KEPORT ON THE ASTEEOIDEA. 303 



these outer series of paxillae extends beyond the base of the ray. The margin of the 

 tabulum is surrounded by ten to fourteen short, truncate, papilliform granules, and in the 

 centre are usually two small semiglobular granules, though one only frequently occurs in 

 the outer rows ; occasionally four are present. Very few of the paxillae on the abactinal 

 area are furnished with pedicellariae. 



The abactinal interradial areas are very small and triangular in outline ; the plates 

 (paxillae), which are square or subrhomboid, are closely placed and have no papulae between 

 them. They form series parallel to the radial series above described, but there is no 

 abrupt indication of the median interradial line by the converging series, and not more 

 than five or six plates are present in the longest row. These plates have a marginal series 

 of papilliform granules and one in the centre. 



The primary embryonic plates are discernible. The basals and dorso-central are larger 

 than the other plates, and the under-basals are larger than the radials. The under-basals 

 appear normally to be in contact with the dorso-central plate, but two or three irregular 

 plates are present. The madreporiform body is subcircular, with numerous minute striae, 

 and lies external to the adjacent basal plate, which covers a rather larger area. 



Colour in alcohol, a yellowish white. 



Locality.— Station 219. North of Admiralty Island. March 10, 1875. Lat. 1° 54' 

 0" S., long. 146° 39' 40" E. Depth 150 fathoms. Coral mud. Surface temperature 

 84°-0 Fahr. 



Remarks. — It is possible that this form may turn out ultimately to be the young of 

 Nymphaster symbolicus, when a more extended range of specimens can be studied. So 

 far, however, as judgment can be drawn from a single specimen, the characters appear to 

 be so web. marked that I prefer to place the form for the present as an independent species. 

 The difference of the abactinal paxillae from those of Nymphaster symbolicus is very 

 marked, the armature of the adambulacral plates also, but in a less degree ; furthermore, 

 the larger size and smaller number of the actinal intermediate plates, as well as the shorter 

 and comparatively broader rays, all seem to warrant its recognition as a distinct species, 

 notwithstanding the fact that the characters referred to are all largely implicated in 

 growth changes. 



3. Nymphaster protentus, n. sp. (PI. L. figs. 3 and 4 ; PI. MIL figs. 9 and 10). 



Rays five. Pt= 71 mm. ; r = 18 mm. R<4 r. The minor radius is thus in the pro- 

 portion of about 25 per cent. 



Puiys elongate, tapering continuously from a fairly robust base to a slender-pointed 

 extremity, the outer half being very narrow and attenuate. Width midway between the 

 centre of the disk and the extremity, 5*5 mm. ; width at the commencement of the outer 

 fourth, 3 mm. Interbrachial arcs wide and well rounded. 



