KEPORT ON TIIE ASTEROIDEA. 



615 



possession of characters which fully warrant their separation. As now classified, the 

 species present a remarkable similarity of general facies, and the comparatively small 

 amount of morphological plasticity exhibited by the genus is extraordinary, considering 

 the wide geographical area over which it is distributed. The bathymetrical range is also 

 remarkable, extending from the commencement of the continental zone to the greatest 

 depth at which starfishes have been found. 



The genus Freyella is distinguished from the other members of the Brisingidse by 

 having the disk and the. basal portion of the rays covered with scale-like, calcareous plates, 

 frequently imbricating, and forming a more or less compact calcareous casement. The 

 plates bear one or more spinelets. No papulae are present. 



Synopsis of the Species included in the Genus Freyella, herein described. 



Rays ten or more in number. 



a. Mouth-spines free and spiniform. Abactinal plating well-developed 

 and imbricating. 



a. Mouth-spines proper three or four on each plate. 



a. Adambulacral armature with the inner spine doubled. 



Rays ten in number, broad and robust .... pennata. 

 /6. Adambulacral armature with the inner spine single. 



Rays seventeen in number, very delicate . . . polycnema. 



b. Mouth-spines proper one or two on each plate. Adambulacral 



armature with one inner spine. Rays usually more than 

 ten in number (10 to 12). 



a. Abactinal plates bearing large spinelets with mem- 

 branous sheaths crowded with pedicellariae. Rays 

 eleven or twelve in number ...... echinata. 



/S. Abactinal plates bearing small spinelets with simple 

 membrane devoid of pedicellariae. 



i. Buccal membrane with largely developed 

 papilliform villous appendages. Rays 

 ten or eleven in number .... frarjilissima. 



ii. Buccal membrane with no specially developed 

 villous appendages. 



1. Rays constantly twelve in number. Spine- 



lets on the abactinal plates few, one to 

 three on each. Lateral spines rather 

 short and not very delicate. Outer 

 mouth-spines forming a bar across the 

 ambulacral furrow bracteata. 



2. Rays ten to twelve in number. Spinelets 



on the abactinal plates more nume- 

 rous, five to ten on each Lateral 

 spines long and very delicate. Outer 

 mouth-spines not forming a bar across 

 the ambulacral furrow .... dimorpha. 



