308 Annals of the South African Museum. 



than the others; at the base of the arm there are eight series on each 

 side between the median plates and the superomarginals. Median 

 series with spines about 5 mm. long, and over a millimeter thick, 

 bluntly pointed and with a wreath of minor pedicellariae ; these 

 spines are arranged in longitudinal or oblique pairs or trios which 

 are apparently more or less fused together at base and are there 

 enclosed in a common sheath of thick skin. The remaining abactinal 

 spines are somewhat smaller (about 4 mm. long) and more slender 

 and pointed; near the median series they are usually single and have 

 a distinct wreath of minor pedicellariae but near the marginals there 

 are often two and sometimes three spines on a plate and the wreaths 

 of pedicellariae are reduced to irregular clusters. Superomarginal plates 

 relatively rather large, each with a group of four or five irregularly 

 placed spines about 4 mm. long, blunt and slightly widened and even 

 flattened at the tip; there are several minor pedicellariae, as a rule, 

 on each of the spines. Inferomarginals somewhat smaller than the 

 upper series, each with three, or rarely four, spines, similar to those 

 above them but a little smaller; as a rule these inferomarginal spines 

 form an oblique series but they are occasionally irregularly placed; 

 they are in close proximity to the adambulacral spines. No actino- 

 lateral plates whatever. Adambulacrals about 6 mm. wide and not 

 quite a millimeter long; each carries a series of six or more commonly 

 seven spines, of which the innermost are about 5 mm. long and the 

 outer about 3'5 mm.; these spines are much more slender than those 

 of the abactinal plates and each carries one or more pedicellariae 

 near the tip. Papulae very numerous, in groups in every interspace 

 above the inferomarginals. Pedicellariae, both major and minor, 

 abundant; the latter are about '40-'50 mm. long and not only com- 

 pose the wreaths and clusters on the spines but are widely scattered 

 on the skeletal plates and papular areas; the major pedicellariae are 

 about ^O-'TS mm. long and occur all over the animal, even in the 

 ambulacral furrow and attached to the adambulacral spines. Colour 

 dull yellowish-brown. 



P.P. 2105. Lion's Head, Cape Town, S.E. V 2 E., 42 miles. 156 fms. 

 Dk. gn. s. 1 arm of a large adult. 



Holotype, South African Museum no. A 6445. 



It is of course to be regretted that there was no complete speci- 

 men secured of this remarkable starfish, but it is a cause for grati- 

 fication that the arm taken is so well preserved that both generic 

 and specific characters are unmistakable. It is a little hard to decide 

 with what genus Perissasterias is inost nearly allied but probably 

 the group which Perrier has named Distolasterias may be considered 



