VIOLET CK0SS1-TSII. 



91 



ASTEIUADJE. 



URASTE1UM. 



VIOLET CROSSFISH. 



Uraster molacea. Muller. 



Specific C/taracter. — Rays from two and a half to three and a half times as 

 long as the disk is broad, rounded, spiny, tapering suddenly to their apices. 

 Avenues pyriform-lanceolate. 



Asterias rubens violacca, Muller, Zool. Dan. t. lxvi. 



<Sb^ coriaceus planus, Link, p. 33, t. xi. No. 15. 



Asterias violacea, Linn. Gmel. p. 31G3, No. 24. Blainv. Man. d'Actin. 



p. 239. Lam. Anim. sans Vert. 2 Edit. III. p. 256. 



Ehrenberg, Berlin Trans, vol. XXII. p. 209, 



t. viii. f. 9. 



The Violet Crossfish is a critical species. At times it 

 is very difficult to distinguish it from the last species ; yet 

 after a thoughtful study of very many specimens, I feel 

 convinced they are distinct. Muller douhted, and appa- 

 rently could not make up his mind ; for he figures it as 



