112 



DISCOVERY REPORTS 



Koehler details the history of the type of his granuliferus, which was identified by 

 Perrier with Bell's CalUderma grayi, and which is now in the Museum d'Histoire 

 Naturelle. It is clearly the form designated below as forma granuliferus and is nearest 

 typical elongatus. In the extreme form, such as the type illustrated by Koehler, the 

 granular abactinal surface passes without any very perceptible change to that of the 

 superomarginals which form a rounded bevel to the margin and are not thick when 

 viewed from the side. The abactinal plates have practically no tabulum — only a convex 

 surface covered by round-topped to subtruncate, crowded, 4- or 5-sided granules (e.g. 

 specimens A, B, C of table). Then the superomarginals become more convex, are 

 generally broader than in A, B and C, and the margin of ray is thicker (D, E, F of 

 table). These specimens have 21 or 22 superomarginals in contrast to 26 in A and B 

 (C is a smaller specimen). A to F have been grouped under forma granuliferus. 



Then with no hiatus and still with broad superomarginals, the rays gradually shorten 

 and the marginals become fewer (G to K of table). The large specimen G with R 59 mm. 

 has 19 superomarginals while B, with R 55 mm., has 26. Specimen K is the most 

 extreme, with 13 broad convex superomarginals. This is the type of forma ceramoideus. 

 A comparable specimen oi iorma gra?mliferus has 20 superomarginals, about half as wide. 



The photographic figures, in connection with two of the type (Koehler, 1912), 

 must suffice to elucidate the two formae which are here formally noticed in order to 

 emphasize the interesting parallel with Odontaster penicillatus. 



Forma granuliferus Koehler (Plate I, figs, i, 2). 



Diagnosis. Near elongatus but with shorter rays, broader disk, fewer and shorter 

 marginal plates ; superomarginal plates wider than long with plane abactinal surface, the 

 series forming a rounded bevel to margin of body, or else slightly convex, forming a 

 convex border ; form stellate. 



Odontaster propinquus Clark belongs to this forma. The type, which I have examined, 

 was taken at Albatross St. 2771, 51° 34' N, 68° W, 50-5 fathoms, grey sand, bottom 

 temperature, 49-4° F. 



