102 SOLASTERI.E. 



when not so they taper very gradually, and terminate 

 obtusely. The spawning season makes a very great differ- 

 ence in the forms of many Starfishes, always adding greatly 

 to their convexity, and their skin at such times is much 

 softer than usual. The disk and rays are covered with 

 oblong reticulating tubercles arranged irregularly. The 

 spines on these tubercles are very numerous, short and 

 rough. The spaces between them are porous. The 

 avenues are bordered by two sets of spines. That nearest 

 each avenue (which is very narrow) consists of regularly 

 transverse rows of from three to six rough spines. The 

 second row is composed of oblong tubercles, bearing fasci- 

 culi of from four to six spines. Between these two rows 

 there is a line of pores larger than those on other parts of 

 the rays. The spines protecting the mouth are a very 

 little larger than those on the border. At the end of each 

 ray is an eye, protected by an irregularly ovate ring of 

 spines. Mr. Goodsir has examined this eye carefully, and 

 finds it to consist of a red cushion, with pits on its surface. 

 The madreporiform tubercle is placed laterally, and is 

 rudely striate with coarse undulating striae. The colour is 

 generally dark red or deep purple above, and straw colour 

 beneath. Small specimens are lighter. Occasionally spe- 

 cimens are taken of a bright vermilion. As in many other 

 Starfishes, the spines are more regularly placed on the 

 yellow portions than on the red. What is the relation 

 between these arrangements and the colour ? The Cribella 

 oculata seldom measures more than three inches and a half 

 across. 



This species varies much. The spiniferous tubercles are 

 much more numerous and finer on most specimens from 

 the east coast than on those from the west. The latter 

 are usually found in deep water, the former at low water. 



