REPORT ON THE ASTEROIDEA. 203 



which are shorter than the furrow series, and are flat and expanded towards the tip, which 

 is roundly truucate. The outer series, likewise of three spines, is similar to the second 

 series, the middle spinelet, however, being usually broader and more flaring than its com- 

 panions; occasionally there may be an additional small spine present in this series. The 

 furrow series is directed more or less over the furrow ; the second series is usually per- 

 pendicular ; and the outer series is directed outward towards the margin of the ray. There 

 is also a tendency in the spinelets to radiate apart. Consequent on this mode of arrange- 

 ment, the armature of the adambulacral plates has a very widely expanded character on 

 the whole. 



The actinal intermediate plates, which are small aud very few in number, are confined 

 to the immediate interradial area. The spinelets that cover them are small, more or 

 less subspatulate in form, and radiate apart. 



The mouth-plates are of moderate size, each pair forming a subtubercular prominence, 

 and their whole surface is covered with small, robust, papilliform spinelets, which form two 

 or three lineal series on each plate. These spinelets increase in length towards the inner 

 extremity, the innermost ones not being much longer or more prominent than the rest. 



The madrepoviform body is very small, and is situated at about one-third of the 

 distance from the margin to the centre, and sometimes rather further away from the 

 margin even than this. In some specimens there is a faint depression along the median 

 line of a ray ; and in large examples a similar slight sulcus occurs on the outer portion of 

 the median interradial line. 



Colour in alcohol, a light purplish shade, of which only a trace remains in some speci- 

 mens, the rest being almost ashy white. 



Localities. — Port Jackson. Depth 6 to 15 fathoms. 



Station 161. Off the entrance to Port Philip. April 1, 1874. Lat. 38° 22' 30" S., 

 long. 144° 36' 30" E. Depth 38 fathoms. Sand. Surface temperature 63°'5 Fahr. 



Station 162. Off East Moncoeur Island, Bass Strait. April 2, 1874. Lat. 39° 10' 30" 

 S., long. 146° 37' 0"E. Depth 38 to 40 fathoms. Sand and shells. Surface temperature 

 6 3° -2 Fahr. 



Remarks. — This species is perhaps most nearly related to Astropecten peruvianus, 

 Verrill, but is distinguished by the character of the adambulacral armature and by the 

 proportions of the lateral spines. It is distinguished from all the other pectinated species 

 of Astropecten by the single continuous series of spinelets on the supero-marginal plates. 



5. Astropecten acanihifer, Sladen (PL XXXIV. figs. 1 and 2; PI. XXXVIII. figs. 

 1-3). 

 Astropect<7t aeanthifer, Sladen, 18S3, Joum. Linn. Soc. Loud. (Zool.), vol. xvii. p. 253. 



Hays five. R = 90 mm.; r = 14 mm. R>65r. Breadth of a ray at the base, 

 1 4"5 mm. 



