178 VERRILL 



slender, terete, and evenly tapered. The adoral carina consists of 

 three pairs of closely contingent plates, besides the epiorals. Large, 

 ovate, major pedicellarise occur between the interactinal spines. 



The major pedicellariae, between and above the marginal spines, 

 are still larger, strongly compressed, ovate, obtuse, not serrate. The 

 minor pedicellarise not only form large wreaths around the middle of 

 the dorsal and lateral spines, but also occur in clusters on the papu- 

 lar areas. 



A smaller specimen (pi. xix, figs, i, 2) was taken at nearly the 

 same place as the type, and is now preserved in alcohol. According 

 to Dr. Coe's notes the color of this, in life, was nearly uniform deep 

 yellow, but paler ochre-yellow on the back. Radii, 14 mm. and 

 66 mm. ; ratio, about 1 : 4.7. The larger dorsal spines are in five 

 irregular rows, with some smaller ones interpolated. Only a few of 

 the proximal adambulacral plates are monacanthid. 



In alcohol it has a rigid appearance and is firm to the touch, owing 

 to the abundant flat dorsal ossicles. The principal spines are con- 

 spicuous above the general surface, blunt and sulcated at the tips, but 

 are surrounded proximally by thick, fleshy sheaths. The wreaths of 

 minor pedicellariae, which are attached to the sheaths, are regular 

 and dense, and with the papulae they entirely and closely cover the 

 intervals between the spines. The larger ventral spines are conical, 

 acute, and stand in two very regular rows. A few smaller spines 

 belong to a synactinal series. The ambulacral feet are large and 

 have large suckers. 



This species is known only from a few specimens. One was taken 

 off Juneau, in 20 fathoms, June 6; another, in Glacier Bay, 10 

 fathoms, June 10, by the Harriman Expedition, 1899 (W. R. Coe). 

 Another is from the Gulf of Georgia (No. 1181, Mus. Comp. Zool.). 

 The species is dedicated to Dr. C. Hart Merriam. 



The only west American species having any marked resemblance 

 to this, when adult, is O. columbiana. The latter, however, is a five- 

 rayed species, with the dorsal spines fewer, much longer, and in more 

 definite rows. Its marginal and actinal spines are also longer and 

 more cylindrical, but they are arranged nearly in the same way. Its 

 adambulacral spines are much more slender and form two regular 

 rows. Its major pedicellariae are larger, stouter, and differently 

 shaped. When very young this species probably resembles Lept- 

 asterias coei, or some of the allied species with six rays, but would 

 probably have fewer marginal and actinal spines. 



