REPORT ON THE ASTEROIDEA. 55 



Station 79.— Between the Azores and Madeira. July 11, 1873. Lat. 3G° 21' 0" N., 



long. 23° 31' 0" W. Depth 2025 fathoms. Globigerina ooze. Bottom temperature 35 0, 9 

 Fahr. ; surface temperature 71° - 5 Fahr. 



10a. Pontaster venustus, var. robusta, nov. 



There is a single example of Pontaster dredged in the neighbourhood of the Cape 

 Verde Islands, which I place, though with some hesitation, as a variety of this species. 

 Although it accords with the general structural formula of the species just described, it 

 has a remarkably well marked individuality ; and until a further supply of material is 

 available I propose to recognise it as a nominal variety of Pontaster venustus. 



As compared with the type-form, the observer is at once struck with the massive 

 character of the rays and the remarkable breadth of the border of marginal plates on 

 the abactinal surface, which is nearly as great as the width of the paxillar area, midway 

 between the centre and the extremity of the ray. The supero-marginal plates are very 

 large and massive, and their breadth is greater than their length. The remaining features 

 seem to be only differences of degree, and I do not therefore feel justified, on the scanty 

 material of a single example, in ranking this as a separate species. Thus, the large spines 

 on the marginal plates of both series are relatively shorter and more robust, and the small 

 but definite spine below the lateral spine is either absent altogether or very greatly 

 diminished. The spinelets which compose the paxillse are longer and very delicate ; and 

 the spinelet on the actinal surface of the adambulacral plate is remarkably robust, short, 

 and conical. In the example under notice there are twenty-five supero-marginal plates, 

 counting from the median interradial line to the extremity ; and the measurements are, 

 R = 50 mm. ; r = 10 mm. Breadth of the ray between the second and third supero- 

 marginal plate, 10 - 5 mm. 



Locality. — Off the Cape Verde Islands. There is no record of the position, depth, or 

 conditions. 



11. Pontaster trullipes, n. sp. (PI. IX. figs. 3 and 4 ; PI. XII. figs. 9 and 10). 



Rays five. R = 27 mm. ; r = 5*25 mm. R > 5r. Breadth of the ray at the base, 

 5-5 '5 mm. 



Rays elongate and narrow, tapering continuously up to the extremity, the outer 

 part of the ray being moderately attenuate. Interbrachial arcs well rounded. Abactinal 

 surface subplane, sloping slightly from the disk to the extremities of the rays. A slight 

 tumidity present in the paxillar areas at the base of the rays in the neighbourhood of 

 the papularium. Actinal surface flat and level. 



The paxilla? of the abactinal surface are very small, simple, and well spaced. About 



