REPORT ON THE ASTEROIDEA. 573 



Asterias minuta, Retzius, 1805, Dissert, sist. spec. cog. Asteriarum, p. 24. 



Stellonia rubens, Nardo, 1834, De Asteriis, Oken's Isis, p. 71G. 



Asteracanthion rubens, Miiller and Troschel, 1840 (April), Monatsber. d. k. preuss. Akad. d. W'iss, 



Berlin, p. 102. 

 Urastcr rubens, Forbes, 1841, Hist. Brit. Starfishes, p. 83. 



Locality. — "Knight Errant" Expedition: 



Station 3. Off the Island of North Rona. August 3 and 4, 1880. Lat. 59° 12' N., 

 long. 5° 57' W. Depth 53 fathoms. 



Remarks. — One of the examples (a large specimen) obtained at this station is remark- 

 able for the elongation and attenuation of the rays, and for the comparative paucity and 

 smallness of the abactinal spinelets. These are minute, conical, and almost hidden in the 

 membrane. The margin of the abactinal area is bounded by a regular and prominent line 

 of spinelets, and the median radial line is also more or less regular. The other spinelets 

 are quite irregular in disposition, and though moderately numerous, are inconspicuous in 

 consequence of their small size. The sides of the rays are deeper and more perpendicular 

 than usual. The lateral spines, borne on the infero-marginal plates, are two or three in 

 number, and are placed obliquely. No spines are present on the sides of the ray between 

 these spines and the supero-marginal series, and there are no spines between the infero- 

 marginal series and the adambulacral spines. Forficiform pedicellariae are very numerous 

 on the adambulacral spines, especially on the inner portion of the furrow, also on the sides 

 of the ray. They are smaller and less numerous on the abactinal area. Forcipiform pedi- 

 cellarias are comparatively scanty, a few occurring at the base of the supero-marginal 

 spines and a greater number at the base of the lateral or infero-marginal spines ; and a few 

 are irregularly distributed over the abactinal area. This specimen in some respects simu- 

 lates the habit of Asterias glacialis in a striking manner. Other examples dredged at 

 the same locality are quite normal in character and appearance. 



7. Asterias versicolor, n. sp. (PI. CIV. figs. 1-4). 



Kays five. R = 71 mm. ; r = 19 mm. R < 4 r. Breadth of a ray near the base, 

 22 mm. 



Rays well produced, broad, slightly constricted laterally at the base, tapering gradually 

 to a pointed extremity, subdepressed, abactinal surface convex, actinal surface more or less 

 flat, margin angular. Interbrachial arcs acute. Disk well developed, convex. 



The abactinal area is covered with moderately robust plates which form a subregular, 

 rather widely meshed network. Upon the plates are borne widely spaced, isolated, short 

 spinelets. A median radial series is more or less clearly indicated, but is rarely continuous 

 or regular, and two intermediate irregular series are present on each side between the 

 median radial line and the marginal series of plates. The spines, which are robust and 

 truncate, often channelled near the tip, and sometimes slightly crenulate and denticulate, 

 occupy the centre of a low but rather broad and slightly convex boss ; at the base of the 



