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

—140 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA.Lyman, p. 26.Port MoUe.11. Ophiocoma scolopendrina.12. Ophiartlirum elegans.Peters, Wiegmanri's Arch. 1852, p. 82.Though the British Museum possesses several specimens of thisspecies, the present is especially useful, as it is the first which hascome to hand in which even one of the " sehr zerbreehlich " armshas been preserved entire. As the disk measures 18 millim., andthis complete arm rather more than 120 millim., we find that theobject now in hand presents very much the same proportions as thespecimen described by Dr. Peters. In an example from TorresStraits, which has been some years in the possession of the Trustees,there is an arm which is in a sense complete, but it was obviouslybroken during life ; and though the disk is of very much the same diameteras that just added to the collection, this arm only measures60 millim.Dr. Coppinger's specimen was collected at Levuka, Fiji.OPHIOTHRIX.In addition to the series hereafter mentioned and described,-therewere indications cf other species, not sufficiently good to justify description,but quite well enough marked to point to the great wealthof Ojjhiothrvv-iorms in the seas where these dredgings were made.Lyman, p. 34.13. OpMothrix fumaria.As this is a very rare species, the following notes may be ofinterest :Eadial shields naked, large, with a curve along their basal edge,each separated from its fellow by a low ridge on which granules aregenerally developed. Each pair of radial shields is separated by someseven rows of prominent granules : these granules occupy all but thevery central portion of the disk, and form a spinous patch on thelower surface. Mouth-shields irregularly oval, pretty sharply angulatedproximally and very narrow dis tally, so that the bridge betweenthe genital slits is very narrow. Only the median portion ofthe interbrachial space is spinous.Upper arm-plates a good deal encroached upon by the side armplates,so that, for the greater part of the arm, they are wider alongtheir distal than their proximal edge ;spine-ridge of side arm-platesnot specially well developed ; lower arm-plates rectangular, a little