in proportional thickness while in- creasing in length, and so having lost their earlier stoutness, now require external aid; and (c) a final condition, in which equilibrium is again established, the ossicles themselves being again stouter, — or whether we have to do with two sets of variations from a common stock, due to some slight differences in the environment. But this is a complex and difficult question, which can only be satisfactorily answered by one who has at hand the living wealth of the Aus- tralian seas. Port Curtis ; Fitzroy Island ; Albany Island ; Port Denison, 8-12 fms. 10. Linckia, sp. A very small specimen, from West Island, Torres Strait, presents that interesting peculiarity of three smaller and three larger arms, hinting thereby at a division of the disk instead of gemmation from a single arm; it is the smallest heteractinic Lmclcla I have seen, the longest arm measuring only G millim. 11. Anthenea flavescens. Perrier, p. 276. Port Jackson, 0-5 fms. The Museum collection contains also specimens of this species from Fremantle, W. Australia. 12. Oreaster gracilis. Pentaceros gracilis, Perrier, p. 246. Oreaster gracilis, Liitken, Vid. Med. 1871, pp. 260, 261. A selected series of five specimens, all from Port Denison (4 fms.), exhibit remarkably well the great change which occurs in this species, even after a considerable size has been attained. The smallest, which has E, equal to 93-5 millim., has five tubercles, about 10 millim. high, one at the central end of each median row of tubercles : in another, with R equal to 108 millim., the tubercles, though a little stronger, are no higher and are here only to be found on three of the angles of the disk ; this specimen, like another which is a little larger, has the lateral and marginal spines very well developed: two specimens, with P equal to 118 and 140 millim, respectively, have these spines less well developed, and the diminution is the more marked in the larger specimen ; the smaller has one large central tubercle, and the larger has each of the whole set of five reduced to growths which are hardly larger than the other spines on the disk. A specimen with six arms, one of which has been injured and has commenced to grow again, was collected at Port Molle. 128 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. 13. Oreaster nodosus. Asterias nodosa, Li7mceus, Si/st. Nat. ed. xii. p. 1100, Pentaceros turritus, Perrier, p. 240. Pine specimens from 4 fms., Port Denison. 14. Oreaster, sp. A single dried specimen of a very interesting and, apparentl}% new form was also collected at Port Denison. Unfortunately, in the process of drying the disk has so fallen in as to completely alter what must have been a very different height in the living specimen, and, as may be supposed, the lophial line has also suffered. 15. Stellaster belcheri. Gray, P. Z. S. 1847, p. 76. Port Curtis. 16. Stellaster incei. Gray, P. Z. S. 1847, p. 76. A fine series of dried specimens was collected, and HjS there are some in which E was no more than 30 millim., while in others it was equal to 95 millim., we are able to see the great variability in the number and presence of the spinous tubercles, which may be very feebly or exceedingly well developed. This is not one of those species in which we find that the smaller or younger specimens are the more richly provided with tubercles ; but with this we have to correlate (1) the solidity of the skeleton, and (2) the small size and consequent slight defensive power of these tubercles, even when they are well developed. One specimen, which, unfortunately, is very much injured, has a " greater radius " of as much as 120 miUim. Port Molle ; Port Curtis (5-11 fms.) ; Port Denison (6 fms.) ; Albany Island (6 fms.) ; Thursday Island ; and Arafura Sea. 17. Pentagonaster coppingeri. This species belongs to the Astrocjonium section of the genus as arranged by Prof. Perrier, for the two rows of marginal plates are richly provided with granules, and with one or two larger granules which can hardly be called spines. Arms five. 11 = 91, r = 46. Arms 24 millim. wide at base, nar- rowing rather rapidly ; marginal plates exceedingly well developed ; pedicellariaj reduced. The central region of the disk is a little elevated, the thickness there being about double that of the margin of the disk ; the whole abactinal surface consists of a close arrangement of ossicles, the surfaces of which are coarsely granulated ; the granules are a little ECHIJSrODERMATA, 129 longer in the median line of each ray, where they form a remarkably regular series, continued on to the disk, but they become more or less ill-delined on the raised portion ; the granules on the rest of the plates present no peculiarities, saving that they are a little longer on the sides of the raised portion of the disk. The respira- tory pores on this surface are rather large, scattered, and simple. The supero-marginal plates are as much as 7 millim. high in the widely open angle of the arms ; they are narrow, wider above than below ; as these plates pass outwards they decrease in length and increase in breadth ; they next decrease in size generally, and finally they are again, though much smaller, of the same general form as those of the angles of the arm ; the terminal three or four touch in the middle line : of these plates there are about 23 on. the side of each ray ; the condition of their armature is, perhaps, best described by saying that some of the granules elongate to form small spinous tubercles. The madreporic plate is situated about one third of the radius from the centre of the disk ; it is prominent, 5'5 millim. long, and has the form of an irregular elongated oval. The infero-marginal plates are likewise about 23 in number, and their form in different regions presents very much the same varia- tions as those of the supero-marginal series ; the granules, however, do not present the same tendency to become spinous, though they are all rather longer and not quite so closely packed. The adam- bulacral spines form a fringe of four flattened subequal spines, in addition to which two smaller outer ones may be attached to the same ossicle ; beyond these there are two or three much stouter spines, and beyond these again there may be two or three spines, the tips of which may be pointed. The granulation of the inter- mediate plates presents very much the same characters as that of the infero-marginal plates. This species may be distinguished from P. singularis or P. mUiaris by the length of its arms, and the shape and closer packing of the plates of the abactinal surface ; from the former it is also distinguished by having the adambulacral spines shorter and blunter, though they are by no means as blunt as in P. miUaris, where the adambulacral groove is so wide. Colour : the specimen whose admeasurements have been given in the above description is dark slate; another, in which 11 = 82 and r = 26, is light stone- coloured ; in it the disk is not elevated. Port Curtis, 5-11 fms. ; Prince of Wales Channel, 3-5 fms. 18. Pentagonaster validus. This is a second new species which belongs to the Astrorjonium division of the genus. The arms are distinct, rounded, and stout, the anus central and sometimes very distinct ; the granulation of the ossicles is rather coarse, and only a few larger granules are found scattered over the abactinal surface ; there are three rows of adambulacral spines. As five specimens of this form were collected we are able to K 130 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. determine to some extent its range of variation : this, as we might have expected, is most markedly presented by the characters of the spinous protuberances formed by the hypertrophy of some of the granules on the abactinal surface ; the smallest specimen is without any special spines. Of three larger and subequal specimens, that which is a little the smallest has a more prominent granule deve- loped here and there along the middle lines of the rays, and some six, still more prominent, at the centre of the dislv ; the other two have much more prominent spinous granules at what may be called the base of the rays, and some smaller protuberances around the centre of the disk ; these latter are, in the largest specimen of all, quite inconspicuous. E. is about equal to 2 r; R=72, 58 ; r—34, 27. Arms 29 or 26 millim. wide at the base, narrowing hardly at all till quite near their end ; marginal plates very well developed, equal in either series, and 13 or 14 in number ; pedicellarise scarce. The central region of the disk is not distinctly elevated ; with increase in size the ossicles of the abactinal surface become less closely packed than in the smaller forms ; and three rows of ossicles can be quite distinctly made out ; the investing granulation is not especially coarse ; the intervening pores may be set singly or dis- posed in groups of three or four. With increase in size, likewise, the boundary line between the two sets of marginal plates becomes more distinct ; from the angle of the arm outwards the supero- marginals increase in breadth till the last two or three, but they are always at least twice as long as they are broad ; the terminal two or three touch in the middle line. The infero-marginals are a little stouter, but have otherwise much the same proj)ortions as the upper series. The intermediate plates are distinct from one another and are covered by large distinct granules. The innermost row of adambu- lacral spines are 6 or 7 in number, and are more delicate than the two stouter ones which are placed outside them ; those of the outermost row are smaller and more irregular, and are not easily distinguished from the granules of the ventral plates. Madreporic plate rather large, distinct, g to ^ r distant from the centre ; the anus often distinguished by its periphery of eight or ten small plates. The dried specimens are yellowish or light slate-coloured ; but there is no information as to what is their colour when alive or fresh. The species is verj-^ distinct from P. dilafatiis of Perrier, which species has perhaps been founded on forms which were only varieties of the Astrof/onium miliare of Gray. Thursday Island, Torres Straits, 3-5 fms. ; sand. 19. Dorigona longimana. Pentagonaster longimanus, Perrier, p. 228. Percy Island, Queensland ; Prince of Wales Channel, Aug. 1881, 7 fms. ECHINODERMATA. 131 20. Asterina belcheri. Ferrier, p. 320. With four madrcporites. Port Jackson, 0-4: fms. This is the first locality that has been given for this species. 21. Asterina calcar. Ferrier, p. 296. Port Jackson. "I^. Asterina cepheus. Asperiscus cepheus, M. S^- Tr. Syst. Ast. p. 41. Asterina cepkea, Ferrier, p. 315. I follow Prof. Perrier in using Miiller and Troschel's specific name, on the ground that, though Graj^'s name hurtoni has the precedence by two years, the " type " is not to be found, and the description is useless for any purposes of identification. As cepheus is obviously a proper name, I prefer to use it without making any alterations in its termination. Thursday Island. 23. Asterina gunniL Ferrier, p. 298. A small specimen from Port Molle. 24. Asterina regularis. Verrill, Trans. Connecticut Acad. i. p. 250. A small specimen : Port Molle. A good series in spirit : Port Jackson. What seems to be a young specimen of this species was also taken at Port Jackson. 25. Asterina (Nepanthia) brevis. (Plate VIII. figs. A, A'.) Ferrier, p. 321. As Prof. Perrier's description would appear to be based on a single small dried specimen in the British Museum, I give the measure- ments of two specimens preserved in spirit : — R=32, 44; r=9, 12; or E=2-7 or 2-8 r, and a figure of the largest specimen. Albany Island (8 fms., sand and mud) ; Thursday Island (4 fms., coral). 26. Pattria crassa, Gray. Ferrier, p. 326. Port Curtis. il2 132 C0LLECTI0X8 FROM MELANESIA, 27. Luidia, sp. A single dried specimen of a species of this genus was taken at Port Dar\vin. Though it is not in a condition to be described, it is right to direct attention to it, as no species of Luidia is mentioned either by Prof. Perrier or by Mr. Tenison- Woods in their lists of Starfishes of the Australian seas. The example in question was greatly injured during life, and the arms, of which there are only five, differ considerably in form and length. It cannot be regarded as belonging to Gray's species L. hardwiclcii on account of the greater stoutness of the ventral plates and of the spines found on them ; the tufts on the paxillee are likewise made up of stouter spinules, and the characters of the adambulacral spines will, it is almost certain, be found to be very different when a more satis- factory specimen is obtained. 28. Astropecten coppingeri. Dr. Coppinger has forwarded examples of a species already repre- sented in the Museum, but of which I have never been able to find a description. The species, however, is not, I should imagine, a rare one, and it is certainly one that has not yet be-en recorded as from the Australian seas. It is distinguished by the fact that it has only four spines on each series of supero-marginal plates, and these are confined to the two plates on either side of the apex of the interradial angle. Iiz=30"5, r=8. Breadth of arm at base 7*5 millim. Arms taper gradually and regularly ; about twenty-five supero-marginal plates, which are higher than broad and very high in the angle of the arm, where they are narrower at their ventral ends ; the plates that do not bear spines are regularly covered with a somewhat coarse granulation, which may almost become spinous ; the two terminal plates are large, prominent, and smooth ; the space be- tween the arras and on the disk is regularly filled with not large paxilla3, provided generally with a central tubercle and a circlet of from eight to ten tubercles around their head. The spines of the infero-marginal plates are prominent and lie on the sides of the arms, so that they are visible from the abactinal surface. Inter- nally to these long stoutish spines, three smaller ones are to be found on the actinal surface in the same transverse line ; the intermediate space is filled up by a coarse granulation or by spinous processes. The spines bordering the ambulacral groove are closely packed ; there are three or, more rarely, two on the side of each plate ; these are elongated and rather delicate ; beyond this internal row there is a row of stouter shorter spines, and beyond these are others which become more or less confounded with the covering of the ventral plates. Madreporic plate not detected. The characters of the paxillse already described do not hold for the region of the disk, where ECHINODERMATA, 133 there is a closer and more regular granulation. The coloration, which becomes blotched in the dried specimens, is found in an ex- ample sent by Dr. Coppinger to consist of an irregular darkish patch at each angle of the disk, and an irregular patch, extending on to the marginal plates, occurs twice on the length of each arm. In a much smaller specimen (in which R = 9} the spines are only developed on one plate on either side of the apex of the angle of the arm, and only two distinct spines are to be seen on the ventral plates. In a specimen in which E.= 16 the second spine is fairly developed on some, small on otherr., and absent from the rest of the plates nearest but one to the apex ; on all of the ventral plates a third, and on some the fourth, spine is now to be made out. Of several specimens collected at Alert Island one has at some of its angles three spine-bearing plates. In addition to the specimens from Thursday Island, Alert Island, and Prince of Wales Channel (7 fms.), the British Museum con- tains three specimens which were collected in " Australia " by Macgillivray in 1S62. 29. Astropecten polyacanthus. M. <§• Tr. p. 69. A fine series of ten specimens were taken in 0-5 fms., at Port Jackson. In the case of two examples there are three spineless ossicles succeeding the plate at the angle of the arm ; in all the other cases the more ordinary condition of two such ossicles only is found to obtain. The smallest specimen has E. equal to 15 millim., and the largest H equal to 36 millim. Some variability is to be noted in the tenuity of the arms. 30. Archaster typicus. M. ^ Tr. p. 65. Three dried specimens from Port Denison, 4 fms. EETASTER. PeiTier, JVouv. Arch, du Mus. (2) i. p. 55*. 31. Eetaster insignis. Sladen, J. Linn. Soc, Zool. xvi. p. 200. On receiving these specimens I recognized that they were repre- sentatives of a species then undescribed ; since that time, however, an account of the species has been published by Mr. Sladen in his Preliminary Notice of the ' Challenger ' Collection. The foUow- * I am indebted to Mr. W. Percy Slnd^n for this reference. 134 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA, ing notes will add a little to our knowledge of this form. Not one of the three specimens collected by Dr. Coppinger (there were two in the 'Challenger' collection) distinctly presents that cruciform arrangement of fibres in the dorsal areae which was so striking in the specimens seen by Mr. 81aden ; in some of the areae it is indistinctly marked, and in not rare cases the arose are divided into two ; the number of pores hardly exceeds fifty ; the arose may be square as well as rhomboidal, or may be triangular or have the angles rounded. There is not that diflcrence in hue between the tissue covering the areoe and that covering the spinclets which Mr. Sladen observed ; but there may be great differences in colour, specimens being ashy grey or deep brown. The minor radial axis is respectively 60, 48-U, and 44-7 millim. Port MoUe, and Thursday Island (4 fms., coral). OPHIUROIDEA. 1. Pectinura gorgonia. Lyman, Prel. List, p. S*. This is one of the species that extends as far west as Mauritius, in a dried specimen from which island all the transverse bands on the arms have disappeared, and the number of arm-spines is as many as twelve. Port Jackson, 0-5 fms. 2. Pectinura infernalis. (Plate Till. fig. B.) Ophiaraclina infernalis, J/. Tr. p. 105. Pectinura infernalis, Lyman, Lull. 31. C. Z. iii. p. 222 ; and Prel. List, p. 3. The three naked plates between the radial shields, which are so markedly referred to in the original description, and are so well seen in Mr. Lyman's figure, are not always so distinctly developed, as may be seen by the figure which is now given. Port Molle ; Thursday Island ; Prince of Wales Channel ; a young specimen fi'om Port Darwin. 3. Pectinura megaloplax. Very large naked radial shields ; disk elsewhere covered with a coarse granulation, beneath which are largish j:)lates, somewhat puffed ; the arras wide at their insertion, slightly carinated. Large accessory mouth-shields present in all the interradii ; pores between first and second ventral arm-plates only ; about seven rather delicate lateral arm-spines ; upper arm-plates not broken. * The bibliographical referenops are here chiefly confined to Mr. Lyman's Preliminary List ' (Cambridge, U. S. A., 1880). ECHTNODERMATA. 135 Diameter of disk 19 millim., length of arm about 83 millim. from the edge of the disk, width of arm at disk 6 millim., height of same 5 millim. Fourteen mouth-papillse of fair size, the outermost the largest ; four stout teeth ; mouth-plates with six sides, the ahoral the longest and the adoral the shortest, longest hardly longer than broadest axis ; accessory mouth-plates large, longer than broad, straight within, convex without; side mouth-shields distinct, in- clined to be triangular, broader within than without ; granulated space between mouth-papillaj and mouth-shield very small. Lower arm-plates at first wider than long, but varying a good deal in shape ; proceeding outwards the adoral edge becomes shorter and shorter as the side arm-plates encroach more and more upon the ventral middle line. The upper arm-plates at the base of the arms are very wide, about foui* times as wide as they are long, further out they become narrower, and towards the tip of the arm are very much encroached upon by the side plates ; as a rule there are seven spines ou the plates. Tentacle-scales two. This fine form stands nearest to P. marmorata, from which it may be distinguished by (i.) the much larger radial shields, (ii.) the wider arm-bases, (iii.) smaller number of arm-spines, (iv.) larger accessory mouth-shield, and (v.) proportionately shorter arms. Port Molle (14 fms.). OPHIOPINAX, g. n. It appears to be necessary to establish a new genus for the re- ception of the form hitherto known as Pectinura steUata, owing to the remarkable and regular arrangement of the large plates on its disk ; this, which is only obscurely seen in smaller specimens, be- comes very prominent in such larger examples as were obtained during the voyage of the ' Alert.' The genus may be defined as follows: — Two elongated genital clefts; mouth-papillse, teeth. Accessory oral shields ; arm-sijines delicate, attached to the outer edge of the side arm-plates. Eadial shields large, separated by several radial or interradial plates from one another. All the disk, except the radial shields, is covered by granules, but there are no spines or spinous processes. Teeth (in four rows) stout, blunt. Side arm-plates extend on to both actinal and abactinal surfaces ; side mouth-shields naked. The extraordinary development of the plates between the radial shields, both of the same and of the neighbouring sets, appears to have escaped the notice of Ljungman and Grube ; nor can it, I imagine, have been noticed by Mr, Lyman, as he retains 0. stellata of Ljungman in the emended genus Pectinura. At this time it ajjpcars convenient to redescribe and figure the species. 136 COLLECTIONS FBOM MELANESIA. 4. OpMopinax stellatus. (Plate VIII. fig. C.) Pectinura stellata, Lyman, Trd. List, p. 3. Disk somewhat pentagonal, not pnfFed, with a central rosette of plates varying a good deal in the extent to which it is well defined, and occupying about half the upper surface ; in some cases a central plate and two not very regular circlets of variously sized plates of irregular form can be made out. The interradial series of plates, which extend from the rosette to the edge of the disk, are stouter and more prominent than the radial series ; they are composed of three or four plates varying in size and form, and sometimes paired at the margin of the disk ; the larger median have smaller plates on either side. The radial series may, for its undivided portion, be formed by a single plate, but, as a more general rule, there are three ; there are no smaller marginal plates. The bifurcated band which embraces the base of the arm has usually three pieces on either half. Just below the margin of the disk there is a prominent plate, which is placed interradially ; in shape this is irregularly cordiform ; above, on either side, it is bounded by a compressed or diamond-shaped plate ; between it and the mouth-plate there is a pair of smaller plates and several still smaller plates intervening ; on the side there is an elongated plate, with two smaller ones, lying along the edge of the genital slit. The radial shields are large and triangular, and fill up all the space on the disk between the radial and interradial plates which is not occupied by the rosette. The inner mouth-shields have a straight outer edge, the sides are at first straight, and then bending inwards meet one another at a more or less acute angle ; they are longer than broad ; the space between them and the edges of the mouth is rather loosely granular ; the outer mouth-shields are about as broad as long, and have a slightly convex outer edge ; the umbo is well marked, and that shield is not divided ; the side mouth-shields are well developed, and are separated from the genital slits by a small granulated patch. Seven mouth-papillte, the three innermost small, the innermost smallest ; the next three large, increasing in size from within out- wards ; the outermost again small. The arms begin to narrow immediately after leaving the disk, and become very delicate at their free ends ; in a well-developed specimen, in which the disk measures 17 millim. in diameter, they are 70 millim. long, 5 millim. wide, and 4-5 millim. high at their insertion into the disk. Upper surface carinated ; upper arm-plates about three times as wide as they are long, but, owing to the invasion of the side arm-plates, the aboral is longer than the adoral edge ; both these edges are straight. There is a pair of pores between the first and second lower arm- plates ; the lower, like the upper, arm-plates have their aboral longer than their adoral edges, and this, as on the upper surface, is due to the encroachments of the side arm-plates, and is more strongly marked near to, than far from, the disk. None of the edges of these ECHIJfODEEMATA. 137 plates are curved ; the plates themselves are at first broader than long, but during their gradual diminution in size they have at one time their aboral edge equal to their longitudinal axis ; still further out they are longer than broad. About six, short, poorly developed spines are found on each of the side arm-plates near the disk, of which the largest are median in position ; they diminish in number and size as they approach the free end of the arm. Two small ten- tacle-scales. Upper surface (in alcohol) dark yellow, with spots or patches of brown ; the whole of the actinal surface pale flesh-colour. Although, as a rule, three consecutive segments are coloured by a darker trans- verse patch, there may be only two, or there may be four so orna- mented, and, as irregularities, one or more than four ; but the colo- ration always extends on to the sides of the arm, though it never passes on to the lower surface. Or the whole may be very many shades darker, and then the darkest parts are not especially remark- able ; this last mode of coloration appears to be by far the most comnion. Port Molle, Queensland, 14 fms., rock ; and Port Denison, 3-4 fms. In some examples, which are very much smaller, from Torres Straits the radial shields are oviform, the upper arm-plates are not nearly so wide nor so distinctly carinated ; the central rosette may be only barely indicated, though the central plate is very distinct ; the plates of the interradial series have no small marginal secondary plates. The side arm-plates at the base of the arm are proportionately much larger, and in consequence diminish the breadth of the lower as well as of the upper arm-plates. Striking as is the difference in effect produced by these dift'erences in character, they are, I think, only to be ascribed to age. 5. OpMopeza conjimgens. This species seems to strengthen the opinion, more than once ex- pressed by Mr. Lyman, that the genera O/ihiojJeza and Pectinura are barely to be distinguished. AVithout a divided mouth-shield, it has the arms not rounded, as in 0. fallcuv, but keeled above, as is so often the case in Pectinura. Most closely allied to 0. fallax, it may be distinguished by the somewhat coarser granulation of its disk, the smaller number of mouth-papillse, and the broadened upper arm-plates. Disk pentagonal, flattened, 17'5 millim. diam. in one example, completely covered by a delicate and regular granulation (of about twenty granules to 1 millim.), the underlying scales not large ; the radial shields, in perfect specimens, only indicated by depressions. Mouth-shields not divided, wider than long, with a wide convex adoral edge, straighter sides, and a barely convex aboral margin. Side mouth-shields small ; the space between the mouth-shield and the edge of the jaws is marked by a granulation, much coarser than that which obtains elsewhere on the disk. Mouth-papillae seven. 138 COLLECTIONS PEOM MELANESIA. stout, tlie 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. Arra- 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 ; rajjidly, 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 fonr successive plates often much darker than those in front of or behind them. Port Molle (1-1: 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 AY ales Channel. 6. Ophiolepis annulosa. Lyman, p. 4. Clairmont Island ; Port Darwin. 7. OpMoplocus imbricatus. Lyman, p. 4. Port Darwin. 8. Ophiactis savignii. Lyman, p. 14. Port Jackson, 0-5 fms. 9. Ophionereis dubia. Lyman, p. 26. Thursday Island; Albany Island; Prince of Wales Channel: Torres Straits. ECHINODEKMATA. 139 10. OpMocoma brevipes. Peters, Archivfilr Natur. 1852, p. 85 ; see Lyman, p. 27. Mr. Lj'man (Prel. List, p. 27) gives as synonyms of this, his own 0. insv.laria (about which there will, I suppose, be no dispute), the 0. ternisjnna of Martens, an unnamed specimen of which, from the island of Mauritius, has been for many years in the collection of the British Museum and has for a long time been a source of much disquiet to myself (I am now persuaded that this is a specimen to which Dr. von Martens would have given the name ternisjj'ma), Ophiocoma varieguta and 0. brevisjnnosa of E. A. Smith, from the island of Rodriguez. I do not know that a more western locality than the island just named has ever been recorded l)y a zoologist ; at any rate, Dr. Haacke did not detect the species among the Ophi- urids collected by Prof. Mtibius in the island of Mauritius *, unless he has been, as is possible, misled by the definition of 0. squamata given by M tiller and Troschel ; the three or four lateral spines, the two teutacle-scales, and the square markings on the upper arm- plates might deceive a hasty nomcuclator, but they could not, I think, mislead any one who refers to the second edition of Lamarck (vol. iii. ly40), p. 225, where he will find references to the plates of Link and 0. F. Miiller. Although the species there figured is regarded by the editors as distinct from 0. squamata, the resemblance between such an Oi^hiurid as this Ophiocoma and the Ophiothrix pentapliyUum figured by the two just-mentioned naturalists, is so very slight that we are forbidden from supposing that the Ophiura squamata, Lamk. {Opiiiocoma squamata, M. & Tr.), is a near ally of an Ophiothrix or Ophiothrix-lWa form. The variations exhibited by this very widely distributed species are indeed remarkable. It seemed for a time that the larger number and smaller size of the mouth-papilla) at the inner angles of 0. varie- gata and of 0. hrtvispinosa would indicate a certain difference ; but a difference of quite equal extent can be detected in the mouth- organs of a single specimen. The hollow square marking on the upper arm-plates, which, when well developed, seems to give such a characteristic appearance to the arms of this species, may be replaced by a black patch, or there may be a transverse bar, or there may be only the two lines left which run parallel to the long axis of the arm ; again, there may be spots, or the coloration may be fairly uniform. The colour of the disk may be pale, spotted, or reticu- lated; the mouth- shields spotted or uniform in colour. Levuka, Fiji. * MiJbius, ' Beitrage zur Meeresfauna der Insel Mauritius ' &c. (Berlin, 1880). Iq what follows I may seem to speak somewhat harshly of Dr. Haacke's services ; but I am bound to point out that the list of Ophiurids given on p. 50 of this work has no scientific value whatever. 0. dentata has been for many years regarded, first by Lyman (18()5) and since by others, as " only a middling-sized 0. echinata;" the type of 0. aquamata has been lo.st, " and nobody can tell what it was, though it might have been 0. brevipes." Dr. Haacke makes no reference to either of these judgments. 140 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. 11. Ophiocoma scolopendrina. Lyman, p. 26. Port MoUe. 12. Ophiartlirum elegans. Peters, Wiegmanri's Arch. 1852, p. 82. Though the British Museum possesses several specimens of this species, the present is especially useful, as it is the first which has come to hand in which even one of the " sehr zerbreehlich " arms has been preserved entire. As the disk measures 18 millim., and this complete arm rather more than 120 millim., we find that the object now in hand presents very much the same proportions as the specimen described by Dr. Peters. In an example from Torres Straits, which has been some years in the possession of the Trustees, there is an arm which is in a sense complete, but it was obviously broken during life ; and though the disk is of very much the same dia- meter as that just added to the collection, this arm only measures 60 millim. Dr. Coppinger's specimen was collected at Levuka, Fiji. OPHIOTHRIX. In addition to the series hereafter mentioned and described,-there were indications cf other species, not sufficiently good to justify de- scription, but quite well enough marked to point to the great wealth of Ojjhiothrvv-iorms in the seas where these dredgings were made. 13. OpMothrix fumaria. Lyman, p. 34. As this is a very rare species, the following notes may be of interest : — Eadial shields naked, large, with a curve along their basal edge, each separated from its fellow by a low ridge on which granules are generally developed. Each pair of radial shields is separated by some seven rows of prominent granules : these granules occupy all but the very central portion of the disk, and form a spinous patch on the lower surface. Mouth-shields irregularly oval, pretty sharply angu- lated proximally and very narrow dis tally, so that the bridge be- tween the genital slits is very narrow. Only the median portion of the interbrachial space is spinous. Upper arm-plates a good deal encroached upon by the side arm- plates, so that, for the greater part of the arm, they are wider along their distal than their proximal edge ; spine-ridge of side arm-plates not specially well developed ; lower arm-plates rectangular, a little KCHlNODERMATAj 141 broader than long. Six arm-spines, the uppermost the longest, as long as two or three arm-plates, swollen at their tip, only faintly thorny. One tentacle-scale. Disk with a large number of blue patches and dots ; arm-plates above faint reddish pink, with dots of blue at the sides, and broad transverse bands of blue at regular intervals. Colour-markihgs below less pronounced. Port Jackson, 0-5 fms. 14. OpMothrix caBspitosa. Lyman^ Chall, Rep. p. 218. Though the ' Challenger ' found but few representatives of this species, it is apparently one of the most common in the neighbour- hood of Sydney. Port Jackson, March 1881. 15. OpMothrix martensi. Lyman, p. 36. If I am right in ascribing to this species examples from Thursday Island and Port Darwin, it is one which must be regarded as exhi-* biting very remarkable variations in coloration. The original spe- cimens, collected by Prof. Semper in the Philippines, were described by Mr. Lyman as being in colour, " above, bright indigo, with a darker line along the arm, bounded by a lighter one on either side ; below, paler indigo, with a white line along the arm." In a smaller specimen, " the blue lines along the arms were continued to the centre of the disk, but were not margined by lighter liucs." In the two specimens collected on "Aug. 7, 1874" (in the neighbourhood of the Fiji Islands), by the ' Challenger,' and determined by Mr. Lyman, I observe that there is a faint indication of a white line on either side of the blue lines on the disk, and that the white line on the ventral surface is, at places, broken across by a patch of indigo. On either side of these " typical specimens " there would appear to be a light and a dark variety. In the latter the whole creature may be deep purple, the two white lines on the arms being at regu- lar distances invaded by purple patches of such a size as to leave only spaces of white equal to themselves ; and as these patches are sym- metrical on either side of the middle line, the original white lines come to be represented by nothing more than paired patches of white ; similarly the white line below disappears, or rather is forced out to the sides, and appears only as a thin marginal line. The light variety is no less interesting ; with the exception of the radiating lines, the disk above is altogether white, and even these lines may 142 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. become less conspicuous and much reduced ; the white lines along the arm are broken into by blue patches, much less extensively de- veloped than in the dark form ; on the lower surface of the arm the blue lines may be present as continuous" tracts, or they may here and there be interrupted by white. Port Curtis ; Thursday Island ; Port Darwin. 16. Ophiothrix striolata. Lyman, p. 36. Thursday Island. 17. Ophiothrix galatesB. Lyman, p. 36. Port Darwin. 18. Ophiothrix ciliaris. Lyman, p. 85. Port Jackson, 0-5 fms. ; Port MoUe. „ 19. Ophiothrix rotata. Martens, Arch.f. Nat. 1870, p. 258. A single specimen, without doubt referred to this species, differs in one or two points from tbat described by Dr. von Martens. In the Berlin-Museum specimen the diameter of the disk is 7 millim., and the length of the arras 35 millim. In our specimen the arms must have been nearly 150 millim. long, while the diameter of the disk is 12 millim. The upper spines are not more than twice the width of the arm, instead of four times. The original describer makes two statements with regard to the colour of the oral shields : — " Unterseite der Bcheibe mit den Muudschildern und die Arm- stacheln blass " ; and " Das der Madreporenplatte zi;gehorige Mund- schild ist merklich grosser, an den Heiten nicht eingebuchtet und weiss, nicht wie die andern violett." In the specimen now under examination there is some violet marking on each one of the mouth- shields. Thursday Island, 3-4 fms. So far as the present collection allows me to form any ideas with regard to the range of variation within the limits of a " species," and the value of the colour-markings on which previous investigators have laid, and, as it seemed, justifiably, very considerable stress, I am in- clined to the view that the variation is very much greater than was supposed, and that, after all, colour-marking, though an important aid in the discrimination of the species, can hardly be said to have the value which has been attached to it. The doubts first raised by a study of 0. martensi (vide supra) are not a little strengthened by the three specimens now lying before me, which, I have little ECHINODKRMATA. 143 doubt, will be seen, ■when a large series is to hand, to be nothing more than varieties of 0. rotata. As none of the arms are complete, the measurements I could give might only be deceptive ; in them the upper arm-spines are proportionately lai'ger than in the specimen already spoken of; the bands separating the plates, the character of which has given rise to the specific name, may vary -in breadth on one and the same disk; and the granules may be in narrow or broad bands, and may be so greatly elongated that they may more correctly be spoken of as spines ; the marking would by some be spoken of as exceedingly characteristic, for there extend from the disk on to the arms two lines of dots of blue ; at every fourth plate, when regular, the two dots of either side fuse, and the spot enlarges into a blue patch ; an exactly similar marking is to be seen on the lower sur- face. In the specimen unhesitatingly placed with 0. rotata there is not this definite arrangement of the dots. I have thought it right to direct attention to these peculiarities, but a full and satisfactory discussion of the subject must be based on a much larger series of specimens. These examples were also from Thursday Island. 20. Ophiothrix punctolimbata. Martens, Arch.f. Nat. 1870, p. 257. Port Curtis ; Port Molle ; Thursday Island, 3-4 fms. ; Prince of Wales Channel ; Warrior E-eef. The specimen from Port Curtis, which is smaller than the others, has the lateral spines proportionately longer, more echinulated, and much more glossy. 21. Ophiothrix longipeda. Lyman, p. 35. Port Curtis ; Port Molle. 22. Ophiothrix microplax. Disk large, covered with short spines, less thick on the radial shields ; ends of the not-thorny arm-spines faintly clavate. Pro- portion of arms to disk about 6 to 1. The disk is rather large (20 millim. in diameter) and is covered with very short spines, which may almost be described as spinous granules ; these are not so closely packed on the radial shields or on the actinal surface as on the rest of the disk. The radial shields are small, elongated, triangular, the straight base of the one faces that of the other ; the plates of each pair are separated by several elongated scales, which carry a few longer spines. There is some imbrication of the scales on the actinal surface of the disk. 144 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. Arms at least six times the diameter of the disk, not diminished in width for some distance out. Just beyond the disk there are three large upper and four much shorter sj^ines : the lowest, which is the smallest, is very small ; gradually this disappears, and then the following one gets smaller and smaller till it disappears. The upper spines are faintly echinulated near their tip ; the uppermost but one is generally rather the longest, but is never more than equal to about the length of two of the upper arm-plates. The edge of the genital slit is fringed by some elongated plates ; the bridge is pretty wide ; the mouth-shields are largo and stout, rather longer than broad, and have a notch in the middle of their inner edge. The lower arm-plates have pretty even sides and are of about the same length as breadth ; the tentacle-scale is only distinct at the proximal end of the arm. The upper arm-plates are twice as broad as long, broader along their distal than their proximal edge. General colour of disk yellowish grey, the radial shields violet, the upper arm-plates washed with slate-grey and having a faint white line along their middle ; the spines light-coloured, but darker towards their tip ; the actiual surface lighter ; the mouth-shields prominent by their whiteness. Port Darwin. 23, OpMothrix darwini. Disk somewhat pentagonal, with delicate spines on its upper sur- face, but the radial shields naked. Colour light jnuk, green, or lemon in places, with a few dark spots. Length of arms perhaps not more than six or seven times the diameter of the disk. The large radial shields form right-angled triangles, the perpen- dicular side being separated from that of its fellow by a very narrow line and by only a single row of rare spines ; a slight notch sepa- rates the plates at the peripheiy of the disk. The interradial spaces are about as broad as the base of the radial shields, and are richly covered with delicate spinules, these extend on to the actinal surface, but leave a, bare band bordering the genital slits ; the bridge between the slits is narrow ; mouth-shields broader than long, somewhat irre- gularly lozenge-shaped in form. The lower arm-plates are very regu- larly arranged, and are only slightly oblong, many being almost completely square. The upper arm-plates are broader than long, the aboral edge three-sided, the adoral sides long, and the consequent form that of a not very regular hexagon. Four or five arm-spines, the lowest not peculiarly short, and the uppermost equal to five upper arm-x)lates in length, echinulated at their free end. There appear to be two very small tentacle-scales. The larger of the two specimens presents the following markings : — There are three black dots on each of the mouth-shields ; some of the lower arm-plates are light green, the adoral edges of others are marked by a black spot, and this is rendered the more conspicuous ECHINODEBMATA. 145 by the fact that two successive plates are so marked, and that then there is an interval of two or more not so distinguished. Three or four blackish dots are to be found on the radial shields, along the line of the vertical side ; by pairs or threes the upper arm-plates are faint pink or light green, and the pink ones are distinguished by each having a black dot. I have taken advantage of the locplity of this Avell-marked and really beautiful species to associate with it a name honoured by us all. Port Darwin, 7-12 fms., mud and sand. 24. Ophiothrix melanogramma. Disk pentagonal in appearance, completely covered with fine spinules, which are a good deal longer and rarer on the actinal sur- face. Arms 4-5 times the diameter of the disk, tapering very deli- cately ; the upper surface marked by a black line, which extends a good way on to, but does not reach, the centre of the disk. The radial shields are almost completely obscured by the spinu- lation, which is very delicate ; mouth-shields broader than long, the inner sides meeting at an acute angle, the outer edge rather evenly rounded, the l^ridge between the genital slits very narrow ; seven or eight arm-spines, the two lowest very small, the upper one as long as five or six upper arm-plates, but the uppermost of all is not the longest ; the upper spines are richly and delicately echinulated, and, owing to the great encroachment of the side arm-plates on the upper surface of the arm, the spines of either side come to lie very close to one another, and soon obscure the arm itself. One small tentacle- scale. The lower arm-plates have a concave notch on their adoral edge, have a short side passing into the short lateral edge, and are three-sided on their aboral face, so that they form an irregular hexagon which is broader than long. Owing to the size of the side arm-plates, the upper arm-plates are lozenge-shaped. This species has a most elegant appearance, the black band already spoken of relieving the whiteness of all the other parts, while a kind of feathery appearance is given to the arms by the delicate plates and long glassy spines. Prince of AVales Channel. 25. Ophiomaza cacaotica. Li/man, p. 37. The coloration of these specimens is very far from the chocolate of Mr. Lyman's type ; but three specimens collected in one locality (Gulf of Suez) are — one chocolate-coloured, one quite light, and one intermediate. A discussion, however, of the characters of the variations of this species will be more profitable when our series is larger. Port Mollc ; Prince of Wales Channel. I. 146 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. 26. Euryale aspera, Laml: Lyvian, p. 43. (a) One specimen, Port MoUe, 12 fms. ; bottom, rock and sand : of a dark black colour. (6) Several specimens. Port Curtis : all lighter in colour. HOLOTHUEOIDEA. A considerable number of specimens belonging to less than twenty species were collected, Colocliirus tuberculosus being extremely well represented ; in the case of rarer or less well-known species, un- fortunately, a single representative was often all that was obtained, so that in some cases conclusions have been arrived at which cannot be regarded as any thing more than provisional. Where a number of specimens were collected, or where the species was already repre- sented in the British Museum, evidence was frequently obtained as to the wide extent of variation within the limits of ap])arent spe- cies ; and this has especially made the work of discrimination an anxious and difficult one. Other difficulties were presented by the extreme density of the integument of some of the species and our slight knowledge of tlie characters of the group. On the other hand, the work of bibliographical research has been but slight, the three more important workers at the group (Professors Semper, Selenka, and Ludwig*), having published works of remarkable ex- actness and care. The arrangement followed is that of Prof. Semper. 1. Synapta grisea. Semper, Hoi. p. 11. The condition of the single specimen did not admit of an anato- mical investigation, so that the characters of the calcareous ring were not discovered; the form of the anchoring-plates is, however, exactly that of the species described by Semper under this name. That the species has a wide distribution would seem to be shown by its presence in this collection, and by its being represented by a specimen from the Indian Ocean in the Loyden Museum f. Fitzroy Island, Queensland. 2. Cucumaria maculata. Semper, Hoi. p. 47. From the external characters of the single specimen one would hardly be led to associate it with this species ; but in the case of * Dr. Tbeel's work does not seem to touch the present coUoctiou. t See Ludwig, Notes Leyd. Mus. iv. p. 128. ECHINODEEMATA. 147 Hololhurians it is especially necessary to remember the words of Fabricius, " Tn spiritii viiii mire dcformatiir, ita ut non pro eadem habeatur '**. The remarkable spicules arc, however, an exact copy of those figured by Semper ; and there seems to be no good reason for erecting on it a new species. Port Jackson, 0-5 fms. 3. Cucumaria semperi. (Plate IX. fig. A.) Body elongated, 5-sided ; suckers regularly arranged in two rows, except at the two ends of the body ; the suckers darker than the other parts, being almost black ; the rest of the body of a mulatto tint (in spirit), or slate-grey, or whitish. Body widest in the middle. Length 36, 25 millim. ; greatest breadth 10, 8"5 millim. Ketractors inserted at a little more than one third of the whole length from the anterior end ; Polian vesicle large ; calcareous ring- long, and composed of a number of pieces, as in G. conjimgens or C. citrea. Genital tubes delicate, about 6 millim. long, attached to the mesentery at about the middle of the body. The supporting-rods in the suckers are not unlike folding eye- glasses in form, and are somewhat similar to those of Ocniis pygmcvus ; the plates in the integument are spherical, the framework very deli- cate and consisting, as seen in a surface view, of a central bar con- nected at cither end with the peripheral encircling piece by two bars making an acute angle with one another. They are present in great numbers. Port Denison ; Torres Straits. 4. Ocnus, sp. A single specimen of what is apparently an undescribed speciea is in the collection ; but its form is so characteristic that I have not thought it right to injure it in any way. It is distinguished exter- nally by the soft interspaces in the integument, the greyish-white colour, and the elongated narrow form of the body. Port Darwin, 12 fms. 5. ColocMrus tuberculosus. (Plate IX. fig. B.) Colochirus anceps, Semper, Hoi. pp. 57, 239, iblqiie citata. There is a very large series of this species, and the specimens differ very considerably among themselves, not only in appearance but in the extent to which the colouring-matter has been dissolved out ; only one retains any indication of the red pigment. The variations exhibited by the specimens as they have come to the Museum (some being quite white, others slate- grey, and others * Fauna Groenl, p. 354. i2 148 COLLECTIONS FEOM MELANESIA. almost black), the differences in the extent to which the papillae are developed, and the comparatively much greater firmness of the integument of the younger specimens help us to understand how it is that several different names have been given to this widely dis- tributed species. On the other hand, it is well to still bear in mind that our knowledge of Holothurian organization is not yet so com- plete as to justify us in definitely asserting that fresh differential marks do not yet remain to be discovered ; if there are such, the series now regarded as single may be shown to contain represen- tatives of more than one form. As the only illustration of the spicules appears to be that which has been given by Prof. Semper, I have had views made of them from the side to show the characters of the free projecting processes, and from below showing the inside of the hemisphere. Port Molle; Port Denison ; Torres Straits; Alert Island (Torres Straits), 17 fms., sand. 6. ColocMrus australis. Ludwig, Semper''s Arheiten, ii. p. SS, This species, which is represented by only one specimen from Port Molle (14 fms.), was more richly so in a collection forwarded some three years ago from Port Jackson by Mr. J. Erazier. I do not, however, find that the suckers are in them brown in colour, while the tentacles are rather black and white than brown and yellow. Neither of these are, however, points of any real importance. I find, from Mr. Eamsay's collections, that this species is very abundant in Port Jackson. 7. Actinocucumis difficilis. (Plate IX. fig. C.) I have had the greatest difficulty in assuring myself of the specific distinctness of this form from the A. typiea of Ludwig, the varia- tions exhibited in the present collection impressing one with the necessity of the greatest care in the delimitation of species. The species may perhaps be most conveniently described by pointing out the several characters by which it is to be distinguished from A. tyjnca. The ambulacral papilhe on the dorsal surface are rare, and the suckers are not in more than four rows for each ray ; the difterences in the form of the spicules will be best seen by com- paring the figures now given with those drawn by Professor Ludwig. The retractors are inserted rather further back, being found at 24 miUim. from the anterior end in a specimen 65 millim. long, and at 22 millim. in one 70 millim. long ; the genital tubes are shorter than in A. ti/pica, being not more than 15 millim. long in any speci- men examined. The Polian vesicle would also appear to be shorter, being only 7"0 miUim. long in a specimen of 65 millim. length. It may be added that the loop of the intestine is exceedingly short ; that the tentacles, which are not always 20, sometimes seem to ECniNODEEMATA. 149 belong to an outer, and at others to an inner circle on the disk ; and that the colour which in some cases is light brown, in others is purplish grey. Albanj' Island; Torres Straits. Quite recently an example of this species has been receiv^ed from Kurrachee. 8. Thyone mirabilis (?) . Thyone mirabilis, Ludwig, Semper s Arbeiten, ii. p. 93. The form of the spicules would perhaps allow us to place the single specimen hero with doubt referred to this species either with it or with llolotliuria dletricliii of Ludwig, the supporting-rods in the suckers of the latter not being figured. Though our specimen has much more the form and colour, so far as one may judge from the description, of the Holothurian, the eight large arborescent and two small tentacles, the scattered sucker-feet, and the unarmed anal orific exactly determine its generic affinities. Port Denison. 9. Thyone sacellus *. Stolus sacellus, Selenka, Zeit. f. iviss. Zool. xvii. p. 355. Thyone rigida, Semper, Holothuvien, p. 66. Thyone sacella, von Marenzeller, Verh, z.-bot. Ges. Wien, 1881, p. 131. Torres Straits. 10. Thyone okeni. (Plate IX. fig. D.) The two specimens of this species are in remarkably good condi- tion for examination, as one died with its tentacles fully expanded and the other was laid open by the collector. With the exception of the terminal plate in the suckers I have not been able to detect any calcareous bodies either in the suckers or the integument ; and if any such are present they must be ex- ceedingly small and very rare. This characteristic brings this species into proximity to the T. villosa of Semper, where, as in this, the suckers are very closely packed. Elongated in form, very dark brown in colour (in spirit), tentacles of about the same shade ; suckers closely packed and distributed over the whole body, their radial arrangement in the region of the anus very obscurely indicated. Anus without teeth. Retractors inserted very nearly as far back as the middle of the body. Calcareous ring of ten pieces, the radial similar to the interradial, elongated, and wider below than above (fig. I)). Calcareous plating extends some way along the enteric tract (fig. D). Genital tubes numerous, very slender and long, inserted behind the middle point of tlie length of * Prof. Selenka has been kind enough to inform me that sacellus, as used by him, is a diminutive form of saccus, not of sacer. 150 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. the body. Polian vesicle ? Length 85, 62 millim. ; greatest breadth IT'S, 17'5 millim. Port Jackson. Save in the complete absence of spicules this species would not appear to have any resemblance to the T. inermls of Heller, the shorter body of which, attenuated at both ends, is said to have a very thin integument and to be of a yellowish-grey colour. 11. Thyonidium schmeltzii. Ludtvig, Semper^s Arbeiten, ii. p. 94. As there is only one specimen of this species, I have been obliged to content myself with an examination of the integuments, where the " morgensternahnliche Gebilde " were found iu abundance in the outer layer. Warrior Reef, Torres Straits. 12. Orcula cucumiformis. Semper, Hoi. p. 244. Port MoUe. 13. Phyllophorus proteus. (Plate IX. figs. F, F'.) Body varying greatly in form, being saccular, swollen, or elon- gated ; in the last case it is narrower behind than in front, and pretty regularly convex above. The integument, which is rather thick, may be black, and the colour rendered more marked b)^ the lightness of the suckers, as there may be merel}' dark longitudinal bands, or the whole body may be greyish, and the only black spots the tips of the suckers. The suckers themselves always have a wrinkled appearance, but no definite statement can be made as to their arrangement on the body. The retractors are triangular in form and considerablj^ enlarged at their origin ; the buccal ring is well developed, the radial pieces being very large, and the interradial dagger-shaped ; both are rather deeply excavated above (fig. F'). The spicules in the suckers present an appearance not unlike that seen in the zooglcea-stage of Bac- terium termo ; the spicules of the integument are more or less four- sided, four-chambered bodies, made up of somewhat delicate bars, forming a trellis-work. Port MoUe ; Clairmont and Thursday Islands ; Alert Island (7 fms., sand). 14. Stereoderma validum. (Plate IX. figs. E, a-f.) Body elongated, tapering more at its posterior than at its anterior end ; the ventral surface a little convex, the dorsal concave. A ECHINO DERM ATA. 151 specimen measurin2: 46 millira. in length has a greatest width of 2i) and a greatest depth of 15 millim. The dorsal surface slopes graduallj- to the two sides, which are marked off from the ventral surface by the development along the lateral line of from three to six short, conical, sharp denticle-like processes. From the median dorsal line to this line the scattered suckers increase in number ; they are, however, much more numerous on the ventral surface, and more re- gularity of distribution is to be observed along the ventral median line than in any other part. The suckers are provided with stout plates, but no special terminal plate was detected. The calcareous plates in the skin are on the general plan of those in S. unisemita ; but the bars do not appear to be so stout, and there may be at least seven pores. The ten pieces of the calcareous ring are all equal, and the retractor muscles are not especially strongly developed. As in ^S^. unisemita there is, comparatively, a feeble development of the digestive and respiratory organs ; but these characters, as well as the stiffness of the tentacles, are rather points of generic importance. A more complete generic diagnosis will be made when the two species have been carefully compared. Two young specimens have the integument much thinner. Port Jackson, 0-5 fms., where it is, as otlior collections show, exceedingly common. Also fi-om North Dunbar Island, China seas, and from between Ball's Head and Goat Island (coll. Brazier) ; and two dried specimens, purchased in 1848 of Mr, Cuming, from Bris- bane Water, N. S. W. In the definition of the genus given by Prof. Selenka there occur the words " Korper mit einfachen Fiisschen bedeckt, die in der rechten (oder linken) Flanke in einer Doppelreihe stehen ; " and the presence of this more distinct set of suckers is implied in the specific term of the American species, unisemita. In the present species, of which there is a good supply of specimens, I observe that the double row occupies the middle of the trivium, but that it varies considerably in the extent to which it is distinctlj^ developed. Some modification of the generic diagnosis must therefore lie made, and the suckers be spoken of as scattered over the body, but having a tendency to form a regular double row in some part of the trivium *. 15. Stichopus variegatus. Seirvper, Hoi. p. 73. A single, rather small specimen from Port Molle. * Since working out this species I have had the opportunity of examining another member of the genus from Kurrachee ; for 8. murrayi see Proc. Zool. See. 1883, p. 61. Mr. Ramsay tells me that the naturalists of Sydney have been in tlio habit of regarding ^S. validum as the Holothuria spinosa of Quoy and Gaimard : this determination cannot, I think, be accepted. 152 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. 16. Holothuria lineata. Ludwif/, Semper^s Arbetten, ii. p. 103. One specimen from Thursday Island ; skin very thick. 17. Holothuria peregrina. Ludwig, Semper s Arbeifen, ii. p. 105. "With considerable doubt I refer to this species a single specimen from Thursday Island. 18. Holothuria modesta(?), Holothuria modesta, Se77iper's Arbeiten, ii. p. 106. Professor Ludwig described his species from a single specimen, and, curiously enough, there is only one specimen in the ' Alert ' collection. The characters of the supporting rods in the suckers leads me to believe that the two are forms of the same species ; but a full examination is not possible with a single representative. Torres Straits. 19. Holothuria macleari. (Plate IX. fig. G.) As will be seen by the figures, the spicules of this species present a considerable resemblance to those of H. tigris, with which, as it would seem, it must be closely allied. As there is but a single specimen, presenting well-marked external characters, I think it right to limit myself to an account of these. Body elongated, trivium flat, bivium convex, anus round, unarmed, without (perhaps having lost) any distinct indications of pentame- rous marking ; ambulacral papillae on the convex back, three rows of not very regularly arranged suckers on the trivium. An appear- ance of ringing both above and below is produced by the white colours and transverse setting of the papillae and suckers respec- tively ; as the former are less numerous than the latter, there are only about thirty bivial rings, while on the trivium two or three rings are here and there confluent and present a kind of longitudinal marking. The single specimen is 49 millim. long and 10 millim. wide. " Clairmont and Bird Islands," N.E. Australia. A specimen from the island of Rodriguez, in the possession of the British Museum, apparently belongs to this species. ECHTNODERMATA. 1 53 CRINOIDEA. In the preparation of this portion of my Report I have had the very considerable advantage of the kindness of Mr. P. Herbert Car- penter, whose work on this group is so well known to, and so highly appreciated by, his fellow-workers. Mr. Carpenter has not only been good enough to favour me with his opinion on many of the species and specimens in the preseut collection, but, at what must have been considerable trouble to himself, he copied out for me the notes that he had been able to make at various times and places on the " type specimens " of the species named by the illus- trious founder of the system of this group ; thanks to this act of kindness, I have probably escaped from some of the numerous pitfalls which, with the advance of our knowledge, now surround the student who applies himself to Johannes Miiller's descriptions of the differ- ent species. As Mr. Carpenter will, in the progress of time, publish his studies on these Miillerian types, I have thought it proper on this occasion to do little more than merely note the presence of such forms in this collection. The proportion of undescribed to described species is no doubt appalling ; but on making a careful estimate I do not find it to be practically greater than in the case of my predecessors. In a Note which I communicated to the Zoological Society in May 1882 I gave a list of all the described species, which was very nearly complete : therein were enumerated 37 Antedons and 21 Actmometne. Of these, 7 Antedons and 4 Actinometrce were first described in 1881, from the collection of the Leyden Museum, by Mr. Carpenter. In that paper the percentages of new to all the known species were respectively 23 and 23 ; the percentages to new species in the col- lection respectively 70 and 40. As there are here described 12 new species of Antedon^ my per- centage to the 37 described forms is 32-5, to all the species men- tioned in this Eeport it is 75 ; on the other hand, there are some 5 new species of Actinometra, giving a percentage of 23*5 to all the described forms, and of 38 to those enumerated in the accompanying Ust. Against this higher proportion we must, however, set off the fact that five of the earlier species had been described by Miiller from the specimens in the Leyden Museum. But the whole story has not yet been told : withovit, of course, wanting in any way to tie Mr. Carpenter down to details, I may add that his examination of the 'Alert' collection was made after he had examined the collection of Crinoids brought together by the officers of H.M.S. ' Challenger,' and entrusted to him for description. Only a single form among the "new species" in the present collection has been detected by Mr. Carpenter to be one of the treasures which he has described, but whose description he has not yet published ; 154 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. the interesting A. julrsi, of which Mr. Carpenter has already indi- cated the more essential characters, is indeed represented in this collection, as it is probably in any fair collection of the marine fauna of the Australian coast. Yet, again, in a paper which will be shortly published in the ' Journal of the Linnean Society ' *, Mr. Carpenter describes eight out of the nine specimens of Antedon from the Hamburg Museum as new, and he speaks in the introduction as estimating the species of Comatulids at something like 400. Further, it is of great significance to observe that many of the species here enumerated or described were collected at one station only. Lastly, we note that the number of Aiitedonsis larger than might have been expected ; for in the Moluccas "Antedon seems to be com- paratively rare "t, while of the 29 species here enumerated, 16 belong to that genus. From such material as has passed through my hands, I am inclined to think that on the northern and eastern coasts of Australia we shall find Antedon to be rather more abun- dantly represented in species than Actinometra ; the time, however, for any generalization is still far off. In entering into the detailed enumeration of the proportion of new to old species, I had not in view the purpose of apologizing for the presence of so many new forms in this collection, but rather the desire of directing attention to facts which can only be within the knowledge of a limited number of special students ; those who know how few species of Comatida' have been described, and how rich in novelties not only new collections but old museums are, will not think that there is any suspicious wealth of new species in the very valuable and important collection by which Dr. Coppinger has more than doubled the number of specimens and species in the possession of the British Museum j. So large a number of new species should be presented in some kind of arrangement, either in the form of a phylogenetic table or of a "key." The former being an impossibility at present, on account of our unsatisfactory knowledge of the ancestry of the Comatulidae, and keys being, of all things, the most tmscientific, I propose to give formulae for all the species of Comatulids here described, basing those formulae on the method I proposed to the Zoo- logical Society§, as improved by the suggestions of Mr. Carpenter ||. * Jouni. Linn. Soe. xvi. p, 487. t Notes Leyd. Mus. iii. p. 191. \ [The above is allowed to stand, though wi'itten some eighteen months ago, as it puts more forcibly than a briefer and colder statement could, the present tenuity of our knowledge of Ci-inoid species and the wide area that is openmg up to us. — Dee. 4, 1883.] § P. Z. S. 1882, p, .530. II P. Z. S. 1882, p. 731. I retain A' as the sign for Actinometra, as a is used in the formula? of the cirri ; and I propose to \ise br for the brachials, as h is likewise used in the formulre of the cirri. Siniilarlj' I omit the 10, as A 10 followed by A 3 (in such a list as the following) is very apt to mislead. ECHINODEKMATA. 155 Antedon. adeonJB A. r- b milberti A. r* b pinuiformis -^^ r' carpenteri A. -■ puraila A. — bidens A. -• a loveni A. — X decipiens A. (3)^ reginae A. 2.(2)r irregularis A. 3.(2)r olegans A. 3. (2)b_ (■■i) c gyges A. 2.2.j^. briareus* A. 3.2.(2)^. microdiscus A. 3.3.(3)-. ACXINOMETKA. solaria A'E— — 2 a intermedia A'R- •-• 2 a robusta A'R— . r- u b cumingi A -• coppingeri A'— ukesi ,-pd.br A'R 2 (ab) parvicirra A'3.3. — alternans A'3.2.3.2. • • A /-nfl.br a paucicirra A K—^ — multifida A'3.2.2.-- a rA'3.2.-- a variabilis < A'3.3.— U'3.(2).(2)^. From the table of Antedon formuloe some facts become at once apparent : — (a) There are six examples among the more than ten-rayed forms in which the arms are not a regular multiple of ten — that is, not 20, 40, or 80 ; this is clear from the sign for the palmar or post-palmar being in these cases placed within brackets. (/3) In aU cases cirri are developed, and these are rarely very numerous or very long. (y) In no case is the radial axillary a syzygy. A moment's inspection of the table of formulae for the Aciino- metrce will reveal to the student a number of interesting facts : — (a) Three species have the same structural characters, and only * A study of this species is sufficient to bIiow tlio advantage of Mr. Carpenter's proposal to register the number of joints in each division over my proposal to register rather the syzygies first of" all, as A. briareus has no syzygies on the palmars or succeeding joints where the arms divide again. 156 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. differ in comparatively unimportant details, of a kind which are probably adaptive. (jS) There is a marked tendency to the development of a small number of short cirri *. (y) And ten species have lost the cirri altogether. (?) Of the eleven species the formula of no two is exactly the same. 1. Antedon adeonae. Comatula adeonse, /. Milller, Gattung Comatula, p. 15 1. A white line, which extends along the middle of the radials, the rest of which is of a reddish purple, is continued for a short though varying distance along each of the arms. There is a curious error in connexion with this species which does not seem to have been noticed. Lamarck described it as " C. radilS pinnatis denis &c. ;" de Blainville, while quoting Lamarck, refers also to his own figures in his ' Atlas ' (pi. xxvi.) ; in this reference he is followed by J. Miiller and by the editors of the second edition of Lamarck. The figures, however, when referred to are seen to be those of a species with twenty arms and with cirri nearer thirty than twenty. It is not perhaps necessary at this distance of time to waste time in inquiring what species it is that de Blainville has there figured. Port Curtis and Port Denison. 2. Antedon milberti. Comatula (Alecto) milberti, J. Miiller, p. 19. The rich supply of this species in the present collection % amply justifies the doubts which Mr. Carpenter has expressed to me as to the exactness of the locality (North America) ascribed by Miiller to this species. Port MoUe ; Port Denison ; Prince of Wales Channel ; Torres Straits. 3. Antedon pinniformis. P. H. Carpenter, Notes Lexjd. Mus. iii. p. 180. Dundas Strait, N.W. Australia. * So far as we know at present, c rarely appears i i the formula of an AcHno- metra ; in words, the cirri are rarely very numerous (more than 30) or very long (with more than 40 joints). t The essay on Comatula, the pagination of which is here quoted from its separate copy, was published in 1849 in the ' Abhandl.' of the Academy of Berlin for 1847, where it occupies pp. 237-265. \ It is also well represented in a collection of Mr. E. P. Eamsay's, of the Australian Museum, Sydney. ECHINODEKMATA. 157 4. Antedon carpenter!. (Plate X. figs. A, a-c.) Centrodorsal a flattened disk ; about 12 marginal cirri, of almost 20 short joints, of which tlie lowest are almost twice as broad as they are long ; it is not till we reach the penultimate one that we see a distinct spine, though the dorsal surface of most of them is produced into a minute protuberance. First radials not visible ; the second do not or do only slightly touch, united to the third by ligament. Ten arms. First brachials touch, they are nearly oblong and more than twice as wide as long ; the second are a little wider on their outer than their inner side ; the third with a syzygy ; fourth to sixth oblong, seventh wider on inner than outer side, eighth wider on their outer than inner, and so on alternately ; twelfth and thirteenth serrated at their distal edge ; the fourteenth syzygial. Thence from four to seven joints between each syzygy. 130-180 joints in the arm. The second pinnules on the fourth brachial are very stout, with extraordinarily wide joints, which are armed on either side by spinous projections ; the first pinnule is a little longer than the third. Colour white, with purple bands or patches, not always developed at the syzygies. The middle line of the arm often white. Arm about 40 millim. long, disk 6 millim. in diameter, cirri less than 9 millim. long. This species has some considerable resemblances to A. serripimia, from which, however, the pinnules alone would, as Mr. Carpenter assures me, be sufiicient to distinguish it. Port Curtis. 5. Antedon pumila. (Plate X. figs. B, a-h.) Centrodorsal rather wide, rounded ; with about 25 cirri, in three rows, very delicate, of about 12 joints, which, from the fourth onward, are a good deal longer than broad, hourglass-shaped, but a little wider at their distal than at their proximal ends ; some are also produced into a small spinous ventral process ; no dorsal spine developed till the penultimate, and that is small. First radials just visible, second not in contact ; axillaries tri- angular in shape, sloping backwards in the middle line. Ten arms. First brachial longer without than within, the second within than without and projecting backwards in the middle line ; the third a syzygy wider within than without. The succeeding joints may be incised, so as to leave a lozenge-shaped space between every two ; when this disappears, the joints which have projected strongly forwards on either side alternately become more evenly oblong. Syzygies 3,