Boone, Echinodermata, Cruises of "Eagle" and "Ara," 1921-28 93 



Order: FORCIPULATA. 



Family: BRISINGIDAE. 



Genus: BRISINGA Asbjornsen. 



Brisinga mediterranea Perrier. 



Plate 54. 



Type: Perrier 's type was taken by the "Travailleur" between Cor- 

 sica and Marseillaise, in the Mediterranean Sea, depth 555-2660 

 meters. It is deposited in the Paris Museum. 



Material examined: Six rays without the central disk, taken in 

 dredge, in 102 fms., mud bottom, St. Andrea Island, off the Dalma- 

 tian Coast, Adriatic Sea. 



Color : Unrecorded. 



Technical description : The longest ray taken measures 235 mm. 

 As shown in the accompanying figure, the greatest diameter of the ray 

 is about three-fourths of an inch from the disk. The raised ribs 

 number about 70 and extend to the distal end of the ray, each carry- 

 ing a series of twelve spines, six of which are abactinal, and the 

 remaining six actinal. On the distal half the ray is much tapered and 

 these spines are correspondingly reduced in size. The skin between 

 the ribs is naked; on the proximal twenty-odd arches, the skin is 

 elevated in two or more transverse bands like wrinkles, between each 

 two arches. The spines appear to be silicious; the largest two of 

 each series show distinctly that they are longitudinally ribbed or 

 fluted with about eight grooves and nine convex elevations between 

 these, converging at the apex. The spine is encased in tough skin, 

 which forms a clavate-shaped tip. Although this club tip is figured 

 in many of the best illustrations of Brisinga without comment, it 

 appears in the present specimen to be the result of the skin having 

 partially sluffed off the spine and formed a knob at or near the tip. 

 References: Brisinga mediterranea Perrier, Exped. "Travailleur" 

 et "Talisman" Echin., Paris, p. 70, pi. 3, fig. 1, 1894. 



Family : ASTERIDAE. 



Genus: ASTERIAS Linne. 

 Asterias vulgaris Verrill. 



Plates 55 and 56. 



Name: Northern starfish. 



Type: Verrill 's description of the species does not cite a type but 

 rather appears to have been founded on an extensive series of speci- 

 mens from various localities. Depository not stated. 



