176 DISCOVERY REPORTS 



Paralophaster godefroyi, asperatus and lorioli form a homogeneous group. The only 

 known specimen of lorioli is immature (R 22 mm., r 5 mm.). 



Solaster incertiis is probably not a Paralophaster. The type is small, dried, and im- 

 perfect (R 15 mm., r 5-5 mm.). There are no differentiated superomarginals. 



Paralophaster godefroyi meseres n.subsp. 



(Fig. F, 2-26; Plate XII, figs. 2, 3) 



Diagnosis. Differing from P. godefroyi (Koehler) in the following particulars: 

 adambulacral furrow spines 2 (3 on first few plates and i on distal) ; inferomarginal 

 spines at middle of ray 20-25 ; abactinal paxillae with short pedicel carrying, on disk and 

 base of rays, from 5 to 8 subequal, delicate, spinelets irregularly denticulate on the 

 distal half; paxillae of outer half of ray with 2-5 spinelets ; marginal mouth spines 6 or 7, 

 suborals 3 or 4; actinal intermediate spines 2-5. R 28 mm., r 8 mm., R = 3-5r; br at 

 interradius, 9 mm. 



Description. In the specimens of godefroyi from the type locality, the abactinal 

 paxillae carry 2-4 central, and 6-10 peripheral spinelets, smaller than the central. In 

 meseres the spinelets are fewer and very nearly equal ; there is no differentiated central 

 group. The superomarginal paxillae in both species are not distinguishable from the 

 other abactinal paxillae. In the large example oi godefroyi from off Queen Mary Land 

 the abactinal paxillae have 15-20 spinelets while the large inferomarginals carry 15 

 spinelets — the same number as in the much smaller type. The obviously larger number of 

 inferomarginal spinelets of meseres is the more surprising since the abactinal paxillae 

 have fewer spines than in godefroyi. 



In godefroyi the abactinal spinelets (0-9-1 mm. long) are three-edged (prismatic with 

 deeply excavated sides) and taper to a sharp point or occasionally two (Koehler, 1920, p. 



154, pi. 66, fig. 9^). The dorsal spinelets of meseres are structurally the same but the 

 edge of the 3 flanges is sparsely and irregularly denticulated, as indicated by figures of 4 

 abactinal spinelets. Koehler 's figures of godefroyi indicate that the 3 flanges are well 

 developed but without lateral teeth. In meseres the inferomarginal spines are smooth 

 edged with i or 2 slight denticulations at tip, usually on only one of the flanges. These 



flanges are better developed in godefroyi. 



Actinal interradial areas do not reach the distal margin of second inferomarginal. 



They contain about 12 roundish plates which carry a divaricate group of 3^6 very slender 



spinelets. A single series of very small actinal plates extends two-thirds length of ray. 



Beyond fourth or fifth inferomarginal there is only one plate to each inferomarginal, at 



its adoral end. 



Adambulacral furrow spines basally webbed, long and slender, 2 to a plate except for 



the first to third plates, which carry 3, and those near tip of ray, which carry i. Subam- 



bulacrals proximally 4, varying to 3 on middle range of ray ; then on distal third of ray, 5. 



The spines are basally webbed and this web is continued from the innermost suboral to 



the base of the distal furrow spine. On the most distal plates, with i furrow spine, the 



