JAPANESE ASTEROIDEA. 23 



there is some variation in tlie length and breadth of the rays, -while the number 

 of superomarginal plates may be as great as 52. 



" Tliis species has a certain resemblance to some forms of Asfropecten, 

 but may be readily distinguished from any member of that gi-oup by the 

 absence of supei^ambulaciul plates, and by the presence of a very well 

 defined median radial series of paxillae." 



Claek lias the following notes on tliis species [ : 08, p. 280] : 



" 60 specimens, 60-125 mm. in diameter. Saonek, Waigion Island, 

 New Guinea. — 45 specimens, 50-120 mm. in diameter. Amboina. Barboue 

 collection. 



"According to Mr. Barbour's notes, these specimens were taken in 

 very shallow water on a bottom of white sand. The colour in life was 

 orange-red, but in drying the specimens nearly all ti'ace of this colom- was 

 lost, and they became pale yellowish, with only here and there patches of 

 oi*ange-red. One of the sx3ecimens from Amboina has 6 rays, while two of 

 those from Saonek have only 4 rays each." 



Brown reports tliis starfish from the Mergui Ai'chipelago [ : 10, p. 28] : 



"Locahty. — XVI., Alligator Rock, 8 to 18 fathoms, rock and sand. 



"Two specimens in which R = 44 and 46 and r=10 and 9 [mm.] 

 respectively. In the smaller specimen a single spine appears on one supero- 

 marginal ; otherwise the supero-marginals have no trace of s^jines. A simi- 

 lar occm-rence in this species is noted by Lütken (Yidensk. Medd. (1864), 

 p. 136), and by Sladen ('Challenger' Repoi*ts, XXX., p. 124). 



" Tliis species is also recorded from the Mergui Ai'chipelago by Dr. 

 Anderson in 1882. Widely distributed in Eastern Indian Ocean and 

 Western Pacific." 



Kœhler mentions this species from the collection of the Indian 

 Museum, with two figm-es [ : 10, -p. 9] : 



" lies Andaman. Un échantillon. 



" No. 2231. Profondeiu" 26 brasses et demie. Quelques échantillons. 



"Dans l'individu des îles Andaman, qui est très bien conseiTe, 11 = 36 

 mm. Les auti'es sont dans un état de consei'vation plus ou moins satisfai- 

 sant ; 11 = 30 mm. dans le plus gi*and et 19mm. dans le plus petit. J'ai 



