Five objects in the direction of the SMC with IRAS 12- and 25-µm flux measurements have been identified from near-infrared observations. They have been monitored in JHK and L for 800 d and optical spectra of two of the three with optical counterparts have been obtained. 00350 − 7436 appears to be a carbon-rich, high-luminosity (|Mbol ~ -6.6|) object. Either it is in an evolutionary stage between red giant and planetary nebula or it is an interacting binary. 00554 − 7351 has |Mbol ~ -6.0|, is a long-period (∼ 800 d), large-amplitude (|Δ K> 1| mag) variable and is probably near the top of the asymptotic giant branch. 00483 – 7347 has |Mbol ~ -7.2| and is also variable on a long time-scale. 01074 – 7140 is identified with HV 12956 and is shown to be an M5e asymptotic giant branch star with |Mbol ~ -6.4|. The most luminous of the group is 01432 – 7455, with |Mbol ~ -8.2|; it is identified with the peculiar blue supergiant, R50.
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Whitelock et al. (1989) studied this question.