REPORT ON THE ASTEROIDEA. 435 



Rays elongate, subcylindrical, broad at the base, and tapering gradually to a pointed 

 extremity. Disk small and somewhat inflated, with deep channels in the median inter- 

 radial lines, the rays appearing to be crushed together at the base. Interbrachial 

 arcs acute. 



The abactiual and lateral areas are covered with narrow plates transversely disposed, 

 which are arranged in longitudinal rows along the rays. The median radial series, the 

 supero-marginal, and the infero-marginal (or actinal) series, form regular series. Between 

 the supero-marginal and the median radial series are two series of smaller plates which 

 are not so regular. Each of the plates of the median series bears a single lineal series of 

 five to seven low, truncate, granule-like spinelets, which follows the line of the plate, and 

 is consequently transverse in position in relation to the ray. The spinelets are all uniform, 

 equidistantly spaced, and the median one is slightly removed adcentrally from the line 

 which the others form. The plates of the two series of small intermediate plates may each 

 bear two or three dimilar granules or spinelets, which are also disposed in transverse lines. 

 These two series are not very distinctly divided from each other, but are clearly separated 

 from the broad median radial series on the one side, and the equally broad supero-marginal 

 series on the other by narrow well-defined bands. The plates, which I consider to be the 

 representatives of supero-marginals, are entirely situated in the lateral wall of the ray ; 

 they are equal in height to the breadth of the median radial series, and each plate bears a 

 single line of five or six uniform, equally spaced, granule-like spinelets, the two lowest 

 sometimes standing slightly oblique, and giving the appearance of a faint angle in the 

 line. All the spinelets on the seven series of plates above described are uniform and 

 equally spaced ; and their regular transversely lineal disposition on the rays gives a 

 remarkable and characteristic appearance to the species. The interspaces between the 

 plates are occupied by small and remarkably uniform papula?. A few widely spaced, 

 isolated, forcipiform pedicellarise are present among the papulae and on the plates. 



The armature of the actinal series of plates adjacent to the adambulacral plates, which 

 I consider to be the representatives of infero-marginal plates, consists of four or occasion- 

 all v five short, robust, slightly compressed, truncate or obtusely tipped spinelets. The 

 uppermost spinelet is rather smaller than, and somewhat isolated from, the others, which 

 are arranged in a slightly oblique transverse series ; when four are present between the 

 uppermost spinelet and the adambulacral plates, they may be arranged in two slightly 

 oblique pairs. Near the small upper spinelet are two or three forcipiform pedicellaria? 

 similar to those on the abactinal and lateral areas ; and between the transverse series of 

 larger spinelets, near the adambulacral plates, may be occasionally a large isolated forfici- 

 form pedicellaria, with broad, expanded, denticulate, interlocking jaws, fancifully resem- 

 bling a cat's paw, and recalling by their shape the forficiform pedicellarise in Stichaster 

 felipes. 



The adambulacral plates abut on the infero-marginal plates, and their armature consists 



