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THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER 



Chorology of the Genus Lasiaster. 



a. Geographical distribution : — 



Atlantic : Two species between the parallels of 58° and 75° N. 



Lasiaster hispidus, off the Lofoten Islands, and between Spitz- 

 bergen and the Scandinavian Coast. Lasiaster villosus, from the 

 Faeroe Channel. 



/?. Bathy metrical range: 107 to 542 fathoms. 



Lasiaster hispidus does not extend below the Continental zone ; whereas 

 Lasiaster villosus has only been found in the Abyssal zone, at least so far 

 as at present known. 



7. Nature of the Sea-bottom : Lasiaster hispidus was dredged on Greenish clay, 

 Stones, and Clay, during the Norwegian North Atlantic Expedition. The 

 nature of the ground inhabited by Lasiaster villosus is not recorded. 



Chorological Synopsis of the Species. 



1. Lasiaster villosus, n. sp. (PL LVIII. figs. 7-10). 



Kays five. E = 10 - 5 mm. ; r = 6 mm. E = 1*75 r. Breadth of a ray between the 

 first and second infero-marginal plates, 5 "2 5 mm. 



Marginal contour stellato-pentagonal. Bays broad at the base and tapering gradually 

 to the extremity, the interbrachial arcs being subacute. Abactinal area subplane or very 

 slightly convex, with a faint indication of carination along the median radial line. Actinal 

 area plane or slightly convex, the latter character probably dependent on the posture of 

 the rays. Margin rather thick. 



The abactinal area is covered with small subcircular or oval plates imbedded in 

 membrane, on which are borne numerous small, cylindrical, equal, cilia-like spinelets, 

 which have the appearance superficially of being indistinctly separated into confluent 

 groups or tufts. Large, single, isolated papulae are distributed at wide intervals apart 



over the area. 



There is a distinct narrow channel along each median interradial line. 



