KEPORT ON THE ASTEROIDEA. 215 



mm., have fully developed spines on all the supero-marginal plates, excepting the second 

 and third, and are quite recognisable specifically. 



Liitken 1 has also supported the view of the independence of the species by giving a 

 description of a much larger example than that discovered by von Martens. 



13. Astropecten granulatus, Muller and Troschel (PI. XXXV. figs. 3 and 4; PI. 

 XXXIX. figs. 4-6). 

 Astropecten granulatus, Muller and Troschel, 1842, System der Asteriden, p. 75. 



Locality. — Station 188. In the Arafura Sea, between Cape York and Frederick 

 Henry Island. September 10, 1874. Lat. 9° 59' 0" S., long. 139° 42' 0" E. Depth 

 28 fathoms. Green mud. Surface temperature 78° '5 Fahr. 



Remarks. — Although I have had the opportunity, through the kindness of Professor 

 Schlegel and Dr Jentinck, of comparing Muller and Troschel's original type-specimens of 

 Ast7-opectcn granulatus, from the Leyden Museum, side by side with the single example 

 obtained by the Challenger, it is not without some hesitation that I refer the latter to 

 that species. It is, however, without any doubt most nearly related to that form, and as 

 the differences are very slight, and appear to me quite of secondary character, such as 

 might in great measure be accounted for by differences of locality, I have considered it 

 preferable, owing to the scantiness of the material, to refer the specimen under notice 

 directly to Muller and Troschel's Astropecten granulatus. The adoption of that course is 

 further warranted by the fact that so far as I am aware no other examples except the 

 types are known to exist, and their locality is unknown. 



The type-form is well and accurately described by Muller and Troschel, with the 

 exception of the statement that the supero-marginal plates bear small spines : " Die 

 dorsalen Pandplatten sind holier als breit, in den Winkeln der Arme sehr hoch, tragen 

 kleine Stacheln und sind tiberall grob granulirt." 2 



No spines or even rudiments of spines exist, or have existed, upon the supero-marginal 

 plates of the type-specimens, which are well preserved, and are literally " iiberall grob granu- 

 lirt." I would venture to suggest that in the passage quoted above, the word " kleine " 

 is a misprint for " keine." With, this amendment the diagnosis would stand correct. 



The Challenger specimen, which is smaller than either of the types, differs in 

 having rather shorter and broader rays ; and the supero-marginal plates are plane or 

 nearly so abactinally, whilst in the type they have a decidedly tumid appearance. 



It may further be noticed that these differences are probably greatly emphasised by the 

 fact that the type-specimens are dried and considerably shrunk, whilst the specimen under 

 notice is in spirit and well preserved. In the Challenger example the armature of the 



1 Vidrmslcah. Medd. naturh. Foren. i Kji/>benhavn, 1871, p. 237. 



2 System der Asteriden, p. 75. 



