SHALLOW-WATER STARFISHES 



singly or in small clusters. On the distal third of the rays they 

 become much more crowded and stand in small groups or singly; 

 on the disk they form irregular short rows or imperfect reticulations. 

 Everywhere on the disk and basal half of rays there are large papular 

 areas, with very large groups of small papulae. The spines are sur- 

 rounded and partly concealed by small wreaths of minute minor 

 pedicellariae, which become more abundant on the distal part of the 

 rays. Many others occur among the papulae. Major pedicellariae 

 occur very rarely on the dorsal surface in this specimen, and only 

 of small size. They are much more frequent on the submarginal 

 channels and actinal interbrachial naked areas ; these are long-ovoid, 

 not very large, tapered, and sometimes with denticulate tips. Others 

 of small size, acute-ovate in form, occur within the margins of the 

 ambulacral furrows. The madreporic plate is large, very porous, 

 with close, very complex, narrow gyri. 



The dorsal ossicles are very numerous, rather slender, and loosely 

 reticulated, so as to leave very large papular areas. The actinal 

 ossicles are much stronger and more closely united ; and though nar- 

 row they are rather thick. Seen from the inside, the spaces between 

 them are deep, squarish and pretty regular. The ambulacral ossicles 

 are very numerous and much compressed, so that they are thin 

 between the pores; but they are elongated in the direction of the 

 depth. 



The type and only large specimen of this species was taken at 

 Popof Island, Alaska, by the Harriman Expedition, July 10, 1899, 

 and was sent to me by Professor Ritter. It was unfortunately dried 

 with the rays badly bent, and some of them were broken in trans- 

 portation. 



This species does not appear to be very closely allied to any 

 other, except E, troschelii. The latter has more slender rays, with 

 the dorsal spines distinctly reticulated and strongly capitate, fewer 

 rows of ventral spines, and different pedicellariae. A large series of 

 specimens might, however, show that it is only an overgrown speci- 

 men of that species, or of its variety rudis. 



In the character of the dorsal spines, it resembles Pisaster con- 

 fertus; but the latter is strictly monacanthid, and has shorter rays, 

 a much broader disk, more regularly reticulated dorsal spines, and 

 different pedicellariae. 



