202 Transactions. — Zoology. 



Asterias (Strolasterias^ scabra, Hutton. Plate XIII., figs. 3 

 and 4. 



This fine species is the largest of all the New Zealand 

 starfishes, except, perhaps, a large, yellowish Echinaster, 

 apparently undescribed, numbers of which may be sometimes 

 found at low water on the rocks at Lyall Bay and Island Bay 

 in December and January. This is, perhaps, the species 

 mentioned by Professor Hutton in the Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. 

 xi., p. 306 ; but, although it attains a very large size, it is 

 not nearly such a handsome starfish as Asterias scabra. 

 Specimens of A. scabra measuring 18in. between the tips of 

 the rays are frequently met with, and I have heard that much 

 larger ones have been found. This species also belongs to 

 Mr. Sladen's sub-genus Strolasterias, having isolated spines 

 on the abactinal surface, surrounded by thick, raised wreaths 

 of pedicellariae. The rays are long and well rounded above, 

 with five longitudinal series of abactinal spines. These are 

 often obsolete, especially on the apical part of the rays. The 

 thick tubercle-like bunches of pedicellariae, however, are 

 always present, arranged in regular, longitudinal rows. The 

 thick skin which covers the abactinal and lateral plates also 

 covers the basal half of the exterior spine of the three which 

 form an oblique line on the marginal plates, with a bunch of 

 pedicellariae on the superior side of the spine. The most 

 striking characteristic, however, of this species is the colour of 

 the large tube-feet, which are bright vermilion, with yellow 

 terminal discs. The colour of the abactinal surface is greenish - 

 or bluish-grey, brown, or purple, frequently variegated with 

 reddish-brown. The madreporite is large and white. Large 

 forcipiform pedicellariae on short, fleshy stalks are numerous 

 on the abactinal surface, scattered between the spines, and a 

 few of the same kind on longer stalks in the ambulacra! 

 furrows. The number of rays is almost always seven ; I have, 

 however, seen one specimen with eight. Unlike its congener, 

 A. calaviaria, it does not frequent the harbour, but loves to be 

 in the wash of the waves, where they break on the exposed, 

 rocky parts of the coast. 



The pedicellariae of this species figured on PI. XIII. are 

 from drawings by my friend Mr. H. B. Kirk. Fig. 3 repre- 

 sents the small, forficiform pedicellariae, which form bushy 

 wreaths rouud the spines ; and fig. 4 represents the large 

 kind, which are scattered on the abactinal surface. 



Stichaster australis, Verrill. 



This species may be frequently found at low water, on 

 the rocky coast near Wellington. One must search very 

 carefully, however, to obtain specimens, as they hide away in 

 the crevices of the rocks, and they are of a dark-grey colour. 



