REPORT ON THE ASTEROLDEA. 589 



24. Asterias {Stolasterias) africana (Muller and Troschel), Perrier. 



Asteracanthion africanus, Miiller and Troschel, 1842, System der Astcriden, p. 15. 



Asterias africana, Perrier, 1875, R6vis. Stell. Mus., p. 62 (Archives de Zool. exper., t. iv. p. 326). 



Locality. — Simon's Bay, Cape of Good Hope. Depth 5 to 20 fathoms. Also shallow 

 water. 



Genus Calvasterias, Perrier. 

 Calvasterias, Perrier, Re>is. Stell. Mus., p. 84 (Archives de Zool. expe>., 1875, t. iv. p. 348). 



This well-defined genus, apart from its structural peculiarities, is remarkable for the 

 puffy skin and clammy character which it possesses in common with so many of the 

 Antarctic asterids. The examples of the two hitherto known species preserved in 

 the British Museum are from this geographical area ; but Calvasterias asterinoides is 

 stated by M. Perrier to occur also in Torres Strait. 



Chorology of the Genus Calvasterias. 



a. Geographical distribution : — 



Atlantic: Two species between the parallels of 40° and 60° S. 



Calvasterias asterinoides and * Calvasterias stolidota, from the 

 Falkland Islands, the former extending to Torres Strait {fide 

 Perrier), and the latter to the Messier Channel, between the west 

 coast of Chili and Wellington Island. 



Pacific : One species between the parallels of 40° and 60° S. 



'"Calvasterias stolidota,, in the Messier Channel, between the 

 west coast of Chili and Wellington Island, and extending to the 

 Falkland Islands. 



Eastern Archipelago : One species between the parallels of 10° N. and 15° S. 

 Calvasterias asterinoides, from Torres Strait {fide Perrier, 

 stated to have been dredged by MM. Hombron and Jacquinot 

 in 1841), and extending to the Falkland Islands. 



/3. Bathymetrical range: Imperfectly known, probably all from the Littoral zone. 

 Calvasterias stolidota, from 5 to 10 fathoms off the Falkland Islands. 



y. Nature of the Sea-bottom : Calvasterias stolidota on sand, gravel ; other species 

 not recorded. 



The species collected by the Challenger is indicated by an asterisk in the above list. 



