430 TJIK VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 



adambulacral plates behind the first pair arc more frequently in single series than in 

 oblique pairs, forming a slightly ohlique line on the ridge much more distinctly than in 

 PhoUdaster squamatus. The spinelets are also rather shorter than in that species, and 

 show a slight tendency to be curved. 



dolour in alcohol, a bleached greyish white, with a tendency to a light brownish shade. 



Locality. — Station 192. In the Banda Sea, between the Ki Islands and the Banda 

 Islands. September 26, 1874. Lat. 5° 49' 15" S., long. 132° 14' 15" E. Depth 140 

 fathoms. Blue mud. Surface temperature 82"*0 Fahr. 



Family Stichasterid^:, Perrier, 1885. 



The general structure of the small group of forms now classified together fully warrants, 

 in my opinion, their recognition as an independent family. The skeleton of Stichaster 

 differs so essentially from that of the Asteriidao that I venture to think the justice of the 

 step taken by Perrier ' will not be disputed. I differ, however, from Perrier, in that I 

 exclude from the Stichastcridoo the genus Zoroaster, which, with its allies, I have placed 

 in a separate family. The Stichasterid» in many respects occupy an intermediate position 

 between the Zoroasteridse and the AsteriidsB. 



Of the two new genera which I have ranked in this family, Neomorphaster and Tar- 

 mxtcr, the former is especially striking for the approach it presents to the Zoroasteridse. 



The family comprises the genera Stichaster, Neomorphaster, and Tarsaster. 



Genus Stichaster, Muller and Troschcl. 



Stickaater, Midler and Troschel, Monatsbor. d. k. preuss. Akad. d. Wiss. Berlin, 1840, April, p. 102. 

 Tonict, Gray, Ann. and Mag. Nat, Hist., 1840, vol. vi. p. 180. 



Oalosterios, Vorrill, Trans. Conn. Acad. Arts and Sci. 1871 (1867), vol. i. part 2, p. 247. 

 Stephanas/* >i<ts, Yen-ill, Bull. Essex Institute, 1872 (1871), vol. iii. p. 5 (non StepJianaster, Ayres, 1851). 



So far as at present known this genus appears to be confined to the temperate and 

 frigid zones ; and most of the species are probably limited bathymetrically to the Littoral 

 zone, only two occurring in the Continental zone and one in the Abyssal zone. 



Chorology of the Genus Stichaster. 

 a. Geographical distribution: — 



Atlantic : Six species between the parallels of 80° N. and 60° S. 



* Stichaster albulus, from Greenland, the northern coasts of the 

 American continent, Iceland, and Spitzbergen. * Stichaster roseus, 

 from the coasts of Britain and Norway. Stichaster arcticus, off 



' Ann. Sri. Nat. (Zool.), 1885, t. xix. Art. No. 8, p. 15.^ 



