ASTEROIDEA 127 



ca. 360-1800 m. It is elsewhere distributed from the Trondhjem 

 Fjord to the Cape Verde Islands. Bathymetrical distribution ca. 

 200-2000 m. 



3. Brisingella W. K. Fisher. 



Differs from the genus Brisinga mainly by the first pair of 

 adambulacral plates not joining in the interradial mid-line, 

 and by having only one pair of large genital organs to each arm. 



Only one species known to occur in the British (and East 

 Atlantic) seas. 



1. Brisingella coronata (G. O. Sars). 



(Syn. Brisinga coronata G. O. Sars.) 



Number of arms varying, 9-13. The raised arches only ca. 12 

 (9-15), confined to the proximal one-third of the arms, each 

 carrying a series of fairly strong spmes. The skin between the 

 ribs naked, but with groups of pedicellariae, these groups con- 

 tinuing to the end of the arm. Madreporite without spines. 

 Peclicellarise small, all of the same size, occurring also on the disk. 

 Colour in life a beautiful red. Reaches a very considerable size, 

 up to ca. 400 mm. R., with a diameter of disk of hardly 30 mm. 



It lives on muddy bottom ; feeds on all sorts of smaller 

 animals, especially Foraminifera. The breeding season is in 

 summer ; development unknown, but the rather large, yolky 

 eggs indicate that it has probably a direct development, without 

 a pelagic larval stage. 



In British seas this species has been found off S.W. Ireland 

 and at the Rockall Bank ("Porcupine", '" Fhdng Fox"), in 

 depths of ca. 360-1800 m. It is elsewhere distributed from the 

 Trondhjem Fjord to the Azores and the Cape Verde Islands ; it 

 also occurs in the Mediterranean, both in the western and eastern 

 parts. Its bathymetrical distribution is ca. 100-2600 m. 



[Freyella E. Perrier. ] 

 (Syn. Freyellidea Fisher.) 



Although no representative of this genus has been found in 

 the British seas as yet, there can scarcely be any doubt that it 

 will ultimately be found there. It may therefore be desirable to 

 give a diagnosis of this important genus and a key to the species, 

 and also a figure of one of the species (Fig. 74). 



Dorsal skeleton of rays consists of polygonal plates, forming 

 a close armour ; these plates may be arranged more or less 

 distinctly in transverse series, but never form raised arches as in 



