66 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. 



To the northward it extends not only along the Atlantic 

 coast of North America but also to Greenland, and is found also 

 on the northern coasts of Europe and Asia. It occurs from the 

 Azores to the British Islands, Scandinavia, and Spitzbergen, and 

 along the shores of the Arctic Ocean to Bering Strait. On the 

 American side of the Pacific Ocean the species extends as far 

 south as Washington, and on the Asiatic side southward to 

 the Kurile Islands. This would indicate a typical circumpolar 

 species which extends southward along the continental shores to 

 latitude 38 to 48 N. 



In Long Island Sound the blood starfish appears to be limited 

 to the eastern part, which has deeper and colder water than is 

 found elsewhere. It extends at least as far west as New London. 



It is at once distinguished from our species of Asterias by 

 having only two rows of tube-feet beneath each arm, arranged 

 in a single row along each side of the narrow ambulacral groove 

 (Plate XI). The proportions of the body vary greatly, as shown 

 on Plate I. The arms are either rounded or flattened at the base, 

 but are always rounded or nearly cylindrical distally, and are 

 comparatively slender and acutely pointed (Plate I). In some 

 specimens (Plate XI) the arms are swollen near the base, and 

 sharply contracted between base and disk. Sometimes the tips 

 of the arms are slightly raised and curved aborally, and the two 

 arms of the bivium are brought closer together than are any of 

 the others (Plate XI). 



The aboral surface lacks the prominent spines of Asterias, 

 the whole surface being comparatively smooth, but actually 

 covered everywhere with minute closely set spines (Plates I 

 and XI). 



The branchiae are usually scattered singly in minute spaces 

 between the thickly placed spines. The madreporic plate is small, 

 and marked by a few broad grooves. The anal opening is more 

 conspicuous than in Asterias (Plate XI, fig. i). 



Specimens from Long Island Sound rarely exceed three or 

 four inches between the tips of opposite arms. 



The colors are unusually deep and bright, rendering the 

 animal very conspicuous when exposed to full view. The usual 

 color is bright red or orange on the aboral surface, although 

 cream-colored, yellow, pink, lavender, and purple specimens are 



