REPORT ON THE ASTEROIDEA. 1 1 7 



Abactinal area with large oblong hexagonal paxillse, the major axis in the direction 

 of the axis of the ray. A conspicuous medio-radial series larger than the rest, each of these 

 paxillos being well spaced from its neighbours in the series. Papulae regularly distributed. 

 Abactinal plates arranged in lines parallel to the axis of the ray (longo-radial). 



Actinal interradial areas small, with plates bearing small, conical-pointed spinelets 

 similar to those on the infero-marginal plates. 



Armature of the adambulacral plates in two longitudinal series parallel to the 

 furrow. The post-adambulacral series of intermediate plates with fascioles at the margins 

 obliquely transverse to the axis of the ray. 



Madreporiform body small. No pedicellarise. 



Remarks. — This handsome form resembles in many respects the general facies of 

 several of the unarmed Archasteridas and Astropectinidse. It is distinguished from the 

 preceding genus by the longitudinal arrangement of the adambulacral armature, and by 

 the presence of the remarkable " fascioles " on the post-adambulacral plates. 



Chorology of the Genus Aphroditaster. 



a. Geographical distribution : — 



Atlantic : One. species between the parallels of 30° and 40° N. 



Aphroditaster gracilis between the islands of San Miguel and 

 Santa Maria (Azores). 



/8. Bathymetrical range: 1000 fathoms. 



y. Nature of the Sea-bottom : Volcanic mud. 



Chorological Synopsis of the Species. 



1. Aphroditaster gracilis, n. sp. (PI. XVII. figs. 1 and 2; PI. XVIII. figs. 7 and 8). 



Rays five. E, = 59-60 mm. ; r = 15 mm. R = 4 r approximately. 



Pays elongate, tapering gradually from the base to the narrow, pointed extremity, 

 which is slightly turned upward ; breadth midway between the centre of the disk and the 

 extremity, 8 mm. Interbrachial arc well rounded. 



The paxillae of the abactinal area are moderately large, tabulate, and regularly hexa- 

 gonal ; those along the ray have their longest diameter in the direction of the axis of the 

 ray, and all are arranged in regular longitudinal series. A series of paxillos, which are 



