'Alert' 1881-2

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 AYales Channel.
Lyman, p. 4.
Clairmont Island ;
Lyman, p. 4.
Port Darwin.
Lyman, p. 14.
Port Jackson, 0-5 fms.
Lyman, p. 26.
6. Ophiolepis annulosa.
Port Darwin.
7. OpMoplocus imbricatus.
8. Ophiactis savignii.
9. Ophionereis dubia.
Thursday Island; Albany Island; Prince of Wales Channel:
Torres Straits.