Report on the zoological collections made in the Indo-Pacific Ocean ...

138 COLLECTIONS PEOM MELANESIA.stout, tlie penultimate one about twice as wide as those on eitherside of it.The arms, which are not more than four times the diameter ofthe disk, are very delicate at their tip, strongly carinated superiorlyon the proximal portion ; the upper arm-plates have pretty straightoral and aboral edges, about twice and a half as wide as theyare long ; the lower arm-plates are encroached upon by the sideplates, which extend far towards the middle line ; near the diskthey are wider than long and hexagonal in form ; further out thetwo lateral angles widen out, the sides gradually become straighter,and a quadrangular replaces the hexagonal form ; towards the distalend of the arm the ventral plates are longer than broad. Arraspines,near the disk, eight, the median longer than those above orbelow them ;quite close to the disk they may be long enough toextend to the edge of the next plate ;rajjidly, however, they becomeshorter, though they do not diminish either rapidly or notably innumber. Tentacle-scales two on the most proximal joints, onebeyond. A pore between the first and second arm-plates.Colour, in alcohol, brownish, with some blackish spots on thedisk ; these are also found on the arms ; three or fonr successiveplates often much darker than those in front of or behind them.Port Molle (1-1: fms., rock) ; Port Curtis ; Port Denison ; ThursdayIsland.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 takenin the Prince of AYales Channel.Lyman, p. 4.6. Ophiolepis annulosa.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.